Role of friction-induced torque in stick-slip motion

Physics of Geological Processes, University of Oslo - P.O. Box 1048 Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway

^a julien.scheibert@fys.uio.no

Received: 29 September 2010
Accepted: 10 November 2010

Abstract

We present a minimal quasistatic 1D model describing the kinematics of the transition from static friction to stick-slip motion of a linear elastic block on a rigid plane. We show how the kinematics of both the precursors to frictional sliding and the periodic stick-slip motion are controlled by the amount of friction-induced torque at the interface. Our model provides a general framework to understand and relate a series of recent experimental observations, in particular the nucleation location of micro-slip instabilities and the build-up of an asymmetric field of real contact area.