On the reliability of microscopical contact models

In this paper a comparison among several micromechanical contact models is presented. The aim of the research is to provide a degree of confidence about the differences between the predictions of the contact behavior provided by the models. For this purpose some ideal microscopically rough surfaces with self-affine topography have been generated by means of a numerical algorithm. From such surfaces all the parameters needed to characterize them from the statistical viewpoint have been extracted. The predictions provided by the models with increasing normal load for the evolution of the real contact area, the number of contact points and other useful parameters have been outlined with diagrams, clearly showing the existing differences.