Role of friction-induced torque in stick-slip motion

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. Copyright (C) EPLA, 2010