Thermo-mechanical modelling of the contact between rough surfaces using homogenisation technique

•A microscopic thermo-mechanical behaviour of rough contact has been modelled.•A macroscopic model using a homogenisation technique has been developed.•Transition for microscopic to macroscopic model has been validated.

In this study, thermo-mechanical behaviour of contacting rough surfaces has been modelled. Firstly, a numerical microscopic contact model that considers the properties of engineering surfaces has been developed. Geometrical characteristics of rough surfaces are deduced using the standard procedure for roughness and waviness parameter determination according to the so-called “motif” procedure. Secondly, an equivalent macroscopic contact model using a homogenisation technique has been presented. The interfacial behaviour of this model has been governed by the curves deduced from the microscopic model. The transition from microscopic to macroscopic scale was also validated.