How to reveal the physical mechanism affecting the contact and friction
behavior of geomaterials is still a challenging problem in predicting
geological disasters, such as landslides and earthquakes. We develop a
multiscale friction model that describes the microscopic creep behavior
of asperities and the macroscopic sliding friction behavior of
geomaterial. The theoretical asperities contact creep model can
characterize the random contact process of the interface friction
through porosity which can successfully capture the transition from the
mechanical properties of microscopic asperities to the macroscopic
interface friction-slip behavior. The theoretical model also verifies
that the friction behavior of the geomaterials is closely related to
their temperature, activation energy, and saturation. Thus, the
developed mode offers a theoretical basis for better understanding the
mechanical mechanism affecting the contact and friction behavior of the
geomaterials. Meanwhile, it would considerably help to predict future
geological disasters quantitatively.