Abstract: Based on the Lennard-Jones potential, the adhesive forces among the atoms of two spheres are considered as the distributing load acting on the surfaces of the two spheres. And according to the classically elastic theory, a novel model of elastic nanocontact of two spheres is established to solve the contact problems emerging in micro-mechanical systems. The model is capable of obtaining the variations with the distance of the adhesive force, the deformations and the contours of the two spheres at the same time. The results from the model established are consistent with the conclusions drawn from the scanning experiments available of atomic force microscopy, which confirms the validity of the model in investigating the nanocontact problems in micro-mechanical systems

Key words: micro-mechanical systems, adhesion, nanocontact, nanotribology