A　thermo-mechanical　coupling　contact　model　between　a　fractal　rough　body　and　a　flat　body　is　established.　In　the　model,　the　heat　flux　coupling　between　the　sliding　surfaces　and　the　effect　of　elasto-plastic　deformation　of　the　rough　body　are　considered.　To　obtain　the　transient　microcontact　process　between　the　rough　body　and　the　flat　body　during　rotating　sliding　friction,　the　thermo-mechanical　problem　under　this　three-dimensional　model　is　solved　by　the　nonlinear　finite　element　multi-physical　methods.　The　comparisons　of　the　real　contact　area　are　analyzed　under　two　different　working　modes,　including　loading　processes　with　and　without　frictional　rotating.　During　the　loading　and　rotating　process,　the　shear　stress　and　the　total　frictional　force　on　the　frictional　rough　interface,　and　the　equivalent　plastic　strain　of　the　contact　asperity　are　larger.　All　these　including　the　thermal　expansion　make　the　real　contact　area　increase　with　the　applied　normal　load　much　faster　under　the　working　mode　of　loading　and　rotating　than　it　does　under　the　only　loading　mode.　Copyright　©　2014　by　ASME.