The efficient Newton-Raphson iterative solver is implemented for calculating the surface contact pressure under rough contact conditions. The improvement in computation efficiency is achieved by coupling the surface elastic deformation equation and the force equilibrium equation using the Newton-Raphson formulation and solving the two equations simultaneously. The developed model is first demonstrated in solving the classic Hertzian contact problem to verify the model accuracy. Results show the developed model converges extremely fast (in less than three iterations) and computation error in the contact width is within the discretization limit. For rough contact cases, the presented procedures also achieve the converged solutions rapidly; however, a relaxation factor is needed.Presented at the 51st Annual Meeting in Cincinnati, Ohio May 19–23, 1996