Strain　bursts　are　often　observed　during　compression　tests　of　single　crystal　micropillars.　In　this　work,　we　formulate　a　new　continuum　model　that　accounts　for　the　strain　bursts　within　the　framework　of　crystal　plasticity.　The　strain　bursts　are　separated　from　the　loading　stage　(nearly　elastic　loading)　by　introducing　a　dimensionless　constant　in　the　continuum　model,　and　are　detected　by　load　serrations.　The　boundary　conditions　in　the　context　of　micropillar　compression　are　studied　and　they　are　shown　to　be　changing　and　unpredictable　as　plastic　deformation　proceeds.　To　evaluate　the　validity　of　our　model,　finite　element　simulations　of　the　uniaxial　compression　tests　on　nickel　micropillars　are　performed.　Our　simulations　produce　clearly　visible　strain　bursts　during　the　plastic　flow　and　the　produced　intermittent　flows　are　comparable　with　the　experimental　observations.　For　the　bulk　crystal,　a　series　of　strain　bursts　is　identified　in　the　course　of　plastic　flow,　despite　an　apparently　smooth　stress-strain　response.　We　also　show　that　the　intermittent　flow　is　intensified　in　the　micrometer-scale　due　to　both　increasing　numbers　of　the　successive　strain　bursts　and　increasing　amplitude　of　the　strain　burst,　when　the　specimen　size　decreases.　Finally,　we　show　that　the　occurrences　of　the　strain　bursts　are　always　associated　with　negative　values　of　the　second-order　work.　(C)　2013　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.