Hertzian Contact-Stress Deformation Coefficients

Abstract

Formulations are given for the coefficients λ, μ, ν defined by Hertz in terms of the solution of a transcendental equation involving elliptic integrals and used by him to describe the deformation of bodies subjected to contact stresses. Methods of approximate calculation are explained and errors in the tables prepared by Hertz are noted. For the purpose of providing a more extensive and more accurate tabulation, using an automatic digital computer, these coefficients are reformulated so that a large part of the variation is expressed by means of easily interpreted elementary formulas. The remainder of the variation is tabulated to 6 places for 100 values of the argument. Graphs of the coefficients are also provided.