The Contact Between Arbitrarily Curved Bodies of Finite Dimensions

Abstract

A new method is described for the analysis of the contact between two bodies of linearly elastic materials in the absence of friction. No specific assumptions are made about the curvature of the bodies. Though based on commonly used half-space theory, approximations are introduced to take into account the finite dimensions of the bodies. The model has been implemented in a computer program and verified by means of FEM analysis. The applicability of the technique to lubricated tribological contacts is demonstrated.