A nano-scale frictional contact problem incorporating the size dependency and the surface effects

Abstract

In this paper, the nano-scale sliding contact problem of an isotropic semi-infinite medium is considered. The small scale effects are taken into account by means of the couple stresses and the surface energy theories. Employing the Fourier integral method, the plane elasticity problem is formulated in terms of the integral equations. The numerical results are provided for the plane strain state. The parametric study reveals that the surface material constants remarkably alter the surface stresses and the contact length. The results indicate that the stress singularity substantially decreases due to size effect compared with the classical theory predictions. For example, the in-plane stress tensile peak decreases by a %80 with respect to the Hertzian contact.