Finite element analysis of an elastic-plastic two-layer half-space: sliding contact

Abstract

A two-dimensional finite element stress and strain analysis of the sliding contact of a two-layer elastic-plastic half-space for various friction coefficients was conducted. First the contact pressure of the two-layer half-space under normal indentation was determined. Then the normal and tangential loadings were applied proportionally and incrementally on the surface. It was found that surface deformation, location of initial yielding, stresses and strains along the interfaces between layers strongly depend on the friction coefficient. When the friction coefficient is small (less than 0.3), yielding initiates in the subsurface region near the leading edge of the contact, provided that the normal load is large enough. When the friction coefficient is large (greater than 0.3), yielding initiates on the surface at the trailing edge of the contact. The surface strains, especially the shear strains, are large owing to the unconstrained deformation. The magnitudes of shear stresses and strains along both interfaces are significantly large for high friction. On the basis of the analysis, the implications for interface failures are qualitatively addressed.