On the Axial Symmetric Contact Problem Involving Elastic Hollow Spheres

Abstract

An approximate solution is given for the contact problem of an elastic hollow sphere indenting a solid sphere or cup with axial symmetry. The elastic deflection, maximum stress and contact radius are graphically presented as functions of a dimensionless load using hollowness ratios as parameter for the particular case that the two contacting bodies are of the same material. The numerical results include the Hertz theory as a limiting case for small hollowness ratio.