Sliding frictional contact analysis of functionally graded piezoelectric layered half-plane

Abstract

This paper investigates the sliding frictional contact problem of a layered half-plane made of functionally graded piezoelectric materials (FGPMs) in the plane strain state. It is assumed that the punch is a perfect electrical insulator with zero electric charge distribution, and the friction within the contact region is of Coulomb type. The electro-elastic properties of the FGPM layer vary exponentially along the thickness direction. The fundamental solutions for the applied concentrated linear forces perpendicular and parallel to the FGPM layer surface are obtained. Using the superposition theorem, the problem is reduced to a Cauchy singular integral equation which is then numerically solved to determine the contact tractions, contact region, maximum indentation depth, electrical potential and electromechanical fields. Numerical results show that both the material property gradient and the friction coefficient have significant influence on the contact performance of the FGPM layered half-plane.