Tangential contacts of three-dimensional power-law graded elastic solids: A general theory and application to partial slip

Abstract

New technologies in additive manufacturing have enabled the cost-effective production of gradient materials with desired multifunctional properties. In mechanical engineering, such functionally graded materials (FGMs) are often used within mechanical joints, as they ensure higher strength as well as wear resistance and prevent fretting fatigue. However, due to the variations in their composition and structure, theoretical predictions of their contact-mechanical behavior are significantly complicated. In this work, a general theory for solving tangential contacts between 3D power-law graded elastic solids of arbitrary geometry is presented. For multiple contacts, such as those occurring between two nominally flat but rough half-spaces, the well-known Ciavarella–Jäger theorem is established accompanied by a discussion of tangential coupling. Nevertheless, the focus of the work is on axisymmetric single contacts under arbitrary unidirectional tangential loading, for which closed-form analytical solutions are derived based on the Mossakovskii–Jäger procedure. In comparison to the results of common approximate methods, the solutions include the non-axisymmetric components of tangential displacements, which are indispensable for the accurate determination of the relative slip components and thus the surface density of frictional energy dissipation in the partial slip regime. Although a simplified approach is used for the calculation of the dissipated energy density, the results in the limiting case of homogeneous material are in excellent agreement with those from a full numerical computation. As an application example, the complete solutions for the tangential contact of parabolically shaped power-law graded elastic solids in the partial slip regime are derived and the influence of the material gradient as well as Poisson’s ratio on the surface density of dissipated energy is investigated.