Signorini-Type Problems over Non-Convex Sets for Composite Bodies Contacting by Sharp Edges of Rigid Inclusions

A new type of non-classical 2D contact problem formulated over non-convex admissible sets is proposed. Specifically, we suppose that a composite body in its undeformed state touches a wedge-shaped rigid obstacle at a single contact point. Composite bodies under investigation consist of an elastic matrix and a rigid inclusion. In this case, the displacements on the set, corresponding to a rigid inclusion, have a predetermined structure that describes possible parallel shifts and rotations of the inclusion. The rigid inclusion is located on the external boundary and has the form of a wedge. The presence of the rigid inclusion imposes a new type of non-penetration condition for certain geometrical configurations of the obstacle and the body near the contact point. The sharp-shaped edges of the obstacle effect such sets of admissible displacements that may be non-convex. For the case of a thin rigid inclusion, which is described by a curve and a volume (bulk) rigid inclusion specified in a subdomain, the energy minimization problems are formulated. The solvability of the corresponding boundary value problems is proved, based on analysis of auxiliary minimization problems formulated over convex sets. Qualitative properties of the auxiliary variational problems are revealed; in particular, we have found their equivalent differential formulations. As the most important result of this study, we provide justification for a new type of mathematical model for 2D contact problems for reinforced composite bodies.

NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF TRI-LAYERED MATERIALS UNDER CONTACT LOAD

Various biomedical components, such as dental crowns and hip prostheses, data processing devices, and other numerous mechanical components that transmit load through a mechanical contact, may benefit from a tri-layer design. The coating may be optimized for wear protection and corrosion prevention, whereas the intermediate layer provides increased adhesion between the outer layer and the substrate, and confines the crack propagation. The solution to the contact problem involving tri-layered materials can be pursued numerically with the finite element or the boundary element methods, but semi-analytical techniques benefitting from the efficiency of the fast Fourier transform (FFT) technique have also been successfully applied. At the heart of the FFT-assisted approach lie the frequency response functions (FRFs), which are analytical solutions for fundamental problems of elasticity such as the Boussinesq and Cerruti problems, but expressed in the frequency domain. Considering recent efforts and results in application of FFT to convolution calculations in contact problems, the displacement arising in a tri-layer configuration is computed in the frequency domain, and the contact problem is subsequently solved in the space domain using a state-of-the-art algorithm based on the conjugate gradient method. The method relies on the FRFs derived in the literature for tri-layered materials, and the efficiency and accuracy of computations in the frequency domain is assured by using the Discrete Convolution Fast Fourier Technique (DCFFT) with influence coefficients derived from the FRFs. The computer program reproduces well-known results for bi-layered materials. Numerical simulations are performed for various configurations in which the elastic properties of the layers, as well as the frictional coefficient, are varied. By using the newly advanced simulation technique, design recommendations may be advanced for the optimal configuration of tri-layered materials under contact load.

A fast thermoelastic model based on the half-space theory applied to elastohydrodynamic lubrication of line contacts involving free boundaries

This study allows contact models based on semi-analytical methods including the impacts of thermoelastic deformations in contacts of finite dimension bodies. The proposed method controls heat flows crossing free boundaries. A comparison with FEA reveals that the proposed method can reduce the calculation times by more than 98%. The paper introduces the thermoelasticity effects into thermal-elastohydrodynamic lubrication (TEHL) modeling of line contact problems. The analysis reveals that including thermoelastic deformations changes the pressure profile and tends to localize the pressure close to the distribution center. Compared to TEHL simulations, the examined configurations caused an overall increase in the maximum pressure by about 9%, an overall film thickness reduction of about 7%, and an overall temperature increase of about 2 K.