Rayleigh waves in compressible orthotropic half-space overlaid by a thin un-coaxial orthotropic layer

The problem of Rayleigh waves in compressible orthotropic elastic half-space overlaid by a thin elastic layer of which principal material axes are coincident have been researched by many scientists. However, the problem with the conditions that the half-space and the layer have only one common principal material axis that perpendicular to the layer while the remains are not identical has not gotten enough attention. This paper presents a traditional approach to obtain an approximate secular equation by approximately replacing the thin layer by effective boundary conditions of third-order. The wave then is considered as a Rayleigh wave propagating in an orthotropic half-space, without coating, subjected to the effective boundary conditions. This explicit approximate secular equation is potentially useful in non-damage assessment studies.

Explicit transformation between non-adhesive and adhesive contact problems by means of the classical Johnson–Kendall–Roberts formalism

The classic Johnson–Kendall–Roberts (JKR) contact theory was developed for frictionless adhesive contact between two isotropic elastic spheres. The advantage of the classical JKR formalism is the use of the principle of superposition of solutions to non-adhesive axisymmetric contact problems. In the recent years, the JKR formalism has been extended to other cases, including problems of contact between an arbitrary-shaped blunt axisymmetric indenter and a linear elastic half-space obeying rotational symmetry of its elastic properties. Here the most general form of the JKR formalism using the minimal number of a priori conditions is studied. The corresponding condition of energy balance is developed. For the axisymmetric case and a convex indenter, the condition is reduced to a set of expressions allowing explicit transformation of force–displacement curves from non-adhesive to corresponding adhesive cases. The implementation of the developed theory is demonstrated by presentation of a two-term asymptotic adhesive solution of the contact between a thin elastic layer and a rigid punch of arbitrary axisymmetric shape. Some aspects of numerical implementation of the theory by means of Finite-Element Method are also discussed. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘A cracking approach to inventing new tough materials: fracture stranger than friction’.

Demagnetization Effect on the Magnetoelectric Response of Composite Multiferroic Cylinders

Strain-mediated multiferroic composite structures are gaining scientific and technological attention because of the promise of low power consumption and greater flexibility in material and geometry choices. In this study, the direct magnetoelectric coupling coefficient (DME) of composite multiferroic cylinders, consisting of two mechanically bonded concentric cylinders, was analytically modeled under the influence of a radially emanating magnetic field. The analysis framework emphasized the effect of demagnetization on the overall performance. The demagnetization effect was thoroughly considered as a function of the imposed mechanical boundary conditions, the geometrical dimensions of the composite cylinder, and the introduction of a thin elastic layer at the interface between the inner piezomagnetic and outer piezoelectric cylinders. The results indicate that the demagnetization effect adversely impacted the DME coefficient. In a trial to compensate for the reduction in peak DME coefficient due to demagnetization, a non-dimensional geometrical analysis was carried out to identify the geometrical attributes corresponding to the maximum DME. It was observed that the peak DME coefficient was nearly unaffected by varying the inner radius of the composite cylinder, while it approached its maximum value when the thickness of the piezoelectric cylinder was almost 60% of the total thickness of the composite cylinder. The latter conclusion was true for all of the considered boundary conditions.

Longitudinal waves in an elastic rod caused by sudden damage to the foundation

We study the problem of propagating longitudinal waves in an elastic rod connected to a locally damaged foundation through a thin elastic layer. The motion of the rigid foundation blocks is considered predetermined. We formulated the initial-boundary problem for the Klein-Gordon equation with a discontinuous right-hand side. The nonstationary fields of displacements, velocities, and deformations were investigated by the Laplace integral transformation method. Examples of sudden divergence of fragments of the foundation by a given value and their mutual separation at a constant speed are considered.

Validity of Winkler’s mattress model for thin elastomeric layers: beyond Poisson’s ratio

Winkler’s mattress model is often used as a simplified model to understand how a thin elastic layer, such as a coating, deforms when subject to a distributed normal load: the deformation of the layer is assumed proportional to the applied normal load. This simplicity means that the Winkler model has found a wide range of applications from soft matter to geophysics. However, in the limit of an incompressible elastic layer the model predicts infinite resistance to deformation, and hence breaks down. Since many of the thin layers used in applications are elastomeric, and hence close to incompressible, we consider the question of when the Winkler model is appropriate for such layers. We formally derive a model that interpolates between the Winkler and incompressible limits for thin elastic layers, and illustrate this model by detailed consideration of two example problems: the point-indentation of a coated elastomeric layer and self-sustained lift in soft elastohydrodynamic lubrication. We find that the applicability (or otherwise) of the Winkler model is not determined by the value of the Poisson ratio alone, but by a compressibility parameter that combines the Poisson ratio with a measure of the layer’s slenderness, which itself depends on the problem under consideration.

3D structure–2D plate interaction model

In this paper, we derive models for the interaction of a linearized three-dimensional elastic structure with a thin elastic layer of possibly different material attached to it. Rigorous derivation is performed by considering a thin three-dimensional layer and the asymptotics of the solution of the full remaining three-dimensional problem when the thickness [Formula: see text] of the thin layer tends to zero. Furthermore, the attached thin material is assumed to have the elasticity coefficients which are of order [Formula: see text], for [Formula: see text] with respect to the coefficients of the three-dimensional body. In the limit, five different models are obtained with respect to different choices of p, namely [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text]. Furthermore a three-dimensional–two-dimensional model is proposed that has the same asymptotics as the original three-dimensional problem. This is convenient for applications because one does not have to decide in advance which limit model to use.

Adhesive contact problems for a thin elastic layer: Asymptotic analysis and the JKR theory

Contact problems for a thin compressible elastic layer attached to a rigid support are studied. Assuming that the thickness of the layer is much less than the characteristic dimension of the contact area, a direct derivation of asymptotic relations for displacements and stress is presented. The proposed approach is compared with other published approaches. The cases are established when the leading-order approximation to the non-adhesive contact problems is equivalent to contact problem for a Winkler–Fuss elastic foundation. For this elastic foundation, the axisymmetric adhesive contact is studied in the framework of the Johnson–Kendall–Roberts (JKR) theory. The JKR approach has been generalized to the case of the punch shape being described by an arbitrary blunt axisymmetric indenter. Connections of the results obtained to problems of nanoindentation in the case that the indenter shape near the tip has some deviation from its nominal shape are discussed. For indenters whose shape is described by power-law functions, the explicit expressions are derived for the values of the pull-off force and for the corresponding critical contact radius.