Boundary Element Method for Tangential Contact of a Coated Elastic Half-Space

We present a formulation of the boundary element method (BEM) for simulating the tangential contact with an elastic half-space coated with an elastic layer with different elastic properties. We use the fast Fourier-transform-based formulation of BEM, while the fundamental solution is determined directly in the Fourier space. Numerical tests are validated by comparison with available asymptotic analytical solutions for a very thin and a very thick layer, as well as with FEM calculations for layers with finite thickness.

Automated summary

The article presents a formulation of the BEM for simulating tangential contact with an elastic half-space coated with an elastic layer of different properties. The BEM formulation used a fast Fourier-transform method, with the fundamental solution determined directly in Fourier space. Numerical tests were conducted and validated against analytical solutions for thin and thick layers, as well as finite thickness layers using FEM calculations.