A numerical analysis of partial slip problems under Hertzian contacts

In this study the tangential partial slip problems in Hertzian contact regions are treated by a numerical technique. The tangential loading may include tangential forces in the contact plane and a twisting moment normal to the contact plane. The Coulomb's law of friction and the property that the direction of friction must oppose the relative motion lead to nonlinear equations. The Newton-Raphson method is utilized to solve these nonlinear equations. Numerical results for tangential tractions and sizes of stick and slip zones may be determined, and they agree with existing analytical results for circular contacts.