Multiple Contacts of Similar Elastic Materials

The contact problem for an elastic body indenting a similar half-space resulting in multiple contacts is important for various applications. In this paper an exact fast numerical method based on singular integral equations is developed to solve the normal contact (including applied moments), partial slip, and shear-reversal problems for such contacts. The contact patches are considered to be fully interacting, with no simplifying assumptions. A contact algorithm to automatically generate trial values based on an analysis of the profile and to subsequently guide the solver toward convergence is detailed. Some applications are discussed, including regular rough cylinders and a regularly rough flat punch with rounded edges. The examples involve between 3 and 29 contacts. The partial slip problems include demonstration of cases with multiple stick zones in some contact patches and complete sliding in others.