The Elastic Field Resulting From Elliptical Hertzian Contact of Transversely Isotropic Bodies: Closed-Form Solutions for Normal and Shear Loading

Abstract

This analysis presents the elastic field in a half-space caused by an ellipsoidal variation of normal traction on the surface. Coulomb friction is assumed and thus the shear traction on the surface is taken as a friction coefficient multiplied by the normal pressure. Hence the shear traction is also of an ellipsoidal variation. The half-space is transversely isotropic, where the planes of isotropy are parallel to the surface. A potential function method is used where the elastic field is written in three harmonic functions. The known point force potential functions are utilized to find the solution for ellipsoidal loading by quadrature. The integrals for the derivatives of the potential functions resulting from ellipsoidal loading are evaluated in terms of elementary functions and incomplete elliptic integrals of the first and second kinds. The elastic field is given in closed-form expressions for both normal and shear loading.