Approximate Analytical Model for Hertzian Elliptical Contact Problems

Abstract

In rolling bearing analysis Hertzian contact theory is used to compute local contact stiffness. This theory does not have a closed form analytical solution and requires numerical calculations to obtain results. Using approximations of elliptical functions and with a mathematical study of Hertzian results, an empirical explicit formulation is proposed in this paper and allows us to obtain the dimensions, the displacement, and the contact stress with at least 0.003% precision and it can be applied to a large range of ellipticity of the contact surface.