Shear Stresses Below Asperities in Hertzian Contact as Measured by Photoelasticity

Abstract

The effect of surface roughness on shear stresses below the surface of an unlubricated Hertzian contact is analyzed using a three dimensional stress freezing photoelastic technique. The shear stresses in the micro-Hertzian contact in each asperity are shown to combine and form, at a greater depth below the surface, shear stresses generally associated with contact stress theory. These macro-Hertzian stresses are compared with the micro-Hertzian stresses in the asperities. The results are also correlated with an existing asperity contact theory and are discussed in relation to the contact fatigue phenomenon.