Work

General results for loading and unloading rough elasto-plastic interfaces

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: From the classical model of Bowden and Tabor it is known that metallic materialsmake contact only on a small fraction of the nominal contact area, wherepressure is so high that plastic deformations is likely. While the contact area hasbeen extensively studied within this context, indentation has attracted less attention.In this work we thus characterize the relationship between load and indentationfor nominally flat Gaussian surfaces, finding universal trends which persistwhen either the level of plasticity or the indentation depth change. We study bothloading and unloading trends. Also, we discuss the height distribution of the surfacesresulting from accumulated of plastic deformation. For all this cases, weobtain very simple and close form analytical fittings that allow a convenient andgeneral use of the results here presented. Finally, we compare the results obtainedfrom the model, based on Boundary Element model and perfect plasticity, withexperimental result, to justify the validity of its use.

Source: European Journal of Mechanics - A/Solids

DOI: 10.1016/j.euromechsol.2025.105908

Authors: Francesc Pérez-Ràfols, Xuan-Ming Liang, Michele Ciavarella

Institutions: Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Polytechnic University of Bari, Xi'an Jiaotong University

Language: English

Topic: Adhesion, Friction, and Surface Interactions

Subfield: Mechanics of Materials

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,040

Funders: National Natural Science Foundation of China, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Natural Science Foundation for Young Scientists of Shanxi Province