THE PRESSURE OF A NARROW RING-SHAPED PUNCH ON AN ELASTIC HALF-SPACE

The linear contact problem for a punch, represented in plan by a narro w ring (of variable thickness), the median line of which is a closed s mooth contour, is investigated by the method of matched asymptotic exp ansions. Galin's hypothesis, according to which the pressure distribut ion in the transverse direction is largely identical with the solution of the corresponding plane problem, is proved. Various forms of writi ng the integral equation for the leading term of the asymptotic form o f the pressure per unit length are given. Explicit solutions of a numb er of specific problems are obtained. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.