ANALYSIS OF PLANE AND ROUGH CONTACTS, SUBJECT TO A SHEARING FORCE

We analyse the surface traction conditions induced in plane contact be tween two bodies whose surfaces are rough. It is assumed that the roug hness may be idealised by a surface of regularly spaced cylindrical '' bumps'', and the overall geometry may be in the form of a cylinder, fl at ended punch or wedge. The stick-slip regime experienced by each ind ividual asperity contact is found, and hence it is shown how the appli ed shearing force produces concentrated regions of surface damage. Con ditions for crack initiation are then discussed, and compared with equ ivalent results found for nominally smooth contacts. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.