Analytical approximations in modeling contacting rough surfaces

A critical examination of the analytical solution presented in the classic paper of Greenwood and Williamson (1966), (GW) all the statistical modeling of nominally flat contacting rough surfaces is undertaken in this study. i t is found that using the GW simple exponential distribution to approximate the usually Gaussian height distribution of the asperities is inadequate f ar most practical cases. Some other exponential type approximations are sug gested, which approximate the Gaussian distribution more accurately, and st ill enable closed form solutions for the real area of contact, the contact load and rite number of contacting asperities. The best-modified exponentia l approximation is there used ill the case of elastic-plastic contacts of C hang et al. (1987) (CEB model), to obtain closed-Sonn solutions, which favo rably compare with the numerical results using the Gaussian distribution.