On the indentation of an inhomogeneous anisotropic elastic material by multiple straight rigid punches

A generalised plane strain problem concerning the indentation of an inhomogeneous anisotropic elastic material by mutiple straight rigid punches is considered. The problem is reduced to a boundary integral equation with the stresses over the contact regions being represented in terms of Chebyschev polynomials. The boundary integral equation is solved numerically for some particular antiplane contact problems involving one or two contact regions and the stress intensity factors at the ends of the contact regions are calculated. The effect of anisotropy and inhomogeneity on the stress intensity factors is examined through the illustrative examples. The analysis is relevant for a class of geomechanics problems involving inhomogeneous materials.