Axisymmetric conducting indenter on a functionally graded piezoelectric coating

• The fundamental solution for axisymmetric conducting indenter is obtained.
• The coupled singular integral equations are solved.
• The electrical and mechanical responses are considered.
• The effects of the conductivity of the indenter on the contact stress are analyzed.

The indentation response of a functionally graded piezoelectric material (FGPM) coating-substrate system under an axisymmetric conducting indenter is investigated. The material properties of the FGPM coating vary in an exponential form along the thickness direction. The coupled singular integral equations are derived to describe the contact problem of the FGPM coating-substrate system under an axisymmetric conducting indenter. The singular integral equations are solved numerically to achieve the electrical and mechanical responses of the FGPM coating for different indenters, material properties and substrates. The numerical results show the effects of the conductivity of the indenter on the distribution of the contact stress and the electric charge.