General results for complete contacts subject to oscillatory shear

In this paper, we consider the general interfacial characteristics of a square elastic block, pressed onto an elastically similar half-plane by a constant normal force, and subjected to oscillatory shear. It is found that there is a critical coefficient of friction, 0.543, above which the contact is permanently stuck along its entire length for a shearing force below about 55% of that needed to cause sliding. For shearing forces above this, the contact interface will either shakedown to a fully adhered state (depending on the degree of reversal of the shear loading) or will exhibit cyclic slip at an interior point. If the coefficient of friction is below 0.543, the application of normal load alone will produce equal and opposite slip zones attached to the contact edges. The subsequent imposition of a shear force causes the leading edge slip zone to increase in length while the presence of residual slipping tractions at the trailing edge causes the trailing edge to lift off. Under oscillatory loading, the contact edges cycle between slip and separation over a minute region while an interior point may exhibit cyclic slip if the loading history is sufficiently demanding. The results found are of practical relevance to the study of fretting fatigue of complete contacts, such as some types of spline joint.