Boussinesq indentation of an isotropic elastic halfspace reinforced with an inextensible membrane

The paper examines the problem of the axisymmetric Boussinesq–Sneddon–Harding indentation problem for an isotropic elastic halfspace, which is reinforced with an inextensible membrane that is placed at a finite depth from the surface. The resulting mixed boundary value problem is reduced to the solution of a Fredholm integral equation of the second-kind that is solved numerically. The numerical solution of the integral equation provides results that illustrate the influence of the depth of embedment of the reinforcing membrane and Poisson’s ratio of the elastic material on the stiffness of the indentor.