Finite Element based Parametric Study of Elastic-plastic Contact of Fractal Surfaces

The present investigation utilizes the commercial finite element software ANSYS to study the effect of material properties such as yield strength (Y), modulus of elasticity (E) on the contact parameters like contact area, normal displacement and mean contact pressure in both perfect slip and full stick contact of fractal surfaces. The results indicate the nonlinear relationship among the contact parameters that are affected by the yield strength and the contact conditions; however the same E/Y ratio yields identical contact parameters. Load carrying capacity in full stick contact condition is slightly higher than that in perfect slip contact condition. The results are validated with experimental ones and also compared with single asperity finite element results.