Asymptotic modeling of the impact of a spherical indenter on an elastic half-space

The impact of a rigid sphere on a homogeneous, isotropic elastic half-space in the absence of friction and adhesion is considered. The influence of the superseismic stage immediately following the moment of first contact upon the impact process is investigated in the frame of the Hertzian impact theory. The first order asymptotic approximation for the contact force in a three-dimensional dynamic contact problem with the slowly moving contact zone boundary is obtained and the corresponding asymptotic model of impact is developed. The motion of the indenter as it indents and rebounds from the elastic medium is analytically described. Explicit formulas are derived for the peak indentation depth, contact time, and rebound velocity as functions of the initial impact velocity, indenter mass, and characteristics of the elastic half-space.