Indentation of the semi-infinite elastic solid by a concave rigid punch

A solution is obtained for the relationship between load, displacement and inner contact radius for an axisymmetric, spherically concave, rigid punch, indenting an elastic half-space. Analytic approximations are developed for the limiting cases in which the ratio of the inner and outer radii of the annular contact region is respectively small and close to unity. These approximations overlap well at intermediate values. The same method is applied to the conically concave punch and to a punch with a central hole. , , . , . . .