Action of an elliptic punch on a transversally isotropic half-space

The 3D contact problem on the action of a punch elliptic in horizontal projection on a transversally isotropic elastic half-space is considered for the case in which the isotropy planes are perpendicular to the boundary of the half-space. The elliptic contact region is assumed to be given (the punch has sharp edges). The integral equation of the contact problem is obtained. The elastic rigidity of the half-space boundary characterized by the normal displacement under the action of a given lumped force significantly depends on the chosen direction on this boundary. In this connection, the following two cases of location of the ellipse of contact are considered: it can be elongated along the first or the second axis of Cartesian coordinate system on the body boundary. Exact solutions are obtained for a punch with base shaped as an elliptic paraboloid, and these solutions are used to carry out the computations for various versions of the five elastic constants. The structure of the exact solution is found for a punch with polynomial base, and a method for determining the solution is proposed.