Semi-analytic modelling of transversely isotropic magneto-electro-elastic materials under frictional sliding contact

Functionally graded magneto-electro-elastic (FGMEE) materials has been increasingly used in engineering applications, particularly in smart material or intelligent structure systems. This paper proposes a semi-analytical approach for sliding frictional contact problem between a rigid insulating sphere and a transversely isotropic FGMEE film and half-space based on frequency response functions (FRFs). Multilayered approximation is used to model the functionally graded material (FGM), and the FRFs for each MEE layer are derived explicitly. The unknown coefficients in FRFs are formulated by two matrix equations, and their efficient solution process is proposed. Based on the obtained FRFs, a highly efficient semi-analytical model (SAM) is developed which is able to solve the three-dimensional frictional contact of FGMEE materials with arbitrary layer designs. The model is validated with finite element method and the literature. Furthermore, the pressure/stress distribution and electric/magnetic potential are studied in different FGM designs to investigate the influence of material layout.