Axisymmetric torsional fretting contact between a spherical punch and an FGPM coating

The axisymmetric torsional fretting contact between a rigid conducting spherical punch and a functionally graded piezoelectric material (FGPM) coating is studied in this paper. The exponential model is used to simulate the inhomogeneous electro-mechanical properties of the FGPMs coating. The conducting spherical punch with a constant surface electric potential is considered in the contact. A normal force and a cyclic torque are applied to the two contact bodies. The applied torque produces an outer annular slip area and an inner stick area. The torsion angle is produced within the inner stick area as a rigid body. With the aid of the Hankel integral transform technique, we can reduce the contact problem to the singular integral equations of the Cauchy type. Then the unknown electro-mechanical fields and stick/slip area can be obtained numerically. The effect of the gradient index on the surface electro-mechanical fields is discussed at loading and unloading phases. The Mises stress and principal stress at the contact surface are also discussed to predict the possible location of fretting damage and failure.