An efficient approximate numerical method for modeling contact of materials with distributed inhomogeneities

This research explores the influence of distributed non-interpenetrating inhomogeneities on the contact of inhomogeneous materials via a new efficient numerical model based on Eshelby’s Equivalent Inclusion Method. The half-space contact of a sphere with an inhomogeneous material is considered, and the solutions take into account interactions between all inhomogeneities. The efficiency and solution accuracy of the proposed method are demonstrated through comparative studies with those of an existing numerical method and the finite element method. The influence of spatial inhomogeneity orientations on the contact elastic field is investigated and parametric studies are conducted for the effect of arbitrarily distributed inhomogeneities on the stress field of the materials. The significance of the influences of inhomogeneity distribution parameters on the inverse volumetric stress integral is quantified and the corresponding data are fitted into selected several formulas as a step towards understanding the rolling contact fatigue life of the materials.