The contact problem for a class of orthotropic elastic solids

The contact problem between two orthotropic solids is examined. The problem is solved by using Lodge's method, which permits the transformation of the boundary-value problem of an anisotropic solid to a form identical with the corresponding problem of an isotropic medium. The proposed solution is then compared with known results of certain cases and it is observed that it producesHertz's solution when used for an isotropic case,Lodge's solution when applied to contact between an orthotropic solid and a rigid plane and, finally,Love's solution if the solid is transversely isotropic with the axis of material symmetry perpendicular to the rigid plane of contact.