Analytical solution of the contact problem of a rigid indenter and an anisotropic linear elastic layer

We use the Stroh formalism to study analytically generalized plane strain deformations of a linear elastic anisotropic layer bonded to a rigid substrate, and indented by a rigid cylindrical indenter. The mixed boundary-value problem is challenging since the a priori unknown deformed indented surface of the layer contacting the rigid cylinder is to be determined as a part of the solution of the problem. For a rigid parabolic prismatic indenter contacting either an isotropic layer or an orthotropic layer and a flat rigid punch indenting a half space, the computed solutions are found to agree well with those available in the literature. Parametric studies have been conducted to delimit the length and the thickness of the layer for which the derived relation between the axial load and the indentation depth caused by the rigid cylinder is valid. The indentation of a face centered cubic crystal with the plane of indentation oriented differently from the principal planes of symmetry has also been studied to illustrate the applicability of the technique to general layers made of anisotropic materials. Results presented herein can serve as benchmarks with which to compare solutions obtained by other methods.