Two-dimensional contact mechanics of functionally graded materials with arbitrary spatial variations of material properties

A multi-layered model for frictionless contact analysis of functionally graded materials (FGMs) with arbitrarily varying elastic modulus under plane strain-state deformation has been developed. Based on the fact that an arbitrary curve can be approached by a series of continuous but piecewise linear curves, the FGM is divided into several sub-layers and in each sub-layers the shear modulus is assumed to be linear function while the Poisson’s ratio is assumed to be a constant. With the model, the frictionless contact problem of a functionally graded coated half-space is investigated. By using the transfer matrix method and Fourier integral transform technique, the problem is reduced to a Cauchy singular integral equation. The contact pressure, contact region and indentation are calculated for various indenters by solving the equations numerically.