The use of computational contact mechanics approaches to assess the performance of parts bearing stress concentrators

Purpose: The purpose of this work is to build new computational schemes for assessing the strength parameters of parts with inhomogeneous properties of surface layers in the presence of stress concentrators. Design/methodology/approach: Using the developed approaches of mathematical modeling and open software for calculating the structures of the FEM - FEniCS, the required thickness of the hardened zones of parts has been established, which ensures their minimum softening during operation, depending on the characteristics of the stress concentrator. Findings: It is shown that for each size of the surface stress concentrator there is a critical value of the hardening thickness, the excess of which does not affect the operational strength of the parts, but increases the cost of technological operations. Research limitations/implications: In this article proposes a method for calculating the influence of the dimensional characteristics of hardening zones on the contact strength of parts with stress concentrators under conditions of prevailing power loads. Practical implications: The results obtained in this work were used to determine the technological modes of plasma hardening, which ensure an increase in the contact strength of parts with stress concentrators, depending on their dimensional characteristics. Originality/value: Using the approaches of computational mechanics and mathematical and computer modeling, methods for controlling the contact strength of parts with inhomogeneous non-local properties in the presence of a surface stress concentrator are proposed for the first time.

Computational contact mechanics analysis of laterally graded orthotropic half-planes

Purpose Frictional sliding contact problems between laterally graded orthotropic half-planes and a flat rigid stamp are investigated. The presented study aims at guiding engineering applications in the prediction of the contact response of orthotropic laterally graded members. Design/methodology/approach The solution procedure is based on a finite element (FE) approach which is conducted with an efficient FE analysis software ANSYS. The spatial gradations of the orthotropic stiffness constants through the horizontal axis are enabled utilizing the homogeneous FE approach. The Augmented Lagrangian contact algorithm is used as an iterative non-linear solution method in the contact analysis. Findings The accuracy of the proposed FE solution method is approved by using the comparisons of the results with those computed using an analytical technique. The prominent results indicate that the surface contact stresses can be mitigated upon increasing the degree of orthotropy and positive lateral gradations. Originality/value One can infer from the literature survey that, the contact mechanics analysis of orthotropic laterally graded materials has not been investigated so far. In this study, an FE method-based computational solution procedure for the aforementioned problem is addressed. The presented study aims at guiding engineering applications in the prediction of the contact response of orthotropic laterally graded members. Additionally, this study provides some useful points related to computational contact mechanics analysis of orthotropic structures.

On Application of the Third Medium Contact Method in Analysis of Geotechnical Problems

In computational contact mechanics, the contact constraints are usually applied using the Lagrange multiplier method, the penalty method, or alternative variants. Traditional contact approaches discretise the contact constraints in a weak sense, providing a stable interpolation scheme. However, they demand complicated search algorithms for contact detection at the interface between the intersecting bodies, and they usually lead to formulations that yield highly nonlinear tangent matrices, particularly for cases with realistic soil models and frictional contact. Recently, a new contact method based on the concept of a third medium has been developed, which overcomes the drawbacks of the conventional contact mechanics techniques. This new scheme is based on a space filling mesh in which the contacting bodies can move and interact. Contact constraints are enforced by changing the mechanical properties of medium with respect to the movements of the bodies. This new method has been developed for contact bodies undergoing large deformations using a hyper-elastic material law. In this study, the method is further extended to solve geomechanics problems in which the material behaviour is elastoplastic and the soil is subjected to large deformations. Potential merits of the third medium contact concept for analysing the geotechnical problems by the finite element method will also be addressed.