A numerical method for solving rough contact problems based on the multi-level multi-summation and conjugate gradient techniques

I. A. Polonsky, L. M. Keer*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

566 Scopus citations

Abstract

An alternative numerical method for solving contact problems for real rough surfaces is proposed. The real area of contact and the contact pressure distribution are determined using a single-loop iteration scheme based on the conjugate gradient method, which converges for abritrary rough surfaces. The surface deflections and subsurface stresses are computed using an alternative two-dimensional multi-level multi-summation algorithm, which allows the summation error to be kept under the discretization error for any number of contact points. The proposed method is fast: rough contact problems for surface samples with 105-106 data points are solved on a personal computer in a few hours. The numerical algorithms are described in full detail so that an interested reader can implement the new contact solver in a computer code. Numerical examples demonstrating the method advantages are presented. The method is compared with other fast contact solvers that have emerged in the last few years.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)206-219
Number of pages14
JournalWear
Volume231
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 1999
Externally publishedYes

Funding

We thank Dr. O.G. Chekina of the Institute for Problems of Mechanics, Moscow, Professor H.S. Cheng of Northwestern University, and Dr. S.C. Lee of Ohio State University for valuable discussions. We are indebted to Dr. J.D. Cogdell of Timken for providing us with roughness data. Thanks to Dr. S.J. Harris of General Motors for using early versions of our computer program in his work, which helped us to improve the code. The financial support of Caterpillar, General Motors, and Timken under the Advanced Technology Program of NIST is gratefully acknowledged.

Keywords

  • Conjugate gradient techniques
  • Multi-level multi-summation
  • Rough contact problems

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Surfaces and Interfaces
  • Surfaces, Coatings and Films
  • Materials Chemistry

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