Deformation and stress in materials with inhomogeneity/void under contact loading

Materials may have inhomogeneities or inclusions embedded, which can result in stress concentrations, complex deformation, or even cracks, around the interface of inhomogeneity/inclusion and matrix. This paper evaluates the subsurface deformation and stress fields in the vicinity of a solid inhomogeneity, a hollow shell, and a void, or a crack, based on the numerical equivalent inclusion method (NEIM) and fast Fourier Transforms (FFT). A group of numerical simulations is conducted to reveal the displacements around inhomogeneities and cracks, in the forms of single inhomogeneity (solid or void), a layered inhomogeneity (a hollow shell), and an inhomogeneity with void tips. Stress volume integrals are calculated to quantify the influences of material properties, geometry, location, and orientation of inhomogeneities on displacement and stress transmissions across the inhomogeneity-matrix interfaces.