Studying contact stress fields caused by surface tractions with a discrete convolution and fast fourier transform algorithm

The knowledge of contact stresses is critical to the design of a tribological element. It is necessary to keep improving contact models and develop efficient numerical methods for contact studies, particularly for the analysis involving coated bodies with rough surfaces. The fast Fourier Transform technique is likely to play an important role in contact analyses. It has been shown that the accuracy in an algorithm with the fast Fourier Transform is closely related to the convolution theorem employed. The algorithm of the discrete convolution and fast Fourier Transform, named the DC-FFT algorithm includes two routes of problem solving: DC-FFT/Influence coefficients/Green's function for the cases with known Green's functions and DC-FFT/Influence coefficient/conversion, if frequency response functions are known. This paper explores the method for the accurate conversion for influence coefficients from frequency response functions, further improves the DC-FFT algorithm, and applies this algorithm to analyze the contact stresses in an elastic body under pressure and shear tractions for high efficiency and accuracy. A set of general formulas of the frequency response function for the elastic field is derived and verified. Application examples are presented and discussed.