A Finite Element Based Study on the Elastic-Plastic Transition Behavior in a Hemisphere in Contact With a Rigid Flat

An axisymmetrical hemispherical asperity in contact with a rigid flat is modeled for an elastic perfectly plastic material. The present analysis extends the work (sphere in contact with a flat plate) of Kogut–Etsion Model and Jackson–Green Model and addresses some aspects uncovered in the above models. This paper shows the critical values in the dimensionless interference ratios $(ω∕ωc)$ for the evolution of the elastic core and the plastic region within the asperity for different $Y∕E$ ratios. The present analysis also covers higher interference ratios, and the results are applied to show the difference in the calculation of real contact area for the entire surface with other existing models. The statistical model developed to calculate the real contact area and the contact load for the entire surfaces based on the finite element method (FEM) single asperity model with the elastic perfectly plastic assumption depends on the $Y∕E$ ratio of the material.