Numerical investigation of sliding frictional contact in functionally graded steels (FGS)

This study will analyze the two-dimensional nonlinear partial slip contact problem between a graded half plane in the normal to the contact interface and a rigid flat punch subject to a normal load. The problem, formulated under plane strain conditions, is reduced to singular integral equations of the second kind that are then solved with an expansion - collocation technique. A parametric analysis is carried out to assess the effect of friction coefficient on contact stresses, stress intensity factors and failure loads. The analytical model is in close agreement with finite element simulations. Remarkably, the graded constructions allow the critical load to be increased by two times with respect to common austenitic and ferrite steels.