A rigorous approach to the contact mechanics of rough, elastic solids
ORAL
Abstract
The basic ideas of a statistical field theory is presented, which allows one to calculate the displacement field and the pressure distribution $\Pr(p)$ in a contact formed by an elastic body and a rigid counter face of arbitrary topography. The theory is a cumulant expansion, which contains Persson's contact mechanics theory as the leading-order term. The cumulant approach provides a framework with which corrections can now be systematically derived. Comparison is made to numerical data for surfaces that interact via exponentially repulsive forces.
*Financial support from NSERC and GM, Canada is gratefully acknowledged.
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