FINITE-ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF CONTACT STRESSES IN ELASTIC DOUBLE-LAYER SYSTEMS UNDER NORMAL LOAD

A finite element method has been used to calculate contact stresses in elastic double-layer systems under a normal pressure distribution similar to that found in the hertzian contact between a spherical indenter and an elastic half-space. The double layer consisted of two layers of equal thickness but different modulus and stresses have been calculated for various values of the layer thickness:contact half width ratio and the outer layer:intermediate layer:substrate modulus ratios. It has been shown that double-layer coatings generally have less severe stress distributions than monolayers having the same total thickness as the double layer and the same modulus as the outer layer of the double-layer coating.