Enhanced model of a plowing asperity

In the present work we develop an analysis of plowing by an asperity that is described by more parameters than in previous work. This gives additional flexibility in representing a realistic surface profile. The upper bound method for rigid/perfectly plastic material and the concept of rigid blocks with velocity discontinuities has been consistently used to find the steady state solution. Comparisons with previous approximate approaches have been made. Existence and uniqueness of the solution have been discussed. A few numerical results demonstrating the concept are presented. Numerical efficiency makes it a viable alternative to direct application of a finite element method. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.