Contact with Intermolecular Interactions for a Viscoelastic Layer (Self-Consistent Approach): Feature Analysis of the Indenter Approach/Retract Process.

In this paper, we consider the contact of an infinitely extended plane indenter and a viscoelastic layer within the framework of the Deryagin self-consistent approach with surface (traditional formulation) and volumetric (refined formulation) application of intermolecular interaction forces. Equations that describe the time change in the contact gap for such a contact are obtained. A condition, under which an abrupt time change in the contact gap is possible, is formulated. Calculations that indicate the nonmonotonic nature of the time dependences of the contact gap and pressure in the indenter approach and retract modes are performed. It is shown that the traditional and refined problem formulations can lead to significantly different results of calculating the characteristics of the contact between the indenter and the viscoelastic layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]