Numerical analysis of the influence of distributed inhomogeneities on tangential fretting

The tangential fretting is explored in the present study when one of the contacting bodies distributed with multiple inhomogeneities. The tangential fretting contact of an elastic sphere with an inhomogeneous material is considered. A new numerical model based on a semi-analytical method is developed by using Eshelby’s equivalent inclusion method and fast Fourier transform algorithms. The coupling between the contact loading and inhomogeneities is fully considered. The influence of multiple inhomogeneities on tangential contact is investigated. Parametric studies are conducted for the effects of randomly distributed inhomogeneities on the contact pressure, tangential displacement, subsurface stress, etc., revealing the significance of the influences of inhomogeneity distribution parameters on tangential fretting performance.