Numerical method for quasi-static adhesive elastic contact subjected to tangential loading

This paper presents a three-dimensional (3D) numerical model for simulating the adhesive contact with linear isotropic elasticity considering the interaction between normal and tangential loads. The model is based on the Boussinesq-Cerruti integral equations for elasticity, the Maugis-Dugdale (MD) model for adhesion, and the friction/adhesion interaction theory in the McMeeking model; it uses the Coulomb's law of friction to identify the occurrence of local microslip. Efficient and accurate determination of the contact behavior, together with adhesive and stick/slip regions, uses the iterative conjugate gradient method (CGM) and the discrete convolution and fast Fourier transform (DC-FFT) algorithm. The model analyzes adhesive-contact pressure, shear traction, and subsurface stress fields. It is used to study the effects of increasing tangential loading on the variations of stick/slip zones and adhesive-energy dissipation, as well as the influence of sinusoidal roughness on surface adhesion behavior. Compared with most theoretical models, the proposed numerical model has no restrictions on surface geometry and roughness of contact bodies, and it should have a wider range of applications.