Conformal Contact Problems of Ball-socket and Ball

This paper focuses attention on non-conformal and almost conformal contact of ball and ball-socket. Two-dimensional finite element models are developed to calculate the normal contact stress distribution and contact area. The effects of geometry dimension and external load on the contact pressure distribution and contact region are presented, respectively. Meanwhile, the results of FEM and solutions of Hertz contact theory are compared. The results indicates that contact state of ball and ball-socket changes from point contact to area contact with the increasing of the dimensionless number-curvature radius coefficient f and the number of f = 0.536 (approximate to 0.54) is critical parameter causing the change. (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier B.V. Selection and/or peer-review under responsibility of Garry Lee