Fretting contact of two elastic solids with graded coatings under torsion

In this paper, the fretting contact problem for two elastic solids with graded coatings is investigated. We assume a conventional axisymmetric Hertzian contact takes place between two elastic solids under the action of the normal pressure. The application of the torque produces an annulus of slip. It is assumed that the surface shear traction within the contact area is limited by Coulomb’s friction law and the torsion angel was produced within the central adhesion zone as a rigid body. The linear multi-layer model is used to model the functionally graded coating with arbitrarily varying shear modulus. This model divides the coating into a series of sub-layers with the elastic modulus varying linearly in each sub-layer and continuous on the sub-interfaces. By using the transfer matrix method and Hankel integral transform technique, this problem is formulated as the solution of the Cauchy singular integral equations. The contact tractions are calculated by solving the equations numerically. The results show that the appropriate gradual variation of the shear modulus can significantly alter the contact tractions. Therefore, graded coatings may have potential applications in improving the resistance to fretting contact damage at the contact surfaces.