Contact with stick zone between an indenter and a thin incompressible layer

The dominant asymptotic term for the indentation of a thin elastic incompressible layer by an axisymmetric rigid indenter is considered. Complete adhesion is supposed everywhere in the contact area or else in a given inner region surrounded by an annular frictionless zone. Both the problems are formulated in the form of systems of coupled dual integral equations. Using operators transforming kernels of the Hankel transform into kernels of the Weber–Orr transform, the dual integral equations are reduced to systems of Fredholm integral equations of the second kind whose structures permit deriving asymptotic solutions. Simple expressions for the contact stresses, the penetration depth, and the contact radius in the case of an unknown contact area are obtained. Explicit formulae, derived for the flat and power law indenter profiles, allow us to analyze how stick and frictionless zones affect mechanical characteristics. Results manifest that the punch penetration exhibits strong sensitivity to contact conditions inspite of the fact that the radial traction is small. A conical indenter is less sensitive than flat-ended and spherical indenters.