On an invariance principle for unilateral contact at a bimaterial elastic interface

This paper examines the axisymmetric elastostatic problem related to the unilateral receding contact at a pre-compressed smooth bimaterial elastic interface. The separation at the interface is caused by the action of axisymmetric stress fields of unequal magnitude, which are applied at any location of the separate halfspace regions. The analysis of the problem focuses on the determination of the zone of separation as a function of the pre-compression, the magnitudes and locations of the axisymmetric stress fields inducing the separation, and the elasticity characteristics of the halfspace regions. It is found that the radius of the separation zone can be evaluated in explicit form. In the particular instance when the loadings applied at the surface of the halfspace regions are equal in magnitude and distribution, the analysis reveals that the radius of the separation zone is independent of the elasticity properties of the halfspace regions and can be evaluated in exact closed form.