Finite element analysis investigates the role of gradation parameters in contact forces for composites, suggesting significant effects on durability.
In industrial machines and machine elements, it is quite common to find contact between surfaces under various loading conditions. Interaction between such contacting surfaces during loading and subsequent unloading and the responses of the contact system are important in terms of the longevity and sustainability of the components. The present work studies flattening contact of a carbon nanotube (CNT) reinforced functionally graded material (FGM) matrix nanocomposite (CNTR-FGMMC) using a finite element-based cylindrical contact model. It focuses on the effect of gradation parameter or index of the functionally graded matrix material. The FGM is treated as an elastically-graded material, where both the modulus of elasticity and tangent modulus vary while the yield strength remains constant. The finite element model has been tested for convergence and validity by comparison with established results from systems with lesser complexity. The flattening analysis is conducted by varying elastic inhomogeneity/gradation parameters while maintaining a constant wall thickness of CNTs. Stress and deformation behaviors, including contact force and contact area, throughout the loading and unloading phases as gradation parameters vary. Additionally, the analysis encompasses an examination of energy losses attributed to plasticity. The study reveals that the gradation parameter plays a significant role in contact behavior.
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Bhadra et al. (2025) studied this question.
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