Elastic contact on a double-layered substrate

Results are given for the contact law and state of stress induced in the contact resulting from application of a pressure distribution on a double-layered half-plane, or its indentation by a body of prescribed shape. The geometry is representative of that found widely in biomedical applications, particularly the knee prosthesis, and also in more general engineering problems. The solution is given in a numerically efficient form, and the stress states at the surface and within the structure that are associated with a number of different combinations of materials are displayed.