Axisymmetric contact problem for a frictionless elastic layer indented by an elastic cylinder

This paper is concerned with the elastostatic contact problem of a semi-infinite cylinder compressed against a layer lying on a rigid foundation. It is assumed that all the contacting surfaces are frictionless and that only compressive normal tractions can be transmitted through the interfaces. Upon loading the contact along the layer-foundation interface shrinks to a circular area whose radius is unknown. The analysis leads to a system of singular integral equations of the second kind. The integral equations are solved numerically and the contact pressures, extent of the contact area between the layer and the foundation, and the stress intensity factor round the edge of the cylinder are calculated for various material pairs.