Plane contact problem for a half-space with boundary imperfections

In this paper the new micrmodelling approach to the contact problem for a half-space with boundary imperfections is proposed. The approach is based on a periodic distribution of micro-undulations along the space boundary and leads to the 2-D mathematical macro-model of the contact problem. The general idea of the modelling takes into account certain concepts used in the investigation of periodic composite materials (see e.g; Wozniak, 1993). The resulting model constitutes a generalization of the known Winkler-type model (see e.g. Shtayerman, 1949). The numerical solution to the special problem shows the boundary imperfections effect on the contact of bodies. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.