Analysis and Inversion of Contact Stress for the Finite Thickness Neo-Hookean Layer

In this paper, the theoretical analysis and the inversion of the contact stress on the finite thickness rubber contact surface with the friction effect are investigated. First, an explicit expression of deformation and stress on the surface of rubber under a rigid spherical indenter is developed by means of theoretical model, dimensional analysis, and nonlinear finite element simulation. Second, the inverse approach for obtaining the contact stress on the finite thickness rubber contact surface is presented and verified theoretically. Also, the displacement, the stress field, and the friction coefficient are obtained by means of three-dimensional digital image correlation (3D DIC) method. Finally, the applicability to other hyperelastic models, general boundary conditions, and loading modes are discussed. The results will provide an important theoretical and experimental basis for evaluating the contact stress on the finite thickness rubber layer.