Normal contact stiffness

Normal contact stiffness is a physical quantity related to the generalized force displacement behavior of rough surfaces in contact with a rigid body or a second similar rough surface.[1] Rough surfaces can be seen as consisting of large numbers asperities. As two solid bodies of the same material approach one another, asperities interact with one another and they transition from conditions of non-contact to homogeneous bulk type behaviour. The varying values of stiffness and true contact area that is exhibited at an interface during this transition is dependent on conditions of applied pressure and is of notable importance for the study of systems involving the physical interactions of multiple bodies including granular matter, electrode contacts, and thermal contacts, where the interface-localized structures govern overall system performance.[2]

Contacting surfaces with applied normal and tangential forces

Surface structure

The role of surface structure in normal contact mechanics, in terms of stiffness and true contact area is a frequently studied topic. Parameters of roughness, fractal dimension and asperity geometry are often discussed with reference to their significance on contact mechanics of surfaces.

References
  1. The role of surface structure in normal contact stiffness Experimental Mechanics 2015
  2. Contact stiffness of multiscale surfaces International Journal of Mechanical Sciences, 2017
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