Thermo-mechanical contact behavior of a finite graded layer under a sliding punch with heat generation

The problem of a rigid punch contacting with a finite graded layer on a rigid substrate is investigated within the framework of steady-state plane strain thermoelasticity, in which heat generated by contact friction is considered with a constant friction coefficient and inertia effects are neglected. The material properties of the graded layer vary according to an exponential function in the thickness direction. Fourier integral transform method and transform matrix approach are employed to reduce the current thermocontact problem to the second kind of Cauchy-type singular integral equation. Distributions of the contact pressure and the in-plane stress under the prescribed thermoelastic environment with different parameter combinations, including ratio of shear moduli, relative sliding speed, friction coefficient and thermal parameters are obtained and analyzed, as well as the stress singularity and the stress intensity factors near the contact edges. The results should be helpful for the design of surfaces with strong wear resistance and novel graded materials for real applications.