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Maximum Pressure on a Contact Area between two cylinders with parallel axes

Description

Contact mechanics is the study of the deformation of solids that touch each other at one or more points. Hertzian contact stress refers to the localized stresses that develop as two curved surfaces come in contact and deform slightly under the imposed loads. This amount of deformation is dependent on the modulus of elasticity of the material in contact. It gives the contact stress as a function of the normal contact force, the radii of curvature of both bodies and the modulus of elasticity of both bodies. In contact between two cylinders with parallel axes, the maximum pressure is related to the indentation depth, the length of the contact area and the contact radius.

Related formulas

Variables

p0Maximum pressure (Pa)
EModulus of elasticity ( Young's modulus) (Pa)
FApplied force (N)
πpi
LLength of the contact area (of the cylinders) (m)
RThe contact radius (m)