Abstract
A new method for the numerical calculation of the contact stress of machine elements by finite element method is proposed. In the present method, for the size of the contact region given in advance, the contact stress distribution in the region is obtained. In the process, finite element method is used to calculate the compliance of elastic bodies at each node in the contact region. Thus, usual finite element programs can be used with no special change of the programs. Some contact problems of elastic and rigid bodies, and elastic bodies are analysed. Numerical results are obtained with good accuracy, comparing with the results by Hertz theory.
