Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 May 2011
This paper is concerned with an axially symmetric frictionless contact between an elastically transversely isptropic functionally graded half-space and a rigid base that has a small axisymmetric surface recess. The graded half-space is modeled as a nonhomogeneous medium. We reduce the problem to solving Fredholm integral equations, solve these equations numerically and establish a relationship between the applied pressure and gap radius. The effects of anisotropy and nonhomogeneity parameter of the graded half-space on the normal pressure as well as on the critical pressure have been shown graphically.