The Contact Problem with the Bulk Application of Intermolecular Interaction Forces: Influence Function for an Inhomogeneous Elastic Half-Space

Abstract

In this paper, we consider a contact problem for an elastic half-space that is nonuniform over depth in the presence of applied bulk intermolecular interaction forces. Our attention is focused on constructing an influence function for this problem. A solution of the Mindlin problem on the action of a concentrated vertical force in an elastic half-space that is inhomogeneous over depth is obtained by using the perturbation method. The influence function is analyzed and some of its features are revealed.