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Multiscale contact mechanics for elastoplastic contacts

A. Almqvist1 and B. N. J. Persson2,3,4

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Phys. Rev. E 113, 015503 – Published 16 January, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/swvy-jzht

Abstract

Understanding contact between rough surfaces undergoing plastic deformation is crucial in many applications. We test Persson's multiscale contact mechanics theory for elastoplastic solids, assuming a constant penetration hardness. Using a numerical model based on the boundary element method, we simulate the contact between a flat rigid surface and an elastic-perfectly plastic half-space with a randomly rough surface. The theory's predictions for elastic, plastic, and total contact area agree quantitatively with the numerical results. The simulations also support the boundary conditions assumed in the theory, namely that the stress probability vanishes at both zero and yield stress. These findings reinforce the validity of the theory for systems with constant hardness.

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Phys. Rev. E 113, 015503– Published 16 January, 2026
  • Received 17 July 2025
  • Accepted 2 January 2026
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Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article's title, journal citation, and DOI.

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