Contact stress analysis including plastic deformation for a finite beam on an elastic foundation

Abstract

A body compressed on an elastic foundation is treated as a contact problem including plastic deformation. Making use of a sequential linear programming method and the finite element method, a step-by-step incremental method is proposed in the present study. Contact stress distribution and contact region are determined at each stage. Plastic zones also obtained. In plastic range, the contact stresses are not proportional to the external load, especially at higher load. The contact region may vary. Yielding initiates at an element where the external load is applied. Plastic zones gradually expand into elastic regions. And a limiting state is approached very early.