Asymmetric Indentation of a Finite Elastically Supported Beam

This paper presents the results of an investigation into the behavior of an elastic beam that is loaded by a frictionless cylindrical indenter. Results are obtained using a solution which incorporates both local contact behavior as well as global beam behavior. The solution is obtained by superposing an elastic layer solution derived through the use of integral transforms and the cylindrical bending solution for a flat plate. The problem reduces to two coupled Fredholm integral equations of the second kind which are solved numerically. Local contact stresses and load-deflection relations are examined in detail for various geometric and contact parameters. The results are compared to Hertz theory contact stresses and beam theory deflection predictions.