Contact problem of two punches in an elastic coating attached to a porous material

This paper investigates the contact problem of an elastic layer that is perfectly attached to a porous half-space by two rigid flat punches with collinear symmetry. Using integral transformation, the problem is condensed to a singular integral equation of the Cauchy type. Then, the exact expressions for the surface contact stress and surface interface displacement are provided. By using the Gauss–Chebyshev technique, the integral equations are solved numerically, and the variations of the unknown contact stresses and deformations for different parameters are addressed. The results indicate that stress concentration is typically higher on the outer edge of the contact area compared to the inner edge. This also explains why surface damage is more likely to occur on the outer edge in elastic and poroelastic materials. Due to the interaction between the two punches, there will be a superposition of normal displacements at the center. The deformation or bulging at the center can be managed by adjusting the parameter values, allowing the engineered material to fulfill its intended purpose. The potential applications of these research findings encompass safeguarding porous structures against contact-related deformation and damage.