The Effect of Heat Flow on the Contact Area between a Continuous Rigid Punch and a Frictionless Elastic Half-space

A general proof is given of the theorem that, if a continuous rigid punch indenting an elastichalf space is heated, the separation of the solids will increase and part of the contact area will belost. It is also shown that if the punch is convex, the contact area cannot be multiply-connected. R~um~On donne une preuve g6n6rale du th6or6me que, si un poinqon continu rigid, p6n6trant undemi-espace 61astique, est chauff6, la s6paration des solides grandira et une partie de la r6gion decontact sera perdue. On montre 6galement que la r6gion de contact ne peut pas 6tre multiplementconnexe si le poinqon est convexe. (Received: March 30, 1976)