Elastically stressed state in small particles under conditions of Hertzian contacts

Distributions of elastic stresses in individual small particles (SPS) compressed normally by closest neighbours in loaded ensembles of SPS are studied in detail. Schemes of two, eight and twelve contacts with closest neighbours calculated by means of the finite element method are considered. On the basis of numerical results, simple algebraic expressions approximating the distributions of the hydrostatic stresses and the intensity of shear stresses in SPS having Hertzian contacts with their neighbours are obtained. An increase in the number of neighbours leads to more uniform stresses inside the SP. The development of a stressed state with an increase in the number of contacts is analysed.