Asymptotic models for thin transversely isotropic elastic layers

  • Guozheng ZHANG ,
  • Zhaohe DA
Expand
  • School of Mechanics and Engineering Science, State Key Laboratory for Turbulence and Complex Systems, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
Zhaohe DA, E-mail: daizh@pku.edu.cn

Received date: 2026-03-01

  Revised date: 2026-04-28

  Online published: 2026-06-30

Supported by

Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 12372103 and 12432003)

Copyright

© Shanghai University 2026

Abstract

Thin elastic layers bonded on one or both surfaces to rigid substrates are ubiquitous in coatings, adhesives, and integrated circuits. Their response to applied surface tractions is commonly represented by reduced mattress (or Winkler) models and shear-lag models. Classical reduced relations typically ignore normal-tangential coupling and are often confined to compressible and isotropic solids. In this work, we develop a Hankel-transform formulation for axisymmetric loading of transversely isotropic layers and perform a systematic thin-layer (or long-wavelength) asymptotic expansion to obtain high-order surface traction-displacement relations. The resulting reduced relations provide extended Winkler and shear-lag-type models that retain the coupling between normal and shear responses and accommodate transverse isotropy. These asymptotic models provide a practical basis for predicting deformation fields and stress transfer in layered and bonded systems.

Cite this article

Guozheng ZHANG , Zhaohe DA . Asymptotic models for thin transversely isotropic elastic layers[J]. Applied Mathematics and Mechanics, 2026 , 47(7) : 1603 -1624 . DOI: 10.1007/s10483-026-3406-8

References

[1] JOHNSON, K. L. Contact Mechanics, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (1985)
[2] SHULL, K. R. Contact mechanics and the adhesion of soft solids. Materials Science and Engineering R: Reports, 36(1), 1–45 (2002)
[3] BARBER, J. R. and CIAVARELLA, M. Contact mechanics. International Journal of Solids and Structures, 37(1-2), 29–43 (2000)
[4] DILLARD, D. A., MUKHERJEE, B., KARNAL, P., BATRA, R. C., and FRECHETTE, J. A review of Winkler’s foundation and its profound influence on adhesion and soft matter applications. Soft Matter, 14(19), 3669–3683 (2018)
[5] LEóN BALDELLI, A. A. and BOURDIN, B. On the asymptotic derivation of Winkler-type energies from 3D elasticity. Journal of Elasticity, 121, 275–301 (2015)
[6] DA SILVA, L. F. M., DAS NEVES, P. J. C., ADAMS, R. D., and SPELT, J. K. Analytical models of adhesively bonded joints—part I: literature survey. International Journal of Adhesion and Adhesives, 29, 319–330 (2009)
[7] GOLAND, M. and REISSNER, E. The stresses in cemented joints. Journal of Applied Mechanics, 11(1), A17–A27 (1944)
[8] BERTIN, V., AMAROUCHENE, Y., RAPHA?L, E., and SALEZ, T. Soft-lubrication interactions between a rigid sphere and an elastic wall. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 933, A23 (2022)
[9] DILLARD, D. A. Advances in Structural Adhesive Bonding, 2nd ed., Woodhead Publishing, Oxford (2023)
[10] YU, C. L. and DAI, Z. H. Premature jump-to-contact with elastic surfaces. Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, 193, 105919 (2024)
[11] KERR, A. On the formal development of elastic foundation models. Ingenieur-Archiv, 54(6), 455–464 (1984)
[12] RU, C. Q. Surface instability of an elastic thin film interacting with a suspended elastic plate. Journal of Applied Mechanics, 69(2), 97–103 (2002)
[13] WU, J. and RU, C. Q. Spherical indentation of an elastic layer on a rigid substrate revisited. Thin Solid Films, 669, 500–508 (2019)
[14] DILLARD, D. A. Bending of plates on thin elastomeric foundations. Journal of Applied Mechanics, 56(2), 382–386 (1989)
[15] SKOTHEIM, J. M. and MAHADEVAN, L. Soft lubrication. Physical Review Letters, 92(24), 245509 (2004)
[16] MOVCHAN, A. B., REBROV, K. R., and RODIN, G. J. Axisymmetric deformation of compressible, nearly incompressible, and incompressible thin layers between two rigid surfaces. International Journal of Solids and Structures, 214-215, 61–73 (2021)
[17] MOVCHAN, A. B., MOVCHAN, N. V., and RODIN, G. J. Asymptotic analysis of thin linear elastic layers constrained by two rigid plates. International Journal of Solids and Structures, 285, 112561 (2023)
[18] CHANDLER, T. G. J. and VELLA, D. Validity of Winkler’s mattress model for thin elastomeric layers: beyond Poisson’s ratio. Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 476(2242), 20200551 (2020)
[19] LI, H. and DAI, Z. H. Peeling from elastomeric layers: does material compressibility matter? International Journal of Mechanical Sciences, 302, 110331 (2025)
[20] BARNES, M., FENG, F., and BIGGINS, J. S. Surface instability in a nematic elastomer. Physical Review Letters, 131(23), 238101 (2023)
[21] WANG, L. J. and FENG, F. A continuum mechanics approach for the deformation of non-Euclidean origami generated by piecewise constant nematic director fields. Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, 208, 106460 (2025)
[22] ARGATOV, I. and MISHURIS, G. Indentation Testing of Biological Materials, Springer International Publishing, Cham (2018)
[23] WANG, B. J., LI, J. Y., FANG, Z., JIANG, Y. F., LI, S., ZHAN, F. Y., DAI, Z. H., CHEN, Q., and WEI, X. L. Large and pressure-dependent c-axis piezoresistivity of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite near zero pressure. Nano Letters, 24(16), 4965–4971 (2024)
[24] WANG, B. J., YU, C. L., JIANG, Y. F., TIAN, C., TIAN, J. M., LI, S., FANG, Z., LI, M. L., WU, W. L., DAI, Z. H., TANIGUCHI, T., WATANABE, K., CHEN, Q., and WEI, X. L. Dielectric strength weakening of hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets under mechanical stress. Nature Communications, 16(1), 8078 (2025)
[25] NING, X., LOVELL, M., and SLAUGHTER, W. S. Asymptotic solutions for axisymmetric contact of a thin, transversely isotropic elastic layer. Wear, 260(7-8), 693–698 (2006)
[26] BORODICH, F. M., GALANOV, B. A., KEER, L. M., and SUAREZ-ALVAREZ, M. M. The JKR-type adhesive contact problems for transversely isotropic elastic solids. Mechanics of Materials, 75, 34–44 (2014)
[27] VITUCCI, G., ARGATOV, I., and MISHURIS, G. An asymptotic model for the deformation of a transversely isotropic, transversely homogeneous biphasic cartilage layer. Mathematical Methods in the Applied Sciences, 40(9), 3333–3347 (2017)
[28] ARGATOV, I. and MISHURIS, G. Contact Mechanics of Articular Cartilage Layers: Asymptotic Models, Springer International Publishing, Switzerland (2015)
[29] LI, J. Y., ZHANG, G. Z., WANG, L., and DAI, Z. H. Indentation of a plate on a thin transversely isotropic elastic layer. Acta Mechanica Solida Sinica, 38(2), 331–340 (2025)
[30] LEKHNITSKII, S. G., FERN, P., BRANDSTATTER, J. J., and DILL, E. Theory of Elasticity of an Anisotropic Elastic Body, Holden-Day, San Francisco (1963)
[31] SNEDDON, I. N. Fourier Transforms, Dover Publications, Mineola, New York (1995)
[32] DANIEL, I. and ISHAI, O. Engineering Mechanics of Composite Materials, Oxford University Press, New York (1994)
[33] DING, H., CHEN, W., and ZHANG, L. Elasticity of Transversely Isotropic Materials, Springer, Dordrecht (2006)
[34] DAHAN, M. and ZARKA, J. Elastic contact between a sphere and a semi infinite transversely isotropic body. International Journal of Solids and Structures, 13(3), 229–238 (1977)
[35] AI, Z. Y., YUE, Z. Q., THAM, L. G., and YANG, M. Extended Sneddon and Muki solutions for multilayered elastic materials. International Journal of Engineering Science, 40(13), 1453–1483 (2002)
[36] HANNAH, M. Contact stress and deformation in a thin elastic layer. The Quarterly Journal of Mechanics and Applied Mathematics, 4(1), 94–105 (1951)
[37] ESSINK, M. H., PANDEY, A., KARPITSCHKA, S., VENNER, C. H., and SNOEIJER, J. H. Regimes of soft lubrication. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 915, A49 (2021)
[38] LIU, Y., JI, Q. Q., and GORIELY, A. Surface wrinkling of a hyperelastic half-space coated by a liquid crystal elastomer film. International Journal of Solids and Structures, 299, 112895 (2024)
[39] LIU, Y., LIU, R. C., MA, W. Y., and GORIELY, A. Post-buckling of fiber-reinforced soft tissues. Journal of the Mechanics and Physics of Solids, 203, 106220 (2025)
[40] WANG, Y. H., THAM, L. G., and CHEUNG, Y. K. Beams and plates on elastic foundations: a review. Progress in Structural Engineering and Materials, 7(4), 174–182 (2005)
[41] COHEN, T., CHAN, C. U., and MAHADEVAN, L. Competing failure modes in finite adhesive pads. Soft Matter, 14(10), 1771–1779 (2018)
Outlines

/

APS Journals | CSTAM Journals | AMS Journals | EMS Journals | ASME Journals