A New Nonlinear Model of Contact Normal Force

Abstract

This paper presents a new nonlinear model of the normal force that arises during compliant contact between two spheres, or between a sphere and a flat plate. It differs from a well-known existing model by only a single term. The advantage of the new model is that it accurately predicts the measured values of the coefficient of restitution between spheres and plates of various materials, whereas other models do not.