2D Elastic–Plastic Finite Element Analysis of Kinematic and Kinetic Phenomena in Fretting Fatigue Testing

ABSTRACT Fretting under cyclic axial loading involves strong coupling between contact forces, relative slip, frictional work, and localized plastic deformation. This study presents a two‐dimensional plane strain elastic–plastic finite element model of a cylindrical pad–flat configuration to investigate the evolution of contact mechanics over two successive axial stress cycles. The model is validated against the classical Hertzian elastic solution under normal loading. The evolution of contact deformation, sticking and sliding zones, and the onset of gross sliding are examined during loading and unloading, revealing pronounced cycle‐dependent behavior. Redistribution of contact pressure and shear traction clarifies the transition from partial slip to gross sliding. A global–local framework is adopted to capture fretting fatigue behavior, which extracts of local relationships between normal force, tangential force, and relative slip at contact nodes. These are linked to the global evolution of shear force and accumulated frictional work, providing insight into fretting fatigue damage.