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We present a general approximate analytical solution for the normal contact of layered and functionally graded elastic materials for almost axisymmetric contact profiles. The solution only requires knowledge of the corresponding contact solution for indentation using a rigid cylindrical flat punch. It is based on the generalizations of Barber’s maximum normal force principle and Fabrikant’s approximation for the pressure distribution under an arbitrary flat punch in an inhomogeneous case. Executing an asymptotic procedure suggested recently for almost axisymmetric contacts of homogeneous elastic media results in a simple approximate solution to the inhomogeneous problem. The contact of elliptical paraboloids and indentation using a rigid pyramid with a square planform are considered in detail. For these problems, we compare our results to rigorous numerical solutions for a general (bonded or unbonded) single elastic layer based on the boundary element method. All comparisons show the quality and applicability of the suggested approximate solution. Based on our results, any compact axisymmetric or almost axisymmetric contact problem of layered or functionally graded elastic materials can be reduced asymptotically to the problem of indenting the material using a rigid cylindrical flat punch. The procedure can be used for different problems in tribology, e.g., within the framework of indentation testing or as a tool for the analysis of local features on a rough surface.

Wear of a cylindrical punch composed by two different materials alternatively distributed in annular forms is studied with the method of dimensionality reduction (MDR). The changes in surface topography and pressure distribution during the wear process is obtained and validated by the boundary element method (BEM). The pressure in each annular ring approaches a constant in a stationary state where the surface topography does not change any more. Furthermore, in an easier manner, using direct integration, the limiting profile in a steady wear state is theoretically calculated, as well as the root mean square (RMS) of its surface gradient, which is closely related to the coefficient of friction between this kind of surface and an elastomer. The dependence on the wear coefficients and the width of the annular areas of two phases is obtained.