 Normal contact stiffness

Normal contact stiffness is a concept used in contact mechanics, which deals with the interactions that occur when two bodies come into contact. Specifically, normal contact stiffness quantifies how much a material resists deformation in the direction perpendicular to the contact surface when a normal load is applied. In simple terms, it describes the relationship between the force applied perpendicular to the contact surface and the resulting deformation (deflection) of the contact area.