Introduction. A simplified summary of the theory of stationary electric contacts

Abstract

An attempt to present the concepts of the contact theory in such a sequence that none of them is used before being thoroughly defined would lead to a very unwieldly style. For example, the fundamental concept of contact surface can not be treated in detail before the constriction resistance has been defined, since determinations of the conducting areas are based on the measurement of constriction resistances. Again, the concept of the constriction resistance can not be thoroughly treated without reference to the contact areas. Therefore, it seems preferable to introduce in a provisory manner some important concepts in an opening paragraph, allowing a more elastic and agreeable exposition in those which follow. The introduction is given a quantitative character by means of some calculations, based upon an artificial model of the current flow lines which highly simplifies the treatment. In the later paragraphs the same model is used for the calculation of particular problems.

The erratum of this chapter is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-25893-4_72