A dynamic viscoelastic contact problem with normal compliance,finite penetration and nonmonotone slip rate dependent friction

We consider a mathematical model which describes the dynamic evolution of a viscoelastic body in frictional contact with an obstacle. The contact is modelled with normal compliance and unilateral constraint, associated to a rate slip-dependent version of Coulomb’s law of dry friction. In order to approximate the contact conditions, we consider a regularized problem wherein the contact is modelled by a standard normal compliance condition without finite penetrations. For each problem, we derive a variational formulation and an existence result of the weak solution of the regularized problem is obtained. Next, we prove the convergence of the weak solution of the regularized problem to the weak solution of the initial nonregularized problem. Then, we introduce a fully discrete approximation of the variational problem based on a finite element method and on a second order time integration scheme. The solution of the resulting nonsmooth and nonconvex frictional contact problems is presented, based on approximation by a sequence of nonsmooth convex programming problems. Finally, some numerical simulations are provided in order to illustrate both the behaviour of the solution related to the frictional contact conditions and the convergence result.     

Modeling and analysis of the unilateral contact of a piezoelectric body with a conductive support

We consider a mathematical model which describes the quasistatic process of contact between a piezoelectric body and an electrically conductive support, the so-called foundation. We model the material's behavior with a nonlinear electro-viscoelastic constitutive law; the contact is frictionless and is described with the Signorini condition and a regularized electrical conductivity condition. We derive a variational formulation for the problem and then we prove the existence of a unique weak solution to the model. The proof is based on arguments of nonlinear equations with multivalued maximal monotone operators and fixed point. Then we introduce a fully discrete scheme, based on the finite element method to approximate the spatial variable and the backward Euler scheme to discretize the time derivatives. We treat the unilateral contact conditions by using an augmented Lagrangian approach. We implement this scheme in a numerical code then we present numerical simulations in the study of two-dimensional test problems, together with various comments and interpretations.     

Solvability of a dynamic contact problem between a piezoelectric body and a conductive foundation

We consider a mathematical model which describes the dynamic process of contact between a piezoelectric body and an electrically conductive foundation. We model the material’s behavior with a nonlinear electro-viscoelastic constitutive law; the contact is frictionless and is described with the normal compliance condition and a regularized electrical conductivity condition. We derive a variational formulation for the problem and then, under a smallness assumption on the data, we prove the existence of a unique weak solution to the model. We also investigate the behavior of the solution with respect the electric data on the contact surface and prove a continuous dependence result. Then, we introduce a fully discrete scheme, based on the finite element method to approximate the spatial variable and the backward Euler scheme to discretize the time derivatives. We treat the contact by using a penalized approach and a version of Newton’s method. We implement this scheme in a numerical code and, in order to verify its accuracy, we present numerical simulations in the study of two-dimensional test problems. These simulations provide a numerical validation of our continuous dependence result and illustrate the effects of the conductivity of the foundation, as well.     

Variational and numerical analysis of a quasistatic viscoelastic contact problem with normal compliance and friction

In this paper, a class of generalized evolution variational inequalities arising in quasistatic friction contact problem for viscoelastic materials is introduced and studied. Under some suitable assumptions, we obtain an existence and uniqueness theorem of the solution for the generalized evolution variational inequalities by using Banach’s fixed point theorem. Moreover, we study two numerical approximation schemes of the problem: semidiscrete scheme and fully discrete scheme. For both schemes, we prove the existence of the solution and derive the error estimations.     

Variational and numerical analysis of a quasistatic viscoelastic problem with normal compliance,friction and damage

We consider a model for quasistatic frictional contact between a viscoelastic body and a foundation. The material constitutive relation is assumed to be nonlinear. The mechanical damage of the material, caused by excessive stress or strain, is described by the damage function, the evolution of which is determined by a parabolic inclusion. The contact is modeled with the normal compliance condition and the associated version of Coulomb's law of dry friction. We derive a variational formulation for the problem and prove the existence of its unique weak solution. We then study a fully discrete scheme for the numerical solutions of the problem and obtain error estimates on the approximate solutions.     

Analysis and numerical solution of a piezoelectric frictional contact problem

We consider a mathematical model which describes the frictional contact between an electro-elastic–visco-plastic body and a conductive foundation. The contact is modelled with normal compliance and a version of Coulomb’s law of dry friction, in which the stiffness and the friction coefficients depend on the electric potential. We derive a variational formulation of the problem and we prove an existence and uniqueness result. The proof is based on a recent existence and uniqueness result on history-dependent quasivariational inequalities obtained in [15]. Then we introduce a fully discrete scheme for solving the problem and, under certain solution regularity assumptions, we derive an optimal order error estimate. Finally, we present some numerical results in the study of a two-dimensional test problem which describes the process of contact in a microelectromechanical switch.     

Numerical analysis of a quasi-static contact problem for a thermoviscoelastic beam

In this paper we revisit a quasi-static contact problem of a thermoviscoelastic beam between two rigid obstacles which was recently studied in [1]. The variational problem leads to a coupled system, composed of an elliptic variational inequality for the vertical displacement and a linear variational equation for the temperature field. Then, its numerical resolution is considered, based on the finite element method to approximate the spatial variable and the implicit Euler scheme to discretize the time derivatives. Error estimates are proved from which, under adequate regularity conditions, the linear convergence is derived. Finally, some numerical simulations are presented to show the accuracy of the algorithm and the behavior of the solution.     

Damageable contact between an elastic body and a rigid foundation

In this work, the contact problem between an elastic body and a rigid obstacle is studied, including the development of material damage which results from internal compression or tension. The variational problem is formulated as a first-kind variational inequality for the displacements coupled with a parabolic partial differential equation for the damage field. The existence of a unique local weak solution is stated. Then, a fully discrete scheme is introduced using the finite element method to approximate the spatial variable and an Euler scheme to discretize the time derivatives. Error estimates are derived on the approximate solutions, from which the linear convergence of the algorithm is deduced under suitable regularity conditions. Finally, three two-dimensional numerical simulations are performed to demonstrate the accuracy and the behaviour of the scheme.     

Numerical analysis and simulations of a quasistatic frictional contact problem with damage in viscoelasticity

We consider a quasistatic problem which models the bilateral contact between a viscoelastic body and a foundation, taking into account the damage and the friction. The damage which results from tension or compression is then involved in the constitutive law and it is modelled using a nonlinear parabolic inclusion. The variational problem is formulated as a coupled system of evolutionary equations for which we state the existence of a unique solution. Then, we introduce a fully discrete scheme using the finite element method to approximate the spatial variable and the Euler scheme to discretize the time derivatives. Error estimates are derived and, under suitable regularity hypotheses, the convergence of the numerical scheme obtained. Finally, a numerical algorithm and results are presented for some two-dimensional examples.     

Convergence of the Neumann parallel scheme of the domain decomposition method for problems of frictionless contact between several elastic bodies

Based on the variational formulation and penalty method, we have considered the Neumann parallel scheme of the domain decomposition method for the solution of problems of one-sided contact between three-dimensional elastic bodies. We have shown the existence and uniqueness of a solution of the variational problem with penalty and convergence in the penalty parameter. The convergence of this scheme has been proved, and the optimal value of iteration parameter has been determined.     

Numerical analysis of a contact problem including bone remodeling

In this work, a contact problem between an elastic body and a deformable obstacle is numerically studied. The bone remodeling of the material is also taken into account in the model and the contact is modeled using the normal compliance contact condition. The variational problem is written as a nonlinear variational equation for the displacement field, coupled with a first-order ordinary differential equation to describe the physiological process of bone remodeling. An existence and uniqueness result of weak solutions is stated. Then, fully discrete approximations are introduced based on the finite element method to approximate the spatial variable and an Euler scheme to discretize the time derivatives. Error estimates are obtained, from which the linear convergence of the algorithm is derived under suitable regularity conditions. Finally, some 2D numerical results are presented to demonstrate the behavior of the solution.     

Application of Relaxation Scheme to Degenerate Variational Inequalities

In this paper we are concerned with the solution of degenerate variational inequalities. To solve this problem numerically, we propose a numerical scheme which is based on the relaxation scheme using non-standard time discretization. The approximate solution on each time level is obtained in the iterative way by solving the corresponding elliptic variational inequalities. The convergence of the method is proved.     

Dynamic frictionless contact of a nonlinear beam with two stops

In this work, we consider mathematical and numerical approaches to a dynamic contact problem with a highly nonlinear beam, the so-called Gao beam. Its left end is rigidly attached to a supporting device, whereas the other end is constrained to move between two perfectly rigid stops. Thus, the Signorini contact conditions are imposed to its right end and are interpreted as a pair of complementarity conditions. We formulate a time discretization based on a truncated variational formulation. We prove the convergence of numerical trajectories and also derive a new form of energy balance. A fully discrete numerical scheme is implemented to present numerical results.     

Discontinuous Galerkin methods for solving a quasistatic contact problem

We consider the numerical solution of a nonlinear evolutionary variational inequality, arising in the study of quasistatic contact problems. We study spatially semi-discrete and fully discrete schemes for the problem with several discontinuous Galerkin discretizations in space and finite difference discretization in time. Under appropriate regularity assumptions on the solution, a unified error analysis is established for the schemes, reaching the optimal convergence order for linear elements. Numerical results are presented on a two dimensional test problem to illustrate numerical convergence orders.     

Convergence of Rothe scheme for a class of dynamic variational inequalities involving Clarke subdifferential

In the first part of the paper we deal with a second-order evolution variational inequality involving a multivalued term generated by a Clarke subdifferential of a locally Lipschitz potential. For this problem we construct a time-semidiscrete approximation, known as the Rothe scheme. We study a sequence of solutions of the semidiscrete approximate problems and provide its weak convergence to a limit element that is a solution of the original problem. Next, we show that the solution is unique and the convergence is strong. In the second part of the paper, we consider a dynamic visco-elastic problem of contact mechanics. We assume that the contact process is governed by a normal damped response condition with a unilateral constraint and the body is non-clamped. The mechanical problem in its weak formulation reduces to a variational–hemivariational inequality that can be solved by finding a solution of a corresponding abstract problem related to one studied in the first part of the paper. Hence, we apply obtained existence result to provide the weak solvability of contact problem.     

Variational formulation of the roller contact problem

We formulate the roller contact problem in terms of variational inequality with certain pseudodifferentional operator, and discuss a finite element technique for its numerical solution.     

A normal compliance contact problem in viscoelasticity: An a posteriori error analysis and computational experiments

In this work, the numerical approximation of a viscoelastic contact problem is studied. The classical Kelvin-Voigt constitutive law is employed, and contact is assumed with a deformable obstacle and modelled using the normal compliance condition. The variational formulation leads to a nonlinear parabolic variational equation. An existence and uniqueness result is recalled. Then, a fully discrete scheme is introduced, by using the finite element method to approximate the spatial variable and the implicit Euler scheme to discretize time derivatives. A priori error estimates recently proved for this problem are recalled. Then, an a posteriori error analysis is provided, extending some preliminary results obtained in the study of the heat equation and other parabolic equations. Upper and lower error bounds are proved. Finally, some numerical experiments are presented to demonstrate the accuracy and the numerical behaviour of the error estimates.     

Numerical approximation and error control for a thermoelastic contact problem

A numerical method using finite elements for the spatial discretization and the Crank–Nicolson scheme for the time stepping is applied to a partial differential equation problem involving thermoelastic contact. The Crank–Nicolson scheme is interpreted as a low order continuous Galerkin method. By exploiting the variational framework inherent in this approach, an a posteriori error estimate is derived. This estimate gives a bound on the approximation error that depends on computable quantities such as the mesh parameters, time step and numerical solution. In this paper, the a posteriori estimate is used to develop a time step refinement strategy. Several computational examples are included that demonstrate the performance of the method and validity of the estimate.     

A frictionless contact problem for elastic–viscoplastic materials with normal compliance: Numerical analysis and computational experiments

Summary. In this paper we consider a frictionless contact problem between an elastic–viscoplastic body and an obstacle. The process is assumed to be quasistatic and the contact is modeled with normal compliance. We present a variational formulation of the problem and prove the existence and uniqueness of the weak solution, using strongly monotone operators arguments and Banach's fixed point theorem. We also study the numerical approach to the problem using spatially semi-discrete and fully discrete finite elements schemes with implicit and explicit discretization in time. We show the existence of the unique solution for each of the schemes and derive error estimates on the approximate solutions. Finally, we present some numerical results involving examples in one, two and three dimensions. Received May 20, 2000 / Revised version received January 8, 2001 / Published online June 7, 2001     

Applying a Power Penalty Method to Numerically Pricing American Bond Options

In this paper, we aim to develop a numerical scheme to price American options on a zero-coupon bond based on a power penalty approach. This pricing problem is formulated as a variational inequality problem (VI) or a complementarity problem (CP). We apply a fitted finite volume discretization in space along with an implicit scheme in time, to the variational inequality problem, and obtain a discretized linear complementarity problem (LCP). We then develop a power penalty approach to solve the LCP by solving a system of nonlinear equations. The unique solvability and convergence of the penalized problem are established. Finally, we carry out numerical experiments to examine the convergence of the power penalty method and to testify the efficiency and effectiveness of our numerical scheme.