Finite difference scheme for variational inequalities

In this paper, we show that a class of variational inequalities related with odd-order obstacle problems can be characterized by a system of differential equations, which are solved using the finite difference scheme. The variational inequality formulation is used to discuss the uniqueness and existence of the solution of the obstacle problems.     

The variational contact problem for elastic objects of different dimensions

We consider the variational free boundary problem describing the contact of an elastic plate with a thin elastic obstacle. The contact domain is unknown a priori and should be determined. The problem is described by a variational inequality for a fourth-order operator. The constraint on the displacement is given on a set of dimension less than that of the solution domain. We find the boundary conditions on the set of the possible contact and their exact statement. We justify the mixed statement of the problem and analyze the limit cases corresponding to the unbounded increase of the elasticity coefficients of the contacting bodies.     

A penalty approximation method for a semilinear parabolic double obstacle problem

In this work, we present a novel power penalty method for the approximation of a global solution to a double obstacle complementarity problem involving a semilinear parabolic differential operator and a bounded feasible solution set. We first rewrite the double obstacle complementarity problem as a double obstacle variational inequality problem. Then, we construct a semilinear parabolic partial differential equation (penalized equation) for approximating the variational inequality problem. We prove that the solution to the penalized equation converges to that of the variational inequality problem and obtain a convergence rate that is corresponding to the power used in the formulation of the penalized equation. Numerical results are presented to demonstrate the theoretical findings.     

The existence results for obstacle optimal control problems

This paper is concerned with the existence of an optimal control problem for a quasi-linear elliptic obstacle variational inequality in which the obstacle is taken as the control. Firstly, we get some existence results under the assumption of the leading operator of the variational inequality with a monotone type mapping in Section 2. In Section 3, as an application, without the assumption of the monotone type mapping for the leading operator of the variational inequality, we prove that the leading operator of the variational inequality is a monotone type mapping. Existence of the optimal obstacle is proved. The method used here is different from [Y.Y. Zhou, X.Q. Yang, K.L. Teo, The existence results for optimal control problems governed by a variational inequality, J. Math. Anal. Appl. 321 (2006) 595-608].     

Numerical analysis of a bilateral frictional contact problem for linearly elastic materials

We consider a mathematical model which describes the contactbetween a linearly elastic body and an obstacle, the so-calledfoundation. The process is quasistatic and the contact is bilateral,i.e. there is no loss of contact during the process. The frictionis modelled with Tresca's law. The variational formulation ofthe problem is a nonlinear evolutionary inequality for the displacementfield which has a unique solution under certain assumptionson the given data. We study spatially semi-discrete and fullydiscrete schemes for the problem with finite-difference discretizationin time and finite-element discretization in space. The numericalschemes have unique solutions. We show the convergence of thescheme under the basic solution regularity. Under appropriateregularity assumptions on the solution, we derive optimal ordererror estimates. Finally, we present numerical results in thestudy of two-dimensional test problems.     

Convergence of a penalty-finite element approximation for an obstacle problem

Summary This study establishes an error estimate for a penalty-finite element approximation of the variational inequality obtained by a class of obstacle problems. By special identification of the penalty term, we first show that the penalty solution converges to the solution of a mixed formulation of the variational inequality. The rate of convergence of the penalization is where is the penalty parameter. To obtain the error of finite element approximation, we apply the results obtained by Brezzi, Hager and Raviart for the mixed finite element method to the variational inequality.     

解单障碍问题的Lagrangian乘子非匹配网格区域分解法

针对二阶椭圆型单障碍问题提出了一类基于非匹配网格的Lagrang ian乘子非重叠型区域分解方法.并在适当条件下给出了该方法的收敛性分析和收敛速度估计.     

Modelling and control in pseudoplate problem with discontinuous thickness

This paper concerns an obstacle control problem for an elastic (homogeneous) and isotropic) pseudoplate. The state problem is modelled by a coercive variational inequality, where control variable enters the coefficients of the linear operator. Here, the role of control variable is played by the thickness of the pseudoplate which need not belong to the set of continuous functions. Since in general problems of control in coefficients have no optimal solution, a class of the extended optimal control is introduced. Taking into account the results of G-convergence theory, we prove the existence of an optimal solution of extended control problem. Moreover, approximate optimization problem is introduced, making use of the finite element method. The solvability of the approximate problem is proved on the basis of a general theorem. When the mesh size tends to zero, a subsequence of any sequence of approximate solutions converges uniformly to a solution of the continuous problem.     

Variational approach to contact problems in nonlinear elasticity

We use variational methods to study problems in nonlinear 3-dimensional elasticity where the deformation of the elastic body is restricted by a rigid obstacle. For an assigned variational problem we first verify the existence of constrained minimizers whereby we extend previous results. Then we rigorously derive the Euler-Lagrange equation as necessary condition for minimizers, which was possible before only under strong smoothness assumptions on the solution. The Lagrange multiplier corresponding to the obstacle constraint provides structural information about the nature of frictionless contact. In the case of contact with, e.g., a corner of the obstacle, we derive a qualitatively new contact condition taking into account the deformed shape of the elastic body. By our analysis it is shown here for the first time rigorously that energy minimizers really solve the mechanical contact problem. Received: 20 October 2000 / Accepted: 7 June 2001 / Published online: 5 September 2002     

An Obstacle Control Problem with a Source Term

Abstract. An optimal control problem for an elliptic variational inequality with a source term is considered. The obstacle is the control, and the goal is to keep the solution of the variational inequality close to the desired profile while the H ¹ norm of the obstacle is not too large. The addition of the source term strongly affects the needed compactness result for the existence of a minimizer.     

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.     

A parabolic variational inequality related to the perpetual American executive stock options

A parabolic variational inequality is investigated which comes from the study of the optimal exercise strategy for the perpetual American executive stock options in financial markets. It is a degenerate parabolic variational inequality and its obstacle condition depends on the derivative of the solution with respect to the time variable. The method of discrete time approximation is used and the existence and regularity of the solution are established.     

On an obstacle problem for degenerate elliptic operators involving the critical Sobolev exponent

We establish the existence of a solution to the variational inequality (the obstacle problem) (1.1) which involves the critical Sobolev exponent. This result is also extended to an obstacle problem with a lower order perturbation. Dedicated to Professor F. Browder on the occasion of his 80-th birthday     

Stability of the coincidence set of a solution to a parabolic variational inequality with an obstacle

In this paper we propose a new technique for the stability analysis of the coincidence set of a solution to a parabolic variational inequality with an obstacle inside the domain. It is based on the reformulation of the initial inequality in the form of a parabolic initial boundary value problem with an exact penalty operator.     

Signorini接触问题的边界变分不等式

本以Signorini接触问题为背景，讨论了变分不等式与边值问题的等价性，利用Green公式，基本解和基本解法向导数的性质，将区域型变分不等式化成等价的边界型变分不等式，并证明了边界变分不等式解的存在唯一性，为使用边界元方法数值求解提供理论依据。     

Optimal control of unilateral obstacle problem with a source term

We consider an optimal control problem for the obstacle problem with an elliptic variational inequality. The obstacle function which is the control function is assumed in H². We use an approximate technique to introduce a family of problems governed by variational equations. We prove optimal solutions existence and give necessary optimality conditions. The author is grateful to Prof. M. Bergounioux for her instructive suggestions.     

An Obstacle Control Problem with a Source Term

   Abstract. An optimal control problem for an elliptic variational inequality with a source term is considered. The obstacle is the control, and the goal is to keep the solution of the variational inequality close to the desired profile while the H ¹ norm of the obstacle is not too large. The addition of the source term strongly affects the needed compactness result for the existence of a minimizer.     

A variational inequality and applications to quasistatic problems with Coulomb friction

The aim of this paper is to study an evolution variational inequality that generalizes some contact problems with Coulomb friction in small deformation elasticity. Using an incremental procedure, appropriate estimates and convergence properties of the discrete solutions, the existence of a continuous solution is proved. This abstract result is applied to quasistatic contact problems with a local Coulomb friction law for nonlinear Hencky and also for linearly elastic materials.     

Components identification based method for box constrained variational inequality problems with almost linear functions

We present a method for solving a class of box constrained variational inequality problems. The method makes use of a procedure for identifying some components of the solution by bounding it with an interval vector. It is shown that the method computes an approximate solution of the variational inequality problem by solving at most n reduced systems of equations, where n is the dimension of the problem. Among those systems, only the one of the smallest dimension has to be solved with high accuracy. The others are solved merely to identify some components of the solution, and so the computation can be done under a very mild requirement of accuracy. Numerical results are presented for the obstacle problem, to illustrate the efficiency of the method. AMS subject classification (2000)  90C33, 65G30, 65K10     

非强制混合向量变分不等式解的存在性研究

本文利用例外簇方法研究非强制混合向量变分不等式的弱有效解的存在性:首先证明若混合向量变分不等式问题不存在例外簇,则混合向量变分不等式问题的弱有效解集为非空集合:利用向量值映射的渐近映射给出自反Banach空间中非强制混合向量变分不等式的弱有效解集不存在例外簇的充分条件,从而得到混合向量变分不等式问题的弱有效解的存在性结...