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.     

An Euler–Bernoulli Beam with Dynamic Frictionless Contact: Penalty Approximation and Existence

In this work, we consider the dynamic frictionless Euler–Bernoulli equation with the Signorini contact conditions along the length of a thin beam. The existence of solutions is proved based on the penalty method. Employing energy functional with the penalty method, we bound integral of contact forces over space and time. Hölder continuity of the fundamental solution plays an important role in the convergence theory.     

Three‐point bending tests—Part I: Mathematical study and asymptotic analysis

The goal of this work is to study the static behaviour of a three‐dimensional elastic beam when is subjected to a three‐point bending test. In the first part, under suitable compatibility conditions on the applied forces and on the geometry of the beam, we will prove the existence of a unique solution for the associated contact elastic problem; these conditions of compatibility on the data come from the absence of a Dirichlet condition on the beam boundary. In the second part, we will study the asymptotic behaviour of this problem; in particular, we will deduce the one‐dimensional models associated with the displacement components, and we will give the existence and uniqueness of solution for them. Moreover, we will give an expression for the normal axial stress in the beam which is related to the modulus of rupture of brittle materials. In the final part of the work, we will deal with the regularity of the solution for the bending problem and we will prove some properties of the coincidence set. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A generalized Duffing equation with the Coulomb’s friction law and Signorini–type contact conditions

This work provides mathematical and numerical analyses for a spring–mass system, in which Signorini–type contact conditions and Coulomb’s friction law with thermal effects are taken into consideration. The motion of a mass attached to a viscoelastic (Kelvin–Voigt type) nonlinear spring is described by a generalized Duffing equation. Signorini contact conditions are understood as extended complementarity conditions (CCs), where convolution is incorporated, allowing to consider thermal aspects of an obstacle. We prove the existence of global weak solutions for the highly nonlinear differential equation system with all the conditions, based on the regularized differential equation and the normal compliance condition with the standard mollifier. In addition, we investigate what side effects produce higher singularities of contact forces in dynamic contact problems, which is also supported by numerical evidences. Numerical schemes are proposed and then several groups of data are selected for the display of our numerical simulations.     

Large-amplitude free vibrations of functionally graded beams by means of a finite element formulation

The large-amplitude free vibration analysis of functionally graded beams is investigated by means of a finite element formulation. The Von-Karman type nonlinear strain–displacement relationships are employed where the ends of the beam are constrained to move axially. The effects of the transverse shear deformation and rotary inertia are included based upon the Timoshenko beam theory. The material properties are assumed to be graded in the thickness direction according to the power-law distribution. A statically exact beam element which devoid the shear locking effect with displacement fields based on the first order shear deformation theory is used to study the geometric nonlinear effects on the vibrational characteristics of functionally graded beams. The finite element method is employed to discretize the nonlinear governing equations, which are then solved by the direct numerical integration technique in order to obtain the nonlinear vibration frequencies of functionally graded beams with different boundary conditions. The influences of power-law exponent, vibration amplitude, beam geometrical parameters and end supports on the free vibration frequencies are studied. The present numerical results compare very well with the results available from the literature where possible. Some new results for the nonlinear natural frequencies are presented in both tabular and graphical forms which can be used for future references.     

Simulation of Rayleigh waves in cracked plates

The aim of this paper is to develop new numerical procedures to detect micro cracks, or superficial imperfections, in thin plates using excitation by Rayleigh waves. We shall consider a unilateral contact problem between the two sides of the crack in an elastic plate subjected to suitable boundary conditions in order to reproduce a single Rayleigh wave cycle. An approximate solution of this problem will be calculated by using one of the Newmark methods for time discretization and a finite element method for space discretization. To deal with the nonlinearity due to the contact condition, an iterative algorithm involving one multiplier will be used; this multiplier will be approximated by using Newton's techniques. Finally, we will show numerical simulations for both cracked and non‐cracked plates. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Calculation of rigidly clamped circular plates in the statement of the problem on contact interaction in a two-layer package

The use of a mechanicomathematical model of bending of thick transversely isotropic plates is illustrated, where the plate is divided in an arbitrary number of equally thick conditional layers. This model allows one to approximately reduce the problem of determination of stresses and displacements in the thick plate to a corresponding contact problem for a bent pack age of layers. The axisymmetric bending of a rigidly clamped package consisting of two plates rigidly fastened together is considered. The results of numerical calculations are presented, which are compared with those obtained within the framework of a refined bending model of plates (with account of transverse compression and shear) and of the Timoshenko model, as well as in the statement of the three-dimensional theory of elasticity. The accuracy of satisfying the boundary conditions in each model is analyzed. __________ Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 43, No. 1, pp. 93–108, January–February, 2007.     

Calculation of simply supported circular plates in the statement of the problem of contact interaction in a package of two plates

The possibility of applying the mechanicomathematical model of bending of a package of transversely isotropic plates to approximate calculations of thick plates is investigated. Within the frame work of this model, the problem of axisymmetric bending of a package of two identical plates with simply supported edges is considered. The conditions of rigid contact are given between the plates. Based on the analytical result obtained, the unknown distribution of stresses and displacements across the thickness of the plate is approximated by the distribution of corresponding parameters in the package of two plates. For an isotropic body, the results of numerical calculations are compared with those given by the 3D theory of elasticity. In the case of a transversely isotropic body, a comparison with the results found by the refined bending model of plates (taking into account the transverse compression and shear) and the Timoshenko model is carried out. The accuracy to which the boundary conditions in every model are satisfied is analyzed. __________ Translated from Mekhanika Kompozitnykh Materialov, Vol. 43, No. 5, pp. 603–616, September–October, 2007.     

Dynamic frictionless contact in linear viscoelasticity

David E. Stewart Department of Mathematics, University of Iowa, Iowa, IA 52242, USA ^{In this work, we formulate a dynamic frictionless contact problemwith linear viscoelasticity of Kelvin–Voigt type, basedon the Signorini contact conditions. We show existence of solutions,and investigate the possibility for obtaining an energy balance.Employing time discretization and the finite-element method,we compute numerical solutions. Our numerical scheme is implementedwith non-smooth Newton's method which solves the complementarityproblem. The numerical results support the idea that the energylosses in the limit of the numerical solution are equal to thelosses due to viscosity.}     

A convergence result in the study of bone remodeling contact problems

We consider the approximation of a bone remodeling model with the Signorini contact conditions by a contact problem with normal compliant obstacle, when the obstacle's deformability coefficient converges to zero (that is, the obstacle's stiffness tends to infinity). The variational problem is a coupled system composed of a nonlinear variational equation (in the case of normal compliance contact conditions) or a variational inequality (for the case of Signorini's contact conditions), for the mechanical displacement field, and a first-order ordinary differential equation for the bone remodeling function. A theoretical result, which states the convergence of the contact problem with normal compliance contact law to the Signorini problem, is then proved. Finally, some numerical simulations, involving examples in one and two dimensions, are reported to show this convergence behaviour.     

Vibrations of a beam between two rigid stops: strong solutions in the framework of vector-valued measures

Abstract

We study a problem that models the dynamics of an elastic beam vibrating between two rigid stops, so we use the Signorini non-penetration condition to describe the contact process. This allows for impacts and velocity jumps. Motivated by the need to better understand this kind of dynamics, we introduce a new formulation of the problem in the framework of vector-valued measures, somewhat similar to the case of a discrete mechanical system. We prove the existence of a strong solution and establish the main properties of the reaction shear stress that acts on the system at impacts, which is a measure with a singular part.     

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.     

冲击接触问题的一种双共振投影梯度算法

根据冲击接触计算模型所需满足的基本控制方程和非线性互补条件,应用非线性互补问题与约束优化的等价关系将非线性互补接触问题转变成一个非线性规划问题,系统地推导建立了冲击接触问题的一种双共轭投影梯度计算方法．增广Lagrange乘子法克服了罚函数要求减小迭代步长以达到计算稳定的限制,即使对于冲击接触问题亦可以采用较大迭代步长,在形成的与原互补问题等价的无约束规划模式下,应用双共轭投影梯度算法提高非线性搜索速度和计算效率．算法模型计算结果表明,所建立的双共轭投影梯度计算理论及方法是正确有效的．     

A class of implicit variational inequalities and applications to frictional contact

This paper deals with the mathematical and numerical analysis of a class of abstract implicit evolution variational inequalities. The results obtained here can be applied to a large variety of quasistatic contact problems in linear elasticity, including unilateral contact or normal compliance conditions with friction. In particular, a quasistatic unilateral contact problem with nonlocal friction is considered. An algorithm is derived and some numerical examples are presented. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

广义弹塑性梁理论及接触问题中的时偶变分不等式*

为研究摩擦接触问题,本文建立了一个具有二类独立交量的二维弹塑性梁模型。由此提出了一个新的非线性二次互补性问题。其中的外部互补性条件定义了自由边界;而内部互补性条件则控制了弹塑性分界面。文中证明了此二次互补性问题等价于一非线性变分不等式,并导出了其对偶变分不等式。本文结果显示对偶问题较原问题有更多的优越性。应用于塑性极限分析理论中,文中最后证明了一个简单的下限定理。     

Dynamic contact of a beam against rigid obstacles: Convergence of a velocity-based approximation and numerical results

Motivated by the study of vibrations due to looseness of joints, we consider the motion of a beam between rigid obstacles. Due to the non-penetrability condition, the dynamics is described by a hyperbolic fourth order variational inequality. We build a family of fully discretized approximations of this problem by combining some classical space discretizations with velocity based time-stepping algorithms for discrete mechanical systems subjected to unilateral constraints. We prove the stability and the convergence of these numerical methods. Finally we propose some examples of implementation using either Hermite or B-spline finite element approximations.     

Existence for a thermoviscoelastic beam model of brakes

The existence of a weak solution to a model for the dynamic thermomechanical behavior of a viscoelastic beam, which is in frictional contact with a rigid rotating wheel, is established. The model describes a simple braking system in which a rotating wheel comes to a stop as a result of the frictional traction generated by the beam. The classical model consists of a system of coupled equations for the beam temperature and displacement, the wear of the beam's contacting end, the wheel temperature and its angular velocity. The weak formulation is an abstract differential inclusion involving set-valued pseudomonotone operators, The existence is proved by using recent results for such operators. Uniqueness is shown to hold when the wheel's angular velocity and temperature are known.     

Thermoelastic contact with Barber's heat exchange condition

We consider a nonlinear parabolic problem that models the evolution of a one-dimensional thermoelastic system that may come into contact with a rigid obstacle. The mathematical problem is reduced to solving a nonlocal heat equation with a nonlinear and nonlocal boundary condition. This boundary condition contains a heat-exchange coefficient that depends on the pressure when there is contact with the obstacle and on the size of the gap when there is no contact. We model the heat-exchange coefficient as both a single-valued function and as a measurable selection from a maximal monotone graph. Both of these models represent modified versions of so-called imperfect contact conditions found in the work of Barber. We show that strong solutions exist when the coefficient is taken to be a continuously differentiable function and that weak solutions exist when the coefficient is taken to be a measurable selection from a maximal monotone graph. The proofs of these results reveal an interesting interplay between the regularity of the initial condition and the behavior of the coefficient at infinity.     

Mathematical and numerical approaches to a one-dimensional dynamic thermoviscoelastic contact problem

In this paper, we propose numerical schemes for solving a nonlinear system which consists of a coupled partial differential equations and two conditions, called normal compliance contact condition and Barber’s heat exchange condition. The convergence of numerical trajectories is shown by using a time discretization and passing the limit of the time step size. The uniqueness of the weak solution is proved as well. We derive the extensive form of an energy balance which will be a criterion to examine numerical stability. An example is provided to present and discuss numerical results.     

A dynamic analysis of a coupled beam/slider system

The paper deals with transverse vibration of a beam with moving boundary conditions. In order to examine the transfer of energy between a moving support and a vibrating beam under assumption of zero slope of the beam elastic line at the moving support, dynamic analysis of a coupled beam/slider system is carried out. The moving support is modelled as a slider attached to a spring which realizes definite boundary conditions. Equations of motion are derived using Hamilton’s principle. Because length of the beam varies appropriate transformations of time and position variables are made to convert the solution space into a rectangle and, subsequently, to solve the partial differential equation of transverse vibration of the beam using the FDM. The phenomenon of the energy flow between the slider and the beam is a subject of the detailed analysis. The beam vibration with a fixed formula of length is examined, too. The dynamic characteristics of the system is brought forward from spectral analysis of numerical solutions.