The equilibrium state of a structure subject to frictional contact

A structure in frictional contact subject to static loads has not, in general, a unique static equilibrium state. This is because the state, displacements and contact forces, depend on the load history of the structure.In cases where the exact load history is not known it would be of interest to find a state that is in some sense likely and define this as the equilibrium state. In this paper, it is assumed that the state with the smallest potential energy is the most likely one. The implication of this definition of likely state is analysed and shows that the resulting problem basically can be seen as a generalization of the frictionless contact problem to structures where no frictionless state is possible, i.e. structures where non-zero friction forces are necessary to satisfy force equilibrium.The results of several numerical experiments are given. The structures in the experiments are trusses and structures modelled by the finite element method. Both a sequential quadratic programming method and an enumeration method are used to solve the likely-state problem.     

Instability of frictional contact states in infinite layers

The research reported in this paper is focused on the instability of equilibrium and steady sliding states of elastic orthotropic layers in the presence of unilateral obstacles with Coulomb friction with emphasis on a divergence type instability called directional instability of frictional contact states that cannot occur in isotropic layers. Analytic expressions and numerical solutions are provided for the instability mode and for the coefficient of friction at the onset of instability. A parametric study is done to investigate how this coefficient of friction and the instability mode vary with changes of the system parameters. For certain combinations of material data, significantly low coefficients of friction were required for the onset of instability. A finite element model that approximates the continuum and a lumped model that captures some of the features of the continuum are presented.     

接触问题的非线性互补－接触柔度法

基于势能互补原理，不引入额外松弛变量，对库仑摩擦定律未做预先线性化近似，提出了三维弹性摩擦接触问题的非线性互补－接触柔度法，收敛性和收敛速率得到了严格理论保证。数值实验结果表明方法可靠、有效、低存储量、高精度     

The elastic field near a point of a transition from frictional contact to frictionless contact

The asymptotic nature of the elastic field is studied at the point of transition from frictional contact to frictionless contact between two different elastic bodies. The nature depends on the direction of slip, and the singular stress field appears when the body with smaller /(–1) (: the shear modulus, =3–4, : Poisson's ratio) slips towards the region of frictional contact, while no singularities appear when the direction of slip is opposite. The order of the singularity is smaller than 1/2 regardless of the level of friction.     

Parametric excitation in non-linear dynamics

Consider a one-mass system with two degrees of freedom, non-linearly coupled, with parametric excitation in one direction. Assuming the internal resonance 1:2 and parametric resonance 1:2 we derive conditions for stability of the trivial solution by using both the harmonic balance method and the normal form method of averaging. If the trivial solution becomes unstable, a stable periodic solution may emerge, there are also cases where the trivial solution is stable and co-exists with a stable periodic solution; if both the trivial solution and the periodic solution(s) are unstable, we find an attracting torus with large amplitudes by a Neimark-Sacker bifurcation. The results of the harmonic balance method and averaging are compared, as well as the results on the Neimark-Sacker bifurcation obtained by the numerical software package CONTENT and by averaging. In all cases we have good agreement.     

NON-INTERIOR SMOOTHING ALGORITHM FOR FRICTIONAL CONTACT PROBLEMS

A new algorithm for solving the three-dimensional elastic contact problem with friction is presented. The algorithm is a non-interior smoothing algorithm based on an NCP-function. The parametric variational principle and parametric quadratic programming method were applied to the analysis of three-dimensional frictional contact problem. The solution of the contact problem was finally reduced to a linear complementarity problem, which was reformulated as a system of nonsmooth equations via an NCP-function. A smoothing approximation to the nonsmooth equations was given by the aggregate function. A Newton method was used to solve the resulting smoothing nonlinear equations. The algorithm presented is easy to understand and implement. The reliability and efficiency of this algorithm are demonstrated both by the numerical experiments of LCP in mathematical way and the examples of contact problems in mechanics.     

Impact dynamics of multibody systems with frictional contact using joint coordinates and canonical equations of motion

This paper presents a methodology in computational dynamics for the analysis of mechanical systems that undergo intermittent motion. A canonical form of the equations of motion is derived with a minimal set of coordinates. These equations are used in a procedure for balancing the momenta of the system over the period of impact, calculating the jump in the body momentum, velocity discontinuities and rebounds. The effect of dry friction is discussed and a contact law is proposed. The present formulation is extended to open and closed-loop mechanical systems where the jumps in the constraints' momenta are also solved. The application of this methodology is illustrated with the study of impact of open-loop and closed-loop examples.     

Response of frictional contact problems in thermo-rheologically complex structures

This paper presents a comprehensive computational model for predicting the nonlinear response of frictional viscoelastic contact systems under thermo-mechanical loading and experience geometrical nonlinearity. The nonlinear viscoelastic constitutive model is expressed by an integral form of a creep function, whose elastic and time-dependent properties change with stresses and temperatures. The thermo-viscoelastic behavior of the contacting bodies is assumed to follow a class of thermo-rheologically complex materials. An incremental-recursive formula for solving the nonlinear viscoelastic integral equation is derived. Such formula necessitates data storage only from the previous time step. The contact problem as a variational inequality constrained model is handled using the Lagrange multiplier method for exact satisfaction of the inequality contact constraints. A local nonlinear friction law is adopted to model friction at the contact interface. The material and geometrical nonlinearities are modeled in the framework of the total Lagrangian formulation. The developed model is verified using available benchmarks. The effectiveness and accuracy of the developed computational model is validated by solving two thermo-mechanical contact problems with different natures. Moreover, obtained results show that the mechanical properties and the class of thermo-rheological behavior of the contacting bodies as well as the coefficient of friction have significant effects on the contact response of nonlinear thermo-viscoelastic materials.     

Solving frictional contact problems by two aggregate-function-based algorithms

Three dimensional frictional contact problems are formulated as linear complementarity problems based on the parametric variational principle. Two aggregate-function-based algorithms for solving complementarity problems are proposed. One is called the self-adjusting interior point algorithm, the other is called the aggregate function smoothing algorithm. Numerical experiment shows the efficiency of the proposed two algorithms. The project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(10225212, 50178016, 10302007), the National Key Basic Research Special Foundation and the Ministry of Education of China The English text was polished by Ron Marshall.     

Analysis of FRP composites under frictional contact conditions

This work studies numerically the tribological behavior of fiber-reinforced plastics (FRP) under different frictional contact conditions, using a boundary element methodology. The formulation uses the Boundary Element Method (BEM) with an explicit approach for fundamental solutions evaluation, for computing the elastic influence coefficients. To enforce the contact constraints on the potential contact zone: Signorini’s contact conditions and an orthotropic law of friction, contact operators over the augmented Lagrangian are considered in the formulation. The methodology and the proposed algorithm are applied to study two types of glass FRP and two types of carbon FRP, with the same fiber volume fraction, under frictional contact. In these studies, it can be observed how the fiber orientation and sliding orientation affect the normal and tangential contact compliance, as well as the contact traction distribution. Furthermore, the formulation considers a micromechanics model for FRP that allows also to study the influence of fiber volume fraction on normal and tangential contact compliances.     

Two-dimensional sliding frictional contact of functionally graded materials

A multi-layered model for sliding frictional contact analysis of functionally graded materials (FGMs) with arbitrarily varying shear modulus under plane strain-state deformation has been developed. Based on the fact that an arbitrary curve can be approached by a series of continuous but piecewise linear curves, the FGM is divided into several sub-layers and in each sub-layers the shear modulus is assumed to be a linear function while the Poisson's ratio is assumed to be a constant. In the contact area, it is assumed that the friction is one of Coulomb type. With this model the fundamental solutions for concentrated forces acting perpendicular and parallel to the FGMs layer surface are obtained. Then the sliding frictional contact problem of a functionally graded coated half-space is investigated. The transfer matrix method and Fourier integral transform technique are employed to cast the problem to a Cauchy singular integral equation. The contact stresses and contact area are calculated for various moving stamps by solving the equations numerically. The results show that appropriate gradual variation of the shear modulus can significantly alter the stresses in the contact zone.     

三维接触问题的非光滑算法

给出了一种非光滑算法直接用于求解三维摩擦接触问题的不可微非线性互补模型,不再对模型进行光滑化处理,使算法更加简单。文中对非光滑算法的收敛性给出了严格的数学证明,数值实验表明该算法列式简单,但与光滑化算法同样有效。     

The thermoelastic Aldo contact model with frictional heating

In the study of the essential features of thermoelastic contact, Comninou and Dundurs (J. Therm. Stresses 3 (1980) 427) devised a simplified model, the so-called “Aldo model”, where the full 3D body is replaced by a large number of thin rods normal to the interface and insulated between each other, and the system was further reduced to 2 rods by Barber's Conjecture (ASME J. Appl. Mech. 48 (1981) 555). They studied in particular the case of heat flux at the interface driven by temperature differences of the bodies, and opposed by a contact resistance, finding possible multiple and history dependent solutions, depending on the imposed temperature differences.The Aldo model is here extended to include the presence of frictional heating. It is found that the number of solutions of the problem is still always odd, and Barber's graphical construction and the stability analysis of the previous case with no frictional heating can be extended. For any given imposed temperature difference, a critical speed is found for which the uniform pressure solution becomes non-unique and/or unstable. For one direction of the temperature difference, the uniform pressure solution is non-unique before it becomes unstable. When multiple solutions occur, outermost solutions (those involving only one rod in contact) are always stable.A full numerical analysis has been performed to explore the transient behaviour of the system, in the case of two rods of different size. In the general case of N rods, Barber's conjecture is shown to hold since there can only be two stable states for all the rods, and the reduction to two rods is always possible, a posteriori.     

The mathematical phenomenological mapping in non-linear dynamics of spur gear pair and radial ball bearing due to the variable stiffness

In this paper the philosophy of mathematical phenomenological mapping has been applied to the non-linear dynamics of spur gears and radial ball bearings. The spur gear pair dynamics and rolling element bearing dynamics are analyzed separately, but with a tendency to reduce the both of the systems to the same mathematical model. The different reasonable assumptions are taken in every of these analyzes, but they do not have significant influence to the accuracy of the results. The systems are reduced to the single degree of freedom dynamics model. The total gear stiffness and ball bearing stiffness are recognized as the main influent factor of vibration behavior of these machine elements. Therefore, the special attention was paid to the new approach and procedure for stiffness solving and related problems. A single spur gear pair dynamics is solved and the results for total gear stiffness and vibration are shown. The conclusions emphasize the importance of described parallel analyzes in order to reduce the calculation time in solving different phenomena with usage of the principle of mathematical phenomenology.     

Block pivot methods for solving frictional contact problems

Based on elementary group theory, the block pivot methods for solving two-dimensional elastic frictional contact problems are presented in this paper. It is proved that the algorithms converge within a finite number of steps when the friction coefficient is “relative small”. Unlike most mathematical programming methods for contact problems, the block pivot methods permit multiple exchanges of basic and nonbasic variables. The project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China     

Energy dissipation due to frictional shake-down on a closed crack subjected to shear

The behaviour of a horizontal crack, subjected to cyclic shear and normal compressive stresses, is investigated with the aim of studying the shake-down and alternating plasticity phenomena. The analysis is carried out by means of the displacement discontinuity numerical method, conveniently modified so as to simulate the development of frictional stresses on the crack surfaces. The assumptions that the crack does not propagate and that the material behaves elastically are made. The critical values of the physical and geometrical parameters which determine the occurrence of frictional shake-down or alternating plasticity are identified. An evaluation of the amount of energy dissipated because of alternating plasticity is also provided.

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Sommario Nel presente articolo viene esaminato il comportamento di una fessura orizzontale soggetta a taglio ciclico e a sforzo normale di compressione. L'analisi è condotta mediante il metodo della Discontinuità di Spostamento, opportunamente modificato in modo da simulare lo sviluppo di sforzi di attrito sulle superfici della fessura. Vengono ricavati i valori critici dei parametri fisici e geometrici che determinano la comparsa del fenomeno dello shake-down. Viene infine valutata la quantità di energia dissipata in ogni ciclo di applicazione del taglio.

     

Pervasive nonlinear vibrations due to rod-obstacle contact

Nonlinear Dynamics - Simple mechanical contact between a deformable body and a rigid obstacle can lead to rich nonlinear behavior even when the equations governing the body’s motion are...     

Optimal prestress of structures with frictional unilateral contact interfaces

Summary The problem of optimal prestress stabilization of elastic structures with frictional contact interfaces subject to static loads is studied in this paper. A linear elastic structure with given unilateral contact at frictional interfaces is considered. The prestressing control is modelled by the pin-load method. The static problem is formulated as a nonsymmetric variational inequality. The goal of the optimal control design is closing of the unilateral contact joints as well as minimization of the friction induced slips with a minimum effort. The resulting optimal control problem is nonsmooth and nonconvex, as it concerns the control of structures governed by variational inequalities. Appropriate techniques of nonsmooth analysis are used for its numerical solution. Effective computer realization and integration into existing finite element software is facilitated by appropriate static condensation techniques, which are outlined in the paper. Numerical examples illustrate the theory.     

3D frictional contact of anisotropic solids using BEM

A numerical method to study three-dimensional (3D) contact problems in solids with anisotropic elastic behavior is developed in this work. This formulation is based on the Boundary Element Method (BEM) for computing the elastic influence coefficients and on projection functions over the augmented Lagrangian for contact restrictions fulfillment. The constitutive equations of the potential contact zone are Signorini’s contact conditions and Coulomb’s law of friction. The formulation uses a recently introduced explicit approach for fundamental solutions evaluation, which are valid for general anisotropic behavior meanwhile mathematical degeneracies are allowed. The accuracy and robustness of the proposed method is illustrated by solving some examples previously presented in the literature. This approach is further applied to study the influence of solids anisotropy on the contact problem.