Minimization principles for elliptic hemivariational inequalities

In this paper, we explore conditions under which certain elliptic hemivariational inequalities permit equivalent minimization principles. It is shown that for an elliptic variational–hemivariational inequality, under the usual assumptions that guarantee the solution existence and uniqueness, if an additional condition is satisfied, the solution of the variational–hemivariational inequality is also the minimizer of a corresponding energy functional. Then, two variants of the equivalence result are given, that are more convenient to use for applications in contact mechanics and in numerical analysis of the variational–hemivariational inequality. When the convex terms are dropped, the results on the elliptic variational–hemivariational inequalities are reduced to that on “pure” elliptic hemivariational inequalities. Finally, two representative examples from contact mechanics are discussed to illustrate application of the theoretical results.     

Hemivariational inequality approach to the dynamic viscoelastic contact problem with nonmonotone normal compliance and slip-dependent friction

We examine a mathematical model which describes dynamic viscoelastic contact problems with nonmonotone normal compliance condition and the slip displacement dependent friction. First, we derive a weak formulation of the model in the form of a hemivariational inequality. Then we embed the hemivariational inequality into a class of second-order evolution inclusions for which we provide a result on the existence of a solution. We conclude with examples of the subdifferential boundary conditions for contact with normal compliance and the slip dependent friction.     

Differential variational–hemivariational inequalities with application to contact mechanics

In this paper we study a dynamical system which consists of the Cauchy problem for a nonlinear evolution equation of first order coupled with a nonlinear time-dependent variational–hemivariational inequality with constraint in Banach spaces. The evolution equation is considered in the framework of evolution triple of spaces, and the inequality which involves both the convex and nonconvex potentials. We prove existence of solution by the Kakutani–Ky Fan fixed point theorem combined with the Minty formulation and the theory of hemivariational inequalities. We illustrate our findings by examining a nonlinear quasistatic elastic frictional contact problem for which we provide a result on existence of weak solution.     

Dynamic hemivariational inequality modeling viscoelastic contact problem with normal damped response and friction

In this article we examine an evolution problem, which describes the dynamic contact of a viscoelastic body and a foundation. The contact is modeled by a general normal damped response condition and a friction law, which are nonmonotone, possibly multivalued and have the subdifferential form. First we derive a formulation of the model in the form of a multidimensional hemivariational inequality. Then we establish a priori estimates and we prove the existence of weak solutions by using a surjectivity result for pseudomonotone operators. Finally, we deliver conditions under which the solution of the hemivariational inequality is unique.     

A system of evolution hemivariational inequalities modeling thermoviscoelastic frictional contact

In this paper we prove the existence and uniqueness of the weak solution for a dynamic thermoviscoelastic problem which describes frictional contact between a body and a foundation. We employ the Kelvin–Voigt viscoelastic law, include the thermal effects and consider the general nonmonotone and multivalued subdifferential boundary conditions. The model consists of the system of the hemivariational inequality of hyperbolic type for the displacement and the parabolic hemivariational inequality for the temperature. The existence of solutions is proved by using a surjectivity result for operators of pseudomonotone type. The uniqueness is obtained for a large class of operators of subdifferential type satisfying a relaxed monotonicity condition.     

Vanishing viscosity for hemivariational inequalities modeling dynamic problems in elasticity

In this paper we consider a mathematical model describing a dynamic linear elastic contact problem with nonmonotone skin effects. The subdifferential multivalued and multidimensional reaction–displacement law is employed. We treat an evolution hemivariational inequality of hyperbolic type which is a weak formulation of this mechanical problem. We establish a result on the existence of solutions to the Cauchy problem for the hemivariational inequality. This result is a consequence of an existence theorem for second order evolution inclusion. For the latter, using the parabolic regularization method, we obtain the solution as a limit when the viscosity term tends to zero.     

A dynamic frictional contact problem for piezoelectric materials

We consider a mathematical model which describes the frictional contact between a piezoelectric body and an electrically conductive foundation. The process is dynamic, the material's behavior is modeled with an electro-viscoelastic constitutive law and the contact is described by subdifferential boundary conditions. We derive the variational formulation of the problem which is in the form of a system involving a second order evolutionary hemivariational inequality for the displacement field coupled with a time-dependent hemivariational inequality for the electric potential field. Then we prove the existence of a unique weak solution to the model. The proof is based on arguments of abstract second order evolutionary inclusions with monotone operators.     

Minimax principles for elliptic mixed hemivariational–variational inequalities

In this paper, minimax principles are explored for elliptic mixed hemivariational–variational inequalities. Under certain conditions, a saddle-point formulation is shown to be equivalent to a mixed hemivariational–variational inequality. While the minimax principle is of independent interest, it is employed in this paper to provide an elementary proof of the solution existence of the mixed hemivariational–variational inequality. Theoretical results are illustrated in the applications of two contact problems.     

Analysis of a dynamic contact problem for electro-viscoelastic cylinders

We consider a mathematical model which describes the antiplane shear deformations of a piezoelectric cylinder in frictional contact with a foundation. The process is mechanically dynamic and electrically static, the material behavior is described with a linearly electro-viscoelastic constitutive law, the contact is frictional and the foundation is assumed to be electrically conductive. Both the friction and the electrical conductivity condition on the contact surface are described with subdifferential boundary conditions. We derive a variational formulation of the problem which is of the form of a system coupling a second order hemivariational inequality for the displacement field with a time-dependent hemivariational inequality for the electric potential field. Then we prove the existence of a unique weak solution to the model. The proof is based on abstract results for second order evolutionary inclusions in Banach spaces. Finally, we present concrete examples of friction laws and electrical conductivity conditions for which our result is valid.     

Dynamic thermoviscoelastic problem with friction and damage

In this paper we present a model of dynamic frictional contact between a thermoviscoelastic body and a foundation. The thermoviscoelastic constitutive law includes a temperature effect described by the parabolic equation with the subdifferential boundary condition and a damage effect described by the parabolic inclusion with the homogeneous Neumann boundary condition. Contact is modeled with bilateral condition and is associated to a subdifferential frictional law. The variational formulation of the problem leads to a system of hyperbolic hemivariational inequality for the displacement, parabolic hemivariational inequality for the temperature and parabolic variational inequality for the damage. The existence of a unique weak solution is proved by using recent results from the theory of hemivariational inequalities, variational inequalities, and a fixed point argument.     

Adhesive contact problem for viscoplastic materials

We examine a mathematical model that describes a quasistatic adhesive contact between a viscoplastic body and deformable foundation. The material’s behaviour is described by the rate-type constitutive law which involves functions with a non-polynomial growth. The contact is modelled by the normal compliance condition with limited penetration and adhesion, a subdifferential friction condition also depending on adhesion, and the evolution of bonding field is governed by an ordinary differential equation. We present the variational formulation of this problem which is a system of an almost history-dependent variational–hemivariational inequality for the displacement field and an ordinary differential equation for the bonding field. The results on existence and uniqueness of solution to an abstract almost history-dependent inclusion and variational–hemivariational inequality in the reflexive Orlicz–Sobolev space are proved and applied to the adhesive contact problem.     

Regularization for a class of quasi-variational-hemivariational inequalities

The aim of the present paper is to study the solvability and regularization for a class of multivalued quasi-variational–hemivariational inequalities in reflexive Banach spaces. By applying the Kluge fixed point theorem and the Minty technique, we prove the solvability of the considered multivalued quasi-variational–hemivariational inequality, based on which some convergence results are obtained by introducing its regularization problem with the help of regularization operator. The applicability of the obtained abstract results is established by a mathematical model of a frictional contact problem with a class of elastic material, where the existence and stability results for the weak solution of contact problem are studied.     

Periodic solutions to history-dependent differential hemivariational inequalities with applications

In this article, we investigate a hybrid model combined by a parabolic differential equation and a parabolic hemivariational inequality (so-called differential hemivariational inequality of parabolic–parabolic type) in general infinite dimensional spaces which includes the history-dependent operator. The solvability of initial value problems as well as the periodic problems of the hemivariational inequality and the differential hemivariational inequality have been proved. In application, we study a contact problem with normal compliance driven by a history-dependent dynamical system.     

A class of hemivariational inequalities for nonstationary Navier–Stokes equations

This paper is devoted to the study of a class of hemivariational inequalities for the time-dependent Navier–Stokes equations, including both boundary hemivariational inequalities and domain hemivariational inequalities. The hemivariational inequalities are analyzed in the framework of an abstract hemivariational inequality. Solution existence for the abstract hemivariational inequality is explored through a limiting procedure for a temporally semi-discrete scheme based on the backward Euler difference of the time derivative, known as the Rothe method. It is shown that solutions of the Rothe scheme exist, they contain a weakly convergent subsequence as the time step-size approaches zero, and any weak limit of the solution sequence is a solution of the abstract hemivariational inequality. It is further shown that under certain conditions, a solution of the abstract hemivariational inequality is unique and the solution of the abstract hemivariational inequality depends continuously on the problem data. The results on the abstract hemivariational inequality are applied to hemivariational inequalities associated with the time-dependent Navier–Stokes equations.     

Subdifferential inclusions and quasi-static hemivariational inequalities for frictional viscoelastic contact problems

We survey recent results on the mathematical modeling of nonconvex and nonsmooth contact problems arising in mechanics and engineering. The approach to such problems is based on the notions of an operator subdifferential inclusion and a hemivariational inequality, and focuses on three aspects. First we report on results on the existence and uniqueness of solutions to subdifferential inclusions. Then we discuss two classes of quasi-static hemivariational ineqaulities, and finally, we present ideas leading to inequality problems with multivalued and nonmonotone boundary conditions encountered in mechanics.     

History-dependent subdifferential inclusions and hemivariational inequalities in contact mechanics

We consider a class of subdifferential inclusions involving a history-dependent term for which we provide an existence and uniqueness result. The proof is based on arguments on pseudomonotone operators and fixed point. Then we specialize this result in the study of a class of history-dependent hemivariational inequalities. Such kind of problems arises in a large number of mathematical models which describe quasistatic processes of contact between a deformable body and an obstacle, the so-called foundation. To provide an example we consider a viscoelastic problem in which the frictional contact is modeled with subdifferential boundary conditions. We prove that this problem leads to a history-dependent hemivariational inequality in which the unknown is the velocity field. Then we apply our abstract result in order to prove the unique weak solvability of the corresponding contact problem.     

Dynamic contact problem for viscoelastic piezoelectric materials with normal damped response and friction

In this paper, we deal with a class of inequality problems for dynamic frictional contact between a piezoelectric body and a foundation. The model consists of a system of the hemivariational inequality of hyperbolic type for the displacement, the time dependent elliptic equation for the electric potential. The contact is modeled by a general normal damped response condition and a friction law, which are nonmonotone, possibly multivalued and have the subdifferential form. The existence of a weak solution to the model is proved by embedding the problem into a class of second-order evolution inclusions and by applying a surjectivity result for multivalued operators.     

History-dependent variational–hemivariational inequalities in contact mechanics

We consider an abstract class of variational–hemivariational inequalities which arise in the study of a large number of mathematical models of contact. The novelty consists in the structure of the inequalities which involve two history-dependent operators and two nondifferentiable functionals, a convex and a nonconvex one. For these inequalities we provide an existence and uniqueness result of the solution. The proof is based on arguments of surjectivity for pseudomonotone operators and fixed point. Then, we consider a viscoelastic problem in which the contact is frictionless and is modeled with a new boundary condition which describes both the instantaneous and the memory effects of the foundation. We prove that this problem leads to a history-dependent variational–hemivariational inequality in which the unknown is the displacement field. We apply our abstract result in order to prove the unique weak solvability of this viscoelastic contact problem.     

Existence results for a class of hemivariational inequality problems on Hadamard manifolds

In this paper, a class of hemivariational inequality problems are introduced and studied on Hadamard manifolds. Using the properties of Clarke’s generalized directional derivative and Fan-KKM lemma, an existence theorem of solution in connection with the hemivariational inequality problem is obtained when the constraint set is bounded. By employing some coercivity conditions and the properties of Clarke’s generalized directional derivative, an existence result and the boundedness of the set of solutions for the underlying problem are investigated when the constraint set is unbounded. Moreover, a sufficient and necessary condition for ensuring the nonemptiness of the set of solutions concerned with the hemivariational inequality problem is also given.     

Well-posedness of constrained evolutionary differential variational–hemivariational inequalities with applications

A system of a first order history-dependent evolutionary variational– hemivariational inequality with unilateral constraints coupled with a nonlinear ordinary differential equation in a Banach space is studied. Based on a fixed point theorem for history dependent operators, results on the well-posedness of the system are proved. Existence, uniqueness, continuous dependence of the solution on the data, and the solution regularity are established. Two applications of dynamic problems from contact mechanics illustrate the abstract results. First application is a unilateral viscoplastic frictionless contact problem which leads to a hemivariational inequality for the velocity field, and the second one deals with a viscoelastic frictional contact problem which is described by a variational inequality.