A contamination carrying criterion for branched surfaces

A contamination in a 3-manifold is an object interpolating between the contact structure and the lamination. Contaminations seem to provide a link between 3-dimensional contact geometry and the classical topology of 3-manifolds, as described in a separate paper (Oertel and Świa̧tkowski, Contact structures, σ-confoliations, and contaminations in 3-manifolds. arXiv math.GT/0307177). In this article we deal with contaminations carried by branched surfaces, giving a sufficient condition for a branched surface to carry a pure contamination.     

Torsion and homogeneity on contact metric three-manifolds

We show that a three-dimensional contact metric manifold is locally homogeneous if and only if it is ball-homogeneous and satisfies the condition ∇_ξτ=2aτϕ, with a constant. Then, we relate the condition ∇_ξτ=0 with the existence of taut contact circles on a compact three-dimensional contact metric manifold. Entrata in Redazione il 20 gennaio 1999. Supported by funds of the University of Lecce and the M.U.R.S.T. Work made within the program of G.N.S.A.G.A.-C.N.R.     

Volume-preserving Fields and Reeb Fields on 3-manifolds

Volume-preserving field X on a 3-manifold is the one that satisfies LxΩ = 0 for some volume Ω. The Reeb vector field of a contact form is of volume-preserving, but not conversely. On the basis of Geiges-Gonzalo＇s parallelization results, we obtain a volume-preserving sphere, which is a triple of everywhere linearly independent vector fields such that all their linear combinations with constant coefficients are volume-preserving fields. From many aspects, we discuss the distinction between volume-preserving fields and Reeb-like fields. We establish a duality between volume-preserving fields and h-closed 2-forms to understand such distinction. We also give two kinds of non-Reeb-like but volume-preserving vector fields to display such distinction.     

On contact metric statistical manifolds

A notion of almost contact metric statistical structure is introduced and thereby contact metric and K-contact statistical structures are defined. Furthermore a necessary and sufficient condition for a contact metric statistical manifold to admit K-contact statistical structure is given. Finally, the condition for an odd-dimensional statistical manifold to have K-contact statistical structure is expressed.     

The contact angle in inviscid fluid mechanics

We show that in general, the specification of a contact angle condition at the contact line in inviscid fluid motions is incompatible with the classical field equations and boundary conditions generally applicable to them. The limited conditions under which such a specification is permissible are derived; however, these include cases where the static meniscus is not flat. In view of this situation, the status of the many ‘solutions’ in the literature which prescribe a contact angle in potential flows comes into question. We suggest that these solutions which attempt to incorporate a phenomenological, but incompatible, condition are in some, imprecise sense ‘weak-type solutions’; they satisfy or are likely to satisfy, at least in the limit, the governing equations and boundary conditions everywhere except in the neighbourhood of the contact line. We discuss the implications of the result for the analysis of inviscid flows with free surfaces.     

An Energy-Stable Parametric Finite Element Method for Simulating Solid-State Dewetting Problems in Three Dimensions

We propose an accurate and energy-stable parametric finite element method for solving the sharp-interface continuum model of solid-state dewetting in three-dimensional space. The model describes the motion of the film\slash vapor interface with contact line migration and is governed by the surface diffusion equation with proper boundary conditions at the contact line. We present a weak formulation for the problem, in which the contact angle condition is weakly enforced. By using piecewise linear elements in space and backward Euler method in time, we then discretize the formulation to obtain a parametric finite element approximation, where the interface and its contact line are evolved simultaneously. The resulting numerical method is shown to be well-posed and unconditionally energy-stable. Furthermore, the numerical method is generalized to the case of anisotropic surface energies in the Riemannian metric form. Numerical results are reported to show the convergence and efficiency of the proposed numerical method as well as the anisotropic effects on the morphological evolution of thin films in solid-state dewetting.     

Conformal vector fields on Finsler spaces

Here, it is shown that every vector field on a Finsler space which keeps geodesic circles invariant is conformal. A necessary and sufficient condition for a vector field to keep geodesic circles invariant, known as concircular vector fields, is obtained. This leads to a significant definition of concircular vector fields on a Finsler space. Finally, complete Finsler spaces admitting a special conformal vector field are classified.     

Real solvability of the equation ∂ 2/z ω = ρg and the topology of isolated umbilics

The geometric form of a conjecture associated with the names of Loewner and Carathéodory states that near an isolated umbilic in a smooth surface in ℝ³, the principal line fields must have index ≤ 1. Real solutions of the differential equation ∂ 2/z ω = g, where the complex function g is given only up to multiplication by a positive function, are intimately related to umbilics. We determine necessary and sufficient conditions of an integral nature for real solvability of this equation, which is really a system of two wave equations. We then construct germs of line fields of every index j ∈ 1/2 ℤ on S² that cannot be realized as the Gauss image of the principal line fields near an isolated umbilic of positive curvature on any smooth surface in ℝ³. These include the standard dipole line field of index two and controlled distortions of it.     

Invariant circles for homogeneous polynomial vector fields on the 2-dimensional sphere

LexX be a homogeneous polynomial vector field of degreen≥3 on S² having finitely many invariant circles. Then, for such a vector fieldX we find upper bounds for the number of invariant circles, invariant great circles, invariant circles intersecting at a same point and parallel circles with the same director vector. We give examples of homogeneous polynomial vector fields of degree 3 on S² having finitely many invariant circles which are not great circles, which are limit cycles, but are not great circles and invariant great circles that are limit cycles. Moreover, for the casen=3 we determine the maximum number of parallel invariant circles with the same director vector. The authors are partially supported by a MCYT grant BFM2002-04236-C02-02 and by a CIRIT grant number 2001SGR 00173.     

A finite element method for contact/impact

Ideas from the analysis of differential-algebraic equations are applied to the numerical solution of frictionless contact/impact problems in solid mechanics. Index-one and two formulations for dynamic contact–impact within the context of the finite element method are derived. The resulting equations are shown to stabilize the kinematic fields at the contact interface, at the expense of a small energy loss, which is shown to decrease consistently with mesh refinement. This energy dissipation is shown to be necessary for the establishment of persistent contact. A Newmark-type time integration scheme is derived from the proposed formulation, and shown to yield excellent results in modeling the transition to contact/impact.     

An extension of Asgeirsson's mean value theorem for solutions of the ultra-hyperbolic equation in dimension four

In 1937 Asgeirsson established a mean value property for solutions of the general ultra-hyperbolic equation in 2n variables. In the case of four variables, it states that the integrals of a solution over certain pairs of conjugate circles are the same. In this paper we extend this result to non-degenerate conjugate conics, which include the original case of conjugate circles and adds the new case of conjugate hyperbolae.The broader context of this result is the geometrization of Fritz John's 1938 analysis of the ultra-hyperbolic equation. Solutions of the equation arise as the condition for functions on line space to come from line integrals of functions in Euclidean 3-space, and hence it appears as a compatibility condition for tomographic data.The introduction of the canonical neutral Kaehler metric on the space of oriented lines clarifies the relationship and broadens the paradigm to allow new insights. In particular, it is proven that a solution of the ultra-hyperbolic equation has the mean value property over any pair of curves that arise as the image of John's conjugate circles under a conformal map. These pairs of curves are then shown to be conjugate conics, which include circles and hyperbolae.John identified conjugate circles with the two rulings of a hyperboloid of 1-sheet. Conjugate hyperbolae are identified with the two rulings of either a piece of a hyperboloid of 1-sheet or a hyperbolic paraboloid.     

Harmonic decomposition analysis of contact mechanics of bonded layered elastic solids

The paper presents an iterative method for obtaining footprint, pressure distribution, local deformation and sub-surface stress field for the contact between a rigid cylindrical indenter and an elastic flat substrate. The methodology is applicable for semi-infinite, as well as for thin or thick bonded elastic layered solids with high or low elastic moduli. All findings are in accord with the observed behaviour of hard wear resistant and soft solid lubricating coatings. It is shown that the decomposed contact pressure distribution into a series of harmonic waves induces sub-surface stress fields that decay into the depth of the solid according to their wavelengths. Consequently, conditions vis-à-vis fatigue spalling and adhesion performance may be predicted for given thickness of layered bonded elastic solids.     

Singular integral equation method for contact problem for rigidly connected punches on elastic half-plane

In the contact problem of a rigid flat-ended punch on an elastic half-plane, the contact stress under punch is studied. The angle distribution for the stress components in the elastic medium under punch is achieved in an explicit form. From obtained singular stress distribution, the punch singular stress factor (abbreviated as PSSF) is defined. A fundamental solution for the multiple flat punch problems on the elastic half-plane is investigated where the punches are disconnected and the forces applied on the punches are arbitrary. The singular integral equation method is suggested to obtain the fundamental solution. Further, the contact problem for rigidly connected punches on an elastic half-plane is considered. The solution for this problem can be considered as a superposition of many particular fundamental solutions. The resultant forces on punches are the undetermined unknowns in the problem, which can be evaluated by the condition of relative descent between punches. Finally, the resultant forces on punches can be determined, and the PSSFs at the corner points can be evaluated. Numerical examples are given.     

Fano contact manifolds and nilpotent orbits

A contact structure on a complex manifold M is a corank 1 subbundle F of T_M such that the bilinear form on F with values in the quotient line bundle L = T_M/F deduced from the Lie bracket of vector fields is everywhere non-degenerate. In this paper we consider the case where M is a Fano manifold; this implies that L is ample.?If is a simple Lie algebra, the unique closed orbit in (for the adjoint action) is a Fano contact manifold; it is conjectured that every Fano contact manifold is obtained in this way. A positive answer would imply an analogous result for compact quaternion-Kahler manifolds with positive scalar curvature, a longstanding question in Riemannian geometry.?In this paper we solve the conjecture under the additional assumptions that the group of contact automorphisms of M is reductive, and that the image of the rational map M P(H ₀(M, L)*) sociated to L has maximum dimension. The proof relies on the properties of the nilpotent orbits in a semi-simple Lie algebra, in particular on the work of R. Brylinski and B. Kostant. Received: July 28, 1997     

Axisymmetric contact of anisotropic shells of rotation with rigid and elastic foundations

A class of problems are investigated on determining the stressed-strained state of anisotropic shells of rotation that are in axisymmetric one-sided contact with rigid and elastic surfaces. The shells are under the action of surface and contour loads. For some combinations of these quantities the shell may break away from the surface. To determine the contact zone, the method of successive approximations is utilized. In contrast to most investigations in which the contact zone is first determined, the method proposed makes use of a special quantity characterizing the size of the contact zone. The load on contours is determined from the solution to the problem on the stressed state of the shell and the condition specified on the boundary of the contact zone. Some examples of solving concrete problems are given. Bibliography: 5 titles. Translated fromObchyslyuval’ na ta Prykladna Matematyka, No. 76, 1992, pp 70–74.     

On the solutions of elastic-plastic problems with contact-type boundary conditions for solids with loss-of-strength zones

A formulation of a quasi-static problem of the mechanics of elastic-plastic bodies with loss-of-strength zones and boundary conditions of contact type: is given which enables the properties of the loading system to be taken into account. With certain constraints on the constitutive relations and using a condition for stability of the softening process in a local zone, theorems are proved on the uniqueness of the solution of the boundary-value problem and on the maximum and minimum of the functionals when the kinematically or statically possible and actual fields are the same. The corresponding generalized variational principles are given.     

Approximation of conformal mappings by circle patterns

A circle pattern is a configuration of circles in the plane whose combinatorics is given by a planar graph G such that to each vertex of G corresponds a circle. If two vertices are connected by an edge in G, the corresponding circles intersect with an intersection angle in (0, π). Two sequences of circle patterns are employed to approximate a given conformal map g and its first derivative. For the domain of g we use embedded circle patterns where all circles have the same radius decreasing to 0 and with uniformly bounded intersection angles. The image circle pattern has the same combinatorics and intersection angles and is determined from boundary conditions (radii or angles) according to the values of g′ (|g′| or arg g′). For quasicrystallic circle patterns the convergence result is strengthened to C ^∞-convergence on compact subsets.      

A geometric interpretation of frictional contact mechanics

The work-conjugacy of pressures and tangential tractions with so-called “gap”and “stick” constraints is deduced in order to delineate a rigid-plastic model of a frictional interface. This is accomplished by pursuing a differential-geometric view of the two surfaces that comprise the frictional interface. Given that contact is described in the current configuration, Lie derivatives are shown to be the natural means of establishing the work-conjugacy between tractions and constraints.     

Tail field representations and the zero-two law

The zero-two law was proved for a positiveL ₁-contractionT by Ornstein and Sucheston, and gives a condition which impliesT ⁿ f−T ⁿ⁺¹ f → 0 for allf. Extensions of this result to the case of a positiveL _p -contraction, 1≤p<∞, have been obtained by several authors. In the present paper we prove a theorem which is related to work of Wittmann. We will say that a positive contractionT contains a circle of lengthm if there is a nonzero functionf such that the iterated valuesf, T f,…,T ^m-1 f have disjoint support, whileT ^m f=f. Similarly, a contractionT contains a line if for everym there is a nonzero functionf (which may depend onm) such thatf,…,T ^m-1 f have disjoint support. Approximate forms of these conditions are defined, which are referred to as asymptotic circles and lines, respectively. We show (Theorem 3) that if the conclusionT ⁿ f−T ⁿ⁺¹ f→0 of the zero-two law does not hold for allf inL _p , then eitherT contains an asymptotic circle orT contains an asymptotic line. The point of this result is that any condition onT which excludes circles and lines must then imply the conclusion of the zero-two law. Theorem 3 is proved by means of the representation of a positiveL _p -contraction in terms of anL _p -isometry. Asymptotic circles and lines forT correspond to exact circles and lines for the isometry on tail-measurable functions, and exact circles and lines for the isometry are obtained using the Rohlin tower construction for point transformations. Research supported in part by NSERC.     

A note on Pythagorean hodograph quartic spiral

By using the geometric constraints on the control polygon of a Pythagorean hodograph (PH) quartic curve, we propose a sufficient condition for this curve to have monotone curvature and provide the detailed proof. Based on the results, we discuss the construction of spiral PH quartic curves between two given points and formulate the transition curve of a G² contact between two circles with one circle inside another circle. In particular, we deduce an attainable range of the distance between the centers of the two circles and summarize the algorithm for implementation. Compared with the construction of a PH quintic curve, the complexity of the solution of the equation for obtaining the transition curves is reduced.