BEM solution of two dimensional unilateral contact problems with friction by a new approach

Abstract

Recently, a new numerical resolution method has been introduced for frictionless unilateral contact problems which reduces the resolution of the unilateral problem to the resolution of a nonlinear equation. This reduction is based on a reformulation of the unilateral problem, which at the same time governs the usual unknowns and extra unknowns characterising the contact zone position. The supplementary equations needed by the introduction of these extra unknowns are given by writing the contact force and the gap between the body and its support vanish simultaneously on the contact zone boundary. The boundaries of the bodies in contact are supposed regular in the contact zone vicinity. The aim of the present paper is to extend this resolution method to unilateral contact problems with Coulomb friction.