Convergence of Rothe scheme for a class of dynamic variational inequalities involving Clarke subdifferential

Abstract

ABSTRACTIn the first part of the paper we deal with a second-order evolution variational inequality involving a multivalued term generated by a Clarke subdifferential of a locally Lipschitz potential. For this problem we construct a time-semidiscrete approximation, known as the Rothe scheme. We study a sequence of solutions of the semidiscrete approximate problems and provide its weak convergence to a limit element that is a solution of the original problem. Next, we show that the solution is unique and the convergence is strong. In the second part of the paper, we consider a dynamic visco-elastic problem of contact mechanics. We assume that the contact process is governed by a normal damped response condition with a unilateral constraint and the body is non-clamped. The mechanical problem in its weak formulation reduces to a variational–hemivariational inequality that can be solved by finding a solution of a corresponding abstract problem related to one studied in the first part of the paper. Hence, we apply obtained existence result to provide the weak solvability of contact problem.