Analysis of frictional contact problem using boundary element method and domain decomposition method

In this paper, we study the bilateral or unilateral contact with Coulomb friction between two elastic solids, using a domain decomposition method coupled with the boundary element method. The decomposition method we have selected is the Schur complement method, a non-overlapping technique. It enables to reduce the solution of the global problem to the solution of a problem de"ned only on the contact surface. Moreover, its principal advantage is that computing is done separately on each solid. We have chosen to associate it with the boundary element method. Indeed, it only requires the discretization of the boundaries of solids. This technique of coupling reduces the number of unknowns and the time of computing. We have applied it to the study of indentation of an elastic foundation by an elastic #at punch and a sphere. In this last case, our results are in conformity with the Hertz theory and the analytical solution of Spence. Moreover, we have shown the in#uence of friction on the size of the contact radius and on the normal pressure at centre. Copyright