A numerical algorithm for the solution of Signorini problems

In this paper we propose a new iterative algorithm for the solution of a certain class of Signorini problems. Such problems arise in the modelling of a variety of physical phenomena and usually involve the determination of an unknown free boundary. Here we describe a way of locating the free boundary directly and provide a proof that the algorithm converges when used with analytic methods. The advantage of this algorithm is that it can be used in conjunction with any numerical method with minimal development of extra code. We demonstrate its application with the boundary element method to some physical problems in both two and three dimensions.