MODELING AND SOLUTION OF FRICTIONAL CONTACT PROBLEMS USING FINITE ELEMENT METHOD

In this paper, an adaptive incremental approach capable of handling contact problems with friction is developed. Using the finite element (FE) discretization, the problem is formulated as a convex programming model (CPM) under the inequality contact constraints and friction conditions. The constraints are modeled using the Lagrange multipliers approach. The classical Coulomb s law of friction is adopted for simulating the friction conditions throughout the contact interface. An illustrative example for the frictional contact of a cylinder laterally loaded by a compressive load is presented. Variation of the contact pressure, relative tangential displacement, and tangential stress over the contact area with the coefficient of friction are also presented. Results of the present model, using the classical law of friction, are compared with those obtained using a nonlocal nonlinear friction law and a good agreement has been obtained.