Dual finite element analysis of the contact problem of two elastic bodies with an enlarging contact zone is presented. Approximations of the solution are defined on two types of triangulations by piecewise constant stress fields. Convergence is proved in both cases.
The Poisson equation with non-homogeneous unilateral condition on the boundary is solved by means of finite elements. The primal variational problem is approximated on the basis of linear triangular elements, and -convergence is proved provided the exact solution is regular enough. For the dual problem piecewise linear divergence-free approximations are employed and -convergence proved for a regular solution. Some a posteriori error estimates are also presented.
Page 1