CONTACT

"Nonlinear inclusions, hemivariational inequalities with applications to contact mechanics"

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 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'The overall aim of this project is to develop a joint training and cutting-edge research program based on state-of-the-art technologies that will strengthen the research partnership between Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland, University of Perpignan, France, Guangxi University of Nationalities in Nanning, P.R. China, Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, P.R. China, University of Iowa, USA and Oakland University in Rochester, USA in the area of common research interest, nonlinear inclusions, hemivariational inequalities and modelling of contact mechanics. The estimated duration of the project is 48 months. This aim will be achieved through short and longer-term periods of staff exchange between partners in Europe, United States and China, and networking activities between the six institutions. The ultimate goal of this project is to achieve more rapid progress in advancing current knowledge and concepts through combined endeavour leading to a book monograph and joint-author high citation index publications. In this way, we will establish a long-term research cooperation between six institutions based on active technology and scientific knowledge application and transfer. The scientific aim of the research exchange is to develop new and non-standard mathematical and numerical tools directly motivated by the needs of the analysis of various classes of contact problems which are of fundamental importance in technology, industry and real engineering applications. A throughout research of contact processes will not only allow to gain an improved fundamental understanding of contact mechanics but also advance current knowledge that can ultimately be used for the improvement of industrial applications of economic benefits. Trainings, meeting, seminars and two workshops are being planned for this research project in order to share all the knowledge and information gained throughout the work and to form the basis of long lasting collaborations.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Contact mechanics deals with the stresses and deformations of solid bodies touching each other, encompassing a tremendous number of industrially relevant systems. Major advances in numerical methods will thus have immediate economic impact.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Examples of applications in contact mechanics include the moving parts of machinery, wheels running on a railroad track and artificial or natural joints in living organisms. A new EU-funded research project 'Nonlinear inclusions, hemivariational inequalities with applications to contact mechanics' (CONTACT) brings together labs in Europe, China and the USA to further the field.

Project scientists are developing the complex theoretical methods necessary to fully describe boundary laws involving friction, adhesion, damage thermal effects and wear. The joint training programme and cutting-edge research agenda exploits state-of-the-art technologies. They will also strengthen ties among the partner institutions while fostering rapid development of novel and non-standard mathematical tools. The focus is on classes of contact problems with direct industrial or technical relevance. Staff exchange, meetings, seminars and two workshops are all planned.

Already within the first reporting period numerous results have been obtained that promise to improve industrial applications with important economic benefits. Among the systems studied were actuators, bearings, hinges and artificial or live joints.

The team has shown that the problems are well-posed (a unique solution exists and essentially small errors in input do not result in large changes in output). Scientists have now developed and run algorithms that compute deformations and stresses in elastic and viscoelastic materials as a function of time and place.

All tasks are proceeding according to plan and, in fact, outcomes exceed the original scope of the proposal. New collaborations are blossoming. The end of the project is expected to deliver many valuable new methods for the field of theoretical contact mechanics. The methods will support novel experimental work and engineering advances.