A layer decomposition method for multi-layer elastic contact systems with interlayer Tresca friction
Zhizhuo Zhang, Xiaobing Nie, Mikaël Barboteu, Jinde Cao
TL;DR
The paper addresses the challenge of accurately simulating multi-layer pavement mechanics with interlayer Tresca friction by formulating the interlayer contact as a variational-inequality problem over a partitioned domain. It develops a layer-decomposition framework with continuous and discrete VI formulations, proves convergence under regularity assumptions, and provides an implementable algebraic optimization pathway based on finite-element discretization and dual saddle-point formulations. The discrete and algebraic models yield layer-wise minimization problems and dual representations that enable efficient computation and convergence guarantees. Numerical experiments validate the VI model and the practicality of the proposed algorithms for pavement mechanics applications.
Abstract
With the increasing demand for the accuracy of numerical simulation of pavement mechanics, the variational inequality model and its induced finite element method which can simulate the interlayer contact state becomes a potential solution. In this paper, a layer decomposition algorithm for solving variational inequality models of multi-layer elastic contact systems with interlayer Tresca friction conditions is studied. Continuous and discrete versions of the algorithm and their convergence theorems have been proposed and proved successively. Then, the algebraic form of the executable optimization algorithm and the numerical experimental results verify the practicability of the variational inequality model and its algorithm in the pavement mechanics modeling.