Print Email Facebook Twitter Extending the BEM for Elastic Contact Problems Beyond the Half-Space Approach Title Extending the BEM for Elastic Contact Problems Beyond the Half-Space Approach Author Zhao, J. (TU Delft Numerical Analysis) Vollebregt, E.A.H. (TU Delft Numerical Analysis; VORtech) Oosterlee, C.W. (TU Delft Numerical Analysis; Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI)) Date 2016 Abstract The boundary element method (BEM) is widely used in fast numerical solvers for concentrated elastic contact problems arising from the wheel-rail contact in the railway industry. In this paper we extend the range of applicability of BEM by computing the influence coefficients (ICs) numerically. These ICs represent the Green's function of the problem, i.e. the surface deformation due to unit loads. They are not analytically available when the half-space is invalid, for instance in conformal contact. An elastic model is proposed to compute these ICs numerically, by the finite element method (FEM). We present a detailed investigation to find proper strategies of FEM meshing and element types, considering accuracy and computational cost. Moreover, the effects of computed ICs to contact solutions are examined for a Cattaneo shift contact problem. The work in this paper provides a guidance to study fast solvers for the conformal contact. Subject concentrated contacterror propagationhalf-space approachinfluence coefficientsthe finite element method To reference this document use: http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:40ecae78-beb4-46bf-8284-2500971cdc4b DOI https://doi.org/10.3846/13926292.2016.1138418 ISSN 1392-6292 Source Mathematical Modelling and Analysis, 21 (1), 119-141 Part of collection Institutional Repository Document type journal article Rights © 2016 J. Zhao, E.A.H. Vollebregt, C.W. Oosterlee Files PDF document.pdf 1.88 MB Close viewer /islandora/object/uuid:40ecae78-beb4-46bf-8284-2500971cdc4b/datastream/OBJ/view