Quadratic finite elements with non-matching grids for the unilateral boundary contact

¹ LJLL, C.N.R.S. Université Pierre et Marie Curie, B.C. 187, 4 place Jussieu, 75252 Paris Cedex 05, France.
auliac@ann.jussieu.fr
² LMIA, EA CNRS, Université deq Haute Alsace, Rue des Frères Lumière, 68096 Mulhouse, France.
zakaria.belhachmi@uha.fr
³ LMAC, EA 2222, Université de Technologie de Compiègne, BP 20529, 60205 Compiègne Cedex, France.
faker.ben-belgacem@utc.fr
⁴ I2M (UMR CNRS 5295), Site ENSCBP, 16 Avenue Pey Berland, 33607 Pessac Cedex, France.
⁵ LJLL, C.N.R.S. Université Pierre et Marie Curie, B.C. 187, 4 place Jussieu, 75252 Paris Cedex 05, France.
hecht@ann.jussieu.fr

Received: 11 May 2012
Revised: 24 September 2012

Abstract

We analyze a numerical model for the Signorini unilateral contact, based on the mortar method, in the quadratic finite element context. The mortar frame enables one to use non-matching grids and brings facilities in the mesh generation of different components of a complex system. The convergence rates we state here are similar to those already obtained for the Signorini problem when discretized on conforming meshes. The matching for the unilateral contact driven by mortars preserves then the proper accuracy of the quadratic finite elements. This approach has already been used and proved to be reliable for the unilateral contact problems even for large deformations. We provide however some numerical examples to support the theoretical predictions.