An algorithm to solve coupled 2D rolling contact problems

This work presents a new approach to the steady-state rolling contact problem for two-dimensional elastic bodies, with and without force transmission. The problem solution is achieved by minimizing a general function representing the equilibrium equation and the contact restrictions. The boundary element method is used to compute the elastic influence coefficients of the surface points involved in the contact (equilibrium equations); while the contact conditions are represented with the help of variational inequalities and projection functions. Finally, the minimization problem is solved by the Generalized Newton's Method with line search. Four classic rolling problems are also solved and commented on. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.