Adaptive First-Order System Least-Squares Computations for the Signorini Contact Problem

The Faculty of Informatics is pleased to announce a seminar given by Gerard Starke

DATE: Monday, May 11th, 2015
PLACE: USI Lugano Campus, room SI-008, Informatics building (Via G. Buffi 13)
TIME: 13.30

ABSTRACT:
We study first-order system least squares formulations involving stresses and displacements as process variables in the context of the Signorini problem modelling frictionless contact in linear elasticity. Optimal order a priori error estimates are obtained for the approximation of stress and displacement in H (div) and H1, respectively. Numerical experiments show that optimal order convergence is observed on adaptively refined triangulations based on using the least squares functional as an posteriori error estimator. We will also comment on favourable properties of direct stress approximations in terms of accuracy of momentum balance and surface forces.

BIO:
Gerhard Starke married, 52 years old, is professor for applied mathematics at the university of Duisburg-Essen. He studied mathematics at the university of Karlsruhe and received his PhD there in 1987. Following research visits at Kent State, Stanford, and other universities in the United States he worked a a lecturer at several german universities and then became professor in 1997 at the university of Essen. His current research interest includes first order least squares finite element methods for solid body mechanics and elastoplasticity.

HOST: Prof. Rolf Krause