Optimal shape design in contact problems with normal compliance and friction (Q1186967)

We consider the problem of optimal shape design of an elastic body that is in frictional contact with a rigid foundation. The problem is to choose a shape of a part out of a prescribed family of admissible shapes such that, after elastic deformation, the stresses on the contact area are more evenly spread. This should guarantee longer lifetime and better reliability of the part, compared to the cases where high stresses are localized. We deal with a static problem of frictional contact with normal compliance contact law and appropriately modified Coulomb's law of dry friction. Questions of existence and uniqueness, numerical solutions and other mathematical properties are investigated.