A mixture theory for contact in multi-material Eulerian formulations (Q1371777)

There is an extensive literature for including contact inequality constraints in Lagrangian finite element methods, but little consideration has been given to contact in Eulerian methods. The contact forces between adjacent bodies are governed by the mixture theory in the Eulerian formulation, making the mixture theory the natural starting point in the treatment of the contact inequalities. Here we develop a mixture theory that equilibrates the traction across the material interface and limits the shear stress according to a Coulomb friction law.