Mass redistribution method for finite element contact problems in elastodynamics

This paper is devoted to a new method dealing with the semi-discretized finite element unilateral contact problem in elastodynamics. This problem is ill-posed mainly because the nodes on the contact surface have their own inertia. We introduce a method based on an equivalent redistribution of the mass matrix such that there is no inertia on the contact boundary. This leads to a mathematically well-posed and energy conserving problem. Finally, some numerical tests are presented. (c) 2008 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.