Boundary integral equation method for elastic beams in frictionless contact problems

A boundary integral equation algorithm for the contact analysis of elastic beams is presented in this paper. The analysis of this sort is complicated by the unknown and moving boundary points. The new algorithm incorporates the interface compatibility equation, derived from the principle of minimum potential energy, into the general boundary integral equation so that the locations of boundary points may be correctly identified. The incremental and iterative solution procedure is presented. Accuracy and efficiency of the new algorithm are demonstrated using examples whose classical solutions exists.