Ebook: IUTAM Symposium on Multiscale Problems in Multibody System Contacts: Proceedings of the IUTAM Symposium held in Stuttgart, Germany, February 20–23, 2006

The investigations of multiscale problems in multibody system contacts is a most interesting and timely topic which is the subject of intensive research for more than a decade. Many questions have already been answered and the mechanically sound description and simulation is increasingly being applied to practical engineering problems. The IUTAM Symposium on ”Multiscale Problems in Multibody System Contacts” in Stuttgart, Germany which was held February 20-23, 2006 facilitated discussions between researchers active in the ?eld and enabled us to review the current state of the subject, and to identify the important topics which require further e?ort. Multiscale problems occur very naturally in contact mechanics. Typically thecontactforcesandstressesareveryhighandthey aretransmittedwithina veryshortperiodoftime.This leadstoquestions,e.g.howtheslowrigidbody motion and the fast motion changes can be considered simultaneously or how interface e?ects couple with wave propagation and the large-scale motion. The purpose of the symposium was to provide a basis for discussion and exchange of new concepts and ideas between scientists from all over Europe and the world. Emphasis was placed also on sharing algorithms and concepts with young researchers who only recently entered the ?eld of mechanical c- tacts.

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The investigation of multiscale problems in multibody system contacts is a most interesting and timely topic which has been the subject of intensive research for more than one decade. While many questions have been answered and the mechanically sound description and simulation is increasingly applied in practical engineering problems, this IUTAM Symposium facilitated discussions between researchers active in the field and enabled us to review the state-of-the-art and to identify for the years to come the hot topics which require further efforts. It was especially useful to bring together scientists from closely related but traditionally distinct fields such as multibody system contact, molecular dynamics, finite element contact, collision detection or the mathematics of unilateral contact. It is observed that the once clear boundaries between these fields are blurring and an exchange of ideas will accelerate the development with mutual benefits. Multiscale problems occur very naturally in contact mechanics. Typically the contact forces and stresses are very high and they are transmitted within a very short period of time. This leads to questions, e.g. how the slow rigid body motion and the fast motion changes can be considered simultaneously or how interface effects couple to wave propagation and the large-scale motion. The purpose of the symposium was be to provide a basis for discussion and exchange of new concepts and ideas to scientists from all over Europe and the world. This proceedings volume summarizes contributions of many authors active in the field and gives insight in very different areas of this fascinating research.