Author(s)

R.A.M. Silviera, A.R.D. Silva and P.B. Goncalves

Abstract

A numerical methodology for the analysis of plates, governed by Kirchhoff or Mindlin theory, on a tensionless (and Motionless) Winkler foundation or elastic half-space is presented. The finite element method is used for the plate and foundation, and the contact problem is dealt with directly as a minimization problem, involving only the original variables, subjected to inequality constraints. The problem is transformed into a standard linear complementarity problem that is solved by the Lemke's algorithm. Once the LCP is solved, the contact surface and foundation reaction can be obtained The method is illustrated by three numerical examp

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