Nonsmooth/Nonconvex Mechanics

Book excerpt: Nonsmooth and nonconvex models arise in several important applications of mechanics and engineering. The interest in this field is growing from both mathematicians and engineers. The study of numerous industrial applications, including contact phenomena in statics and dynamics or delamination effects in composites, require the consideration of nonsmoothness and nonconvexity. The mathematical topics discussed in this book include variational and hemivariational inequalities, duality, complementarity, variational principles, sensitivity analysis, eigenvalue and resonance problems, and minimax problems. Applications are considered in the following areas among others: nonsmooth statics and dynamics, stability of quasi- static evolution processes, friction problems, adhesive contact and debonding, inverse problems, pseudoelastic modeling of phase transitions, chaotic behavior in nonlinear beams, and nonholonomic mechanical systems. This volume contains 22 chapters written by various leading researchers and presents a cohesive and authoritative overview of recent results and applications in the area of nonsmooth and nonconvex mechanics. Audience: Faculty, graduate students, and researchers in applied mathematics, optimization, control and engineering.