On FE-grid relocation in solving unilateral boundary value problems by FEM

We consider FE-grid optimization in elliptic unilateral boundary value problems. The criterion used in grid optimization is the total potential energy of the system. It is shown that minimization of this cost functional means a decrease of the discretization error or a better approximation of the unilateral boundary conditions, Design sensitivity analysis is given with respect to the movement of nodal points. Numerical results for the Dirichlet-Signorini problem for the Laplace equation and the plane elasticity problem with unilateral boundary conditions are given. In plane elasticity we consider problems with and without friction. peerReviewed