Abstract

We study the problem of contact between a plate and an elastic body, using the interface model as introduced by \textit{J. T. Oden} and \textit{J. A. C. Martins} [Comput. Methods Appl. Mech. Eng. 52, 527-634 (1985; Zbl 0567.73122)]. The problem is formulated as a variational inequality. The authors use the theory of \(P\)-coercive variational inequalities, developed by the authors and \textit{K. Schmitt} [Nonlinear Anal., Theory Methods Appl. 15, No. 6, 497-512 (1990; 735.49007)] to examine the existence and uniqueness of the solutions.