Speaker:Thomas Seidman, UMBC
Title: The dynamics of Cosserat rods with soft lateral contact

Abstract: Work with S. Antman considered motion in 3-space of a hyperelastic rod with viscous damping of rate type. This used a Cosserat description permitting an exact geometry even for large deformations. For such a setting, although that has typically been ignored, there is the possibility of lateral contact - potential self-intersection. Work with K. Hoffman considered, in steady state, models both of soft contact (involving a short-range repulsion) and hard contact. Here we consider this possibility of contact in the time-dependent context of 3-D motion. The primary emphasis is on the formulation and the existence of solutions, but (if time permits) we note some related problems.

Time: Friday, October 2, 2015, 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Place: Exploratory Hall, Room 4106

Department of Mathematical Sciences
George Mason University
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