Variational Analysis and the Convergence of the Finite Element Approximation of an Electro-Elastic Contact Problem with Adhesion

A model for the adhesive, quasi-static and frictionless contact between an electro-elastic body and a rigid foundation is studied in this paper. The contact is modelled with Signorini's conditions with adhesion. We provide variational formulation for the problem and prove the existence of a unique weak solution to the model. The proofs are based on arguments of time-dependent variational inequalities, differential equations and Banach fixed point. Then, a fully discrete scheme is introduced based on the finite element method to approximate the spatial variable and the backward Euler scheme to discretize the time derivatives. Error estimates are derived on the approximative solutions from which the linear convergence of the algorithm is deduced under suitable regularity conditions.