A simple analytical-numerical technique which combines the incremental finite element method with the complex variable method, is proposed as a means of solution of 2-D interaction problems involving static contact as for example between a tire and a supporting snowpack. The solution method developed herein permits one to determine the contact area, contact stresses and approach of the two bodies, the tire and the supporting snowpack in contact, without excessive effort in computation-for situations where deformation of the snow, a highly compressible and irreversible material, is mch larger than that of the tire. The present technique is applicable for a analysis of various nonlinear contact problems (with friction), i.e. a tire v.s. soil, a rigid (or deformable) flat (or curved) stamp v.s. a deformable medium (i.e. soil, snow or steel), etc. The problem of a frictionless and static nonlinear contact between a tire and a solid of snow subjected to a vertical loading is demonstrated. The present method solves the problem in an iterative format using a step-by-step load increment procedure.
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