This symposium intends to broadly cover recent developments in the numerical analysis of contact problems. Abstract submissions are solicited in every modern aspect of computational contact mechanics. The following is a partial list of specific topics of interest:

(i)

Mathematical analysis: stability and accuracy in primal and dual formulations for quasi-static contact; a-priori error estimates.

(ii)

Finite element technology: contact elements for frictionless and frictional quasi-static contact in two and three dimensions; contact between non-smooth bodies; surface interpolation in frictional contact.

(iii)

Algorithmic developments: adaptive methods; parallel implementations; highly-efficient search and contact detection schemes; efficient and robust non-linear solution techniques.

(iv)

Non-smooth time integration methods for dynamic contact and impact.

(v)

Analytical and computational aspects of non-classical friction: anisotropic response; models of wear; non-monotone friction laws.

(vi)

Innovative applications to problems of scientific and/or industrial interest.

Abstracts should be submitted electronically (preferably in PDF format) to Professor Panos Papadopoulos (panos@me.berkeley.edu) by January 31st, 2001. Instructions for the preparation of the abstracts can be found at the conference Web-site (www.usnccm.org).

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