Simulating anisotropic frictional response using smoothly interpolated traction fields

This paper develops a constitutive description and a computational treatment of anisotropic friction within the context of the finite element method. The theoretical approach makes use of structural tensors that characterize texture, are convected with the material surfaces, and represent the symmetries that reflect changes in relative orientation of the surfaces. In the discrete setting, the texture is mapped using techniques adapted from discrete differential geometry and computer graphics. In addition, the traction fields are interpolated smoothly on the surfaces and the stick-slip condition is enforced sharply via Lagrange multipliers.