The variational method in contact problems. The present state of the problem and trends in its development

Research on variational methods for solving problems on the contact of solid deformable bodies is reviewed and trends in the development of these researches at the present time are analysed. The Signorini problem and it generalizations, numerical methods, different models of friction, investigations into the problem of the existence and uniqueness of a solution, the problem of rolling motion, the problem of describing the boundary conditions, inelastic materials and problems of contact dynamics and electro-elastic contact are considered. The analysis shows that research on the problem of the contact of deformable bodies is being conducted over a broad front in different areas and the results are being applied in different areas of modern engineering and technology.