Wave generation and propagation at frictional bimaterial sliding interfaces

When two deformable bodies separated by a frictional interface start to slide with each other, dynamic "ruptures" (transitions from sticking to sliding) occur at the interface. The ruptures trigger waves that propagate inside the bodies and along the interface. Wave generation and propagation at contact frictional interfaces is at the origin of the friction induced vibrations and can cause dynamic instabilities, surface damages, wear and fatigue failures. It affects directly a plurality of mechanical systems involving either static or sliding frictional parts. Moreover when the two materials in contact are different, which is the most common case in mechanics, the dynamics of the phenomenon could increase in complexity due to the so-called "bimaterial" effect. The aim of this 2D numerical work is to investigate the relationship between the macroscopic behavior of the system (stick-slip, continuous sliding, dynamic instabilities, etc.) and the local dynamics at the contact (wave generation and propagation, ruptures at the contact interface)