Two bodies colliding

Abstract

The foregoing chapters are devoted to investigate the mathematical nature of impact dynamics. Let us note at once that a dynamical problem with the smooth dynamics and the unilateral constraints is not complete, since one needs the knowledge of the behaviour of the system on the constraints surface to investigate global motion. In fact, the behaviour at the impact is generally modeled by a set of coefficients (not necessarily constant) that relate post and pre-collisions values. In this chapter we first investigate in some detail the dynamics of two rigid bodies that collide. Then we review the existing studies on macroscopic models of the shock phenomenon.