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Abstract

We consider a quasistatic contact problem between a linear elastic body and a foundation. The contact is modelled with the Signorini condition and the associated non-local Coulomb friction law in which the adhesion of the contact surfaces is taken into account. The evolution of the bonding field is described by a first order differential equation. We derive a variational formulation of the mechanical problem and prove existence of a weak solution if the friction coefficient is sufficiently small. The proofs employ a time-discretization method, compactness and lower semicontinuity arguments, differential equations and the Banach fixed point theorem.