Geometric Representation of Detachment Conditions in Systems with Unilateral Constraints

Mechanical systems with unilateral constraints that can be represented in the contact mode on the phase plane are considered. On the phase plane we construct domains that satisfy the following conditions 1) a detachment from the constraint is impossible; 2) the sign of the constraint reaction corresponds to its unilateral character. These conditions are equivalent for an ideal constraint [1, 2], but they can differ in the presence of friction [3]. Trajectories without detachments belong to intersections of these domains. A circular disc moving on a horizontal support with viscous friction and a disc with the sharp edge moving on an icy surface [4, 5] are considered as examples.

Usually for the control of contact conservation one uses only the second condition from above, which can lead to invalid qualitative conclusions.