On the Interpretation of the Lagrange Multipliers in the Constraint Formulation of Contact Problems; or Why Are Some Multipliers Always Zero?

One method for modeling idealized contact between two bodies in mechanical system is based on the constraint approach, where Lagrange multipiers are introduced, which serve as constraint forces. In the usage of this formulation, there exists a linear dependancy between the Lagrange multipliers. Moreover, it has been observed that some Lagrange multipliers are always identical to zero. This sort of contradicts the basic notion that Lagrange multipliers in mechanical systems act as constraint forces which, when constraints are violated, push the system back in the desired configuration. In this paper it will be shown, by theory and example, that the above-mentioned linear dependency of the Lagrange multipliers, together with specific entries in the Jacobian of the constraint equations, results in some Lagrange multipliers being identical to zero.