Summary: This paper presents a variational framework and numerical implementation strategy for contact smoothing algorithms in large deformation finite element analysis. Since traditional approaches in contact mechanics enforce kinematic constraints defined in terms of faceted surfaces introduced by finite element discretizations, large sliding problems, in particular, tend to induce nonphysical oscillations in contact forces, and nonlinear equation for solving difficulties is associated with the discontinuities in contact surface geometry. The formulation presented herein is shown to circumvent these issues, improving the robustness of the numerical procedure and eliminating many of the contact force oscillations given by more traditional procedures.