How To Undertake Contact & Friction Analysis

Konter, A  

First Published - November 2000
Softback, 63 Pages

Linear finite element analysis has for many years been widely used in the civil and mechanicals engineering fields and, in particular, in the construction, automotive, aerospace, and offshore sectors. Finite element analysis is an integral part of the design cycle in many companies.

Finite element programs that have the capability to solve non-linear problems have also been available for many years but often have been considered for use only in specialised industries such as nuclear engineering and advanced gas turbine research. In fact, the application of non-linear finite element analysis to general engineering has been growing rapidly, using commercially available packages of high quality and reliability. This book deals specifically with the subset of non-linear problems involving contact or friction.

In this book the aim is to give sufficient background to the terminology and techniques specific to contact and friction analysis. In addition typical problems areas, which may arise, are highlighted and guidance as to how they can be resolved is provided. A number of examples are used throughout the text to illustrate the concepts and potential applications.

Contents

Introduction

Why non-linear analysis?

• Incremental solution procedure
• Iterative behaviour

Classification of contact problems

• Normal contact detection and separation behaviour
• Tangential or sliding contact
• Friction and friction models
• Thermal contact phenomena
• Use of various element types

Approaches for contact analysis

• User modification of boundary conditions and constraints
• Non-linear springs or elastic foundations
• Contact element
  • Penalty stiffness
  • Lagrangian multipliers
• Contact procedures based on automatic adaptation of boundary conditions and constraints
• Comparison of contact methodologies
  • How is contact defined by the user?
  • Model verification and post-processing
  • The amount of deformation and sliding
  • The presence of other non-linear phenomena

Complicating aspects in contact analysis and how they can be resolved

• Handling of rigid body modes
• Amount of sliding affects choice of approach
• Large differences in stiffness or mesh density
• Contact between continuum elements, shell and beam elements
• Deformable bodies with a curved boundary contour
• Friction dominated contact
• Dynamic contact
• Thermal contact
• What accuracy can be expected?
• Contact and remeshing

Concluding Remarks

References