Component Contact

Use the Component Contact PropertyManager to select components and set the default contact condition for all areas that the selected components share amongst themselves or with other components. You can apply multiple contact conditions to override the global contact setting by adding component contact and local contact sets . Modifying or adding a contact condition requires remeshing the model.

Click here for guidelines on studies with contact conditions.

Contact Type

The available options depend on the study type:

• No Penetration

Selected components or bodies do not penetrate each other during simulation, regardless of their initial contact condition. By default, bodies do not penetrate themselves if the deformation during simulation is sufficient to cause self-intersection. Surface to surface contact formulation is applied for No Penetration contact.

The No Penetration component contact option is not available for nonlinear studies. Use contact set definitions to apply No Penetration contact between selected bodies.

• Bonded (No clearance)

Selected components or bodies behave as if they were welded during simulation.

• Allow Penetration

Selected components or bodies can penetrate each other during simulation. Do not use this option unless you are sure that loads will not cause interference of the components. The Allow Penetration option overrides existing component contacts. To apply Allow Penetration contact to components or a top-level assembly, you need to previously define a contact type.

• Insulated

See Types of Contact. for more information on the above options.

Components

Global Contact. Selects the top level assembly to apply a global contact condition.

Components for Contact . Select the components for which you want to specify contact conditions with other components in the assembly. You can select the desired components from the flyout FeatureManager design tree or from the graphics area using the Filter Solid Bodies tool on the Selection Filter toolbar.

Options

(Visible for Bonded contact only).

• Compatible Mesh. The program creates compatible mesh on initially contacting areas. If the mesh is compatible, the program merges coincident nodes along the common interface.

• Incompatible Mesh. The program meshes each component independently. If meshing fails with the compatible mesh option, this option can help the meshing process to succeed. In general, the compatible mesh option produces more accurate results in the bonded regions.

Friction

(Visible for No Penetration contact for static and nonlinear studies).

Friction Coefficient. Specify a friction coefficient equal to or smaller than 0.5.

To set contact for components:

1. In the Simulation study tree, right-click the Connections icon and select Component Contact .

2. In the PropertyManager, select the desired contact type.

3. In the Components for contact , select the desired components from the flyout FeatureManager design tree.

4. For Bonded contact, select Compatible mesh or Incompatible mesh. For No Penetration contact, specify Friction coefficient.

5. Click .

An error icon appears next to the Mesh icon when you modify or add any contact set. When you run the study, the software re-meshes the model automatically before running the study.