Component Interaction PropertyManager

You can use the Component Interaction PropertyManager to specify the interaction conditions that control the behavior of the selected components during simulations.

Component-level interactions override global-level interactions, and local interactions settings override component-level interactions. Modifying or adding an interaction setting requires remeshing the model.

Before you run the analysis, you can verify the areas of interactions (such as bonded, contact, and free) with the Interaction Viewer PropertyManager.

Interaction Type

The available options depend on the study type:

Bonded Selected components behave during simulation as if they were welded.
Contact Selected components do not interfere with each other during simulation, regardless of their initial contact condition. By default, bodies do not intersect themselves if the deformation during simulation is sufficient to cause self-intersection. Surface to surface contact formulation is applied.
The Contact interaction option for components is not available for nonlinear studies. Use the Local Interactions PropertyManager to apply local contact sets between geometric entities of selected components.
Free Selected components can intersect each other during simulation. Do not use this option unless you are sure that loads will not cause interference of the components. This interaction type overrides existing component-level interactions.
Insulated Prevents heat flow because of conduction between the selected components.

Components

  Global interaction Selects the top-level assembly to apply a global interaction condition. The selected interaction type applies to all components of the assembly.
Components for interaction Select the components to specify their interaction conditions. You can select the required components from the flyout FeatureManager design tree or from the graphics area using the Filter Solid Bodies tool on the Selection Filter toolbar.

Properties

Gap range for bonding Specifies the clearance that allows geometric entities to qualify for bonding interactions. The default value for Maximum gap percent is 0.01 % of the characteristic length of the model and is specified in Default Options > Interactions. Components that have clearances larger than this threshold are not bonded at a component-level. You can overwrite the default maximum clearance with a user-defined value.

Enter a very small value rather than zero for maximum clearance to ensure bonding of curved, coincident geometry.
Calculate minimum gap This tool is available when you select two components in Components for interaction to apply a bonded contact.

Calculates the minimum distance between the two selected components.
Include shell edge-solid face/shell face and edge pairs (slower) Creates edge-to-edge bonded contact sets for pairs of edges located within the allowable clearance for bonding.
The valid pairs of edges of shells or sheet metal bodies that qualify for bonding are:
  • Straight, parallel, and non-interfering shell edges (or almost parallel within one degree of tolerance).
  • Circular edges that have the same radius, are concentric, and do not interfere.
  • Shell edges (straight or arc) bonded to a solid or shell face (planar or cylindrical).
Gap range to consider contact: Specifies the clearance that allows geometric entities to qualify for contact. The default value specified in Default Options > Interactions is 10 % of the characteristic length of the model.
Stabilize the area if the gap is: Applies a small stiffness to the qualified areas so the solver can overcome instability issues and start the simulation. The software applies contact stabilization to components that have an initial clearance within a threshold value of 1% of the model's characteristic length.

You can customize the allowable clearances to better fit your models.
Coefficient of friction Specifies the coefficient of static friction for the selected component. The allowable range for the friction coefficient is 0 to 1.0.

The static friction forces are calculated by multiplying the normal forces generated at the locations that come into contact by the given coefficient of friction. The direction of the friction force is opposite to the direction of motion.

Advanced

(Available for the Bonded interaction type).

Enforce common nodes between touching boundaries Enforces mesh continuity on the touching boundaries of the selected components and meshes the components as one body. Only the Curvature-based and Standard meshers support this option.
Bonding formulation Specifies the bonding formulation for components that mesh independently.

Surface to Surface

This option is more accurate, but slower. For a 2D Simplification study, the solver applies an edge-to-edge bonding.

Node to Surface

Select this option if you run into performance issues when solving models with complicated contact surfaces. For a 2D simplification analysis, the program applies a node-to-edge bonding.

Defining Component-Level Interactions

You can use component-level interactions to modify the default global interaction type for selected components, for example from a global bonded condition to a contact interaction. Component-level interactions override global-level interactions.

To specify the interaction type for selected components:

  1. In the Simulation study tree, right-click the Connections icon and select Component Interaction .
  2. In the PropertyManager, select the required interaction type, Bonded, Contact, or Free.
  3. Under Components , select the required components (parts or bodies) from the flyout FeatureManager design tree.
  4. For Contact interaction, you may specify the Friction coefficient.
  5. Click .
    An error icon appears next to the Mesh icon when you modify or add a new interaction condition after meshing. The software remeshes the model automatically before running the study.