Various Aspects of Implementation of the Curve-To-Curve Contact Model

Abstract

There are several questions in further applications of the curve-to-curve approach to contact between bodies:

• 1 combination of classical 3D finite element discretization with the edge-to-edge approach;

• 2 combination of finite beam elements with the beam-to-beam algorithm;

• 3 development of special “solid-beam” elements with curve-to-curve algorithm which allow to take into account 3D effects also for beam type elements.

Combination of 3D finite elements with an edge-to-edge contact approach is rather straightforward. The continuum is discretized with solid or solid-shell elements and the chosen edge-to-edge contact algorithm is applied. In the current chapter we consider various types of finite element approximation for the structure including solid-shell and beam type elements as well as including iso-geometric approach together with the Curve-To-Curve type of contact. The consistent application with an isogeometric approach for the 3D-continuum would require the iso-geometrical technique, see Hughes et.al. [70], or high order finite element techniques for shells, see Rank et.al. [153].