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Computational Science, Engineering & Technology Series
ISSN 1759-3158 CSETS: 15
INNOVATION IN ENGINEERING COMPUTATIONAL TECHNOLOGY Edited by: B.H.V. Topping, G. Montero, R. Montenegro
Chapter 7
Computational Contact Mechanics: A Short Review F. Lebon
Laboratory of Mechanics and Acoustics, CNRS, University of Provence, Marseille, France F. Lebon, "Computational Contact Mechanics: A Short Review", in B.H.V. Topping, G. Montero, R. Montenegro, (Editors), "Innovation in Engineering Computational Technology", Saxe-Coburg Publications, Stirlingshire, UK, Chapter 7, pp 127-144, 2006. doi:10.4203/csets.15.7
Keywords: contact, friction, modelling, numerical methods.
Summary
Friction is a natural occurrence that affects almost all objects in
motion. The miracle of fire by friction was perhaps the first manifestation
of friction for our ancestors, ten thousand years ago. In
antiquity people used grease in order to move stones on
inclined planes. Since then extensive
research has attempted to develop models that accurately predict
friction behaviour.
This paper outlines modelling and computational methods for studying
contact between deformable solids.
In the first part of the paper some contact laws are presented.
We focus on Signorini's law and the semi-empirical Coulomb law,
which are convenient for a large class of structures.
In order to solve the problem, two families of algorithms are
presented.
The first one is based on a fixed point algorithm on
the implicit friction term [1]. At each
iteration of the fixed point algorithm, we have to solve an
optimization problem with constraints. The problem is not
differentiable and is classically solved by relaxation
procedures. This algorithm has been used by the author
and his collaborators for the analysis of a
complex assembly in reactor technology [2] and for the
analysis of coupling sleeves in shape memory alloys
[3]. The numerical results have been compared with
experimental data and a validation of the model has been obtained
for the first application. This method is very simple to implement
and to couple with complex behaviours. It is a robust method and the
convergence does not depend much on the friction coefficient.
The second algorithm is based on a mixed formulation
and leads to nonlinear and non-differentiable problems. These
problems are solved by a generalised Newton method. The tangent
matrix of the system is non-symmetric, non-positive definite,
ill-conditioned and with zeros on the diagonal. Consequently, it is
necessary to design appropriate preconditioners
[4].
Industrial problems such a
system of rolling shutters and a leaf spring-dashpot suspension
system have been analysed in earlier papers [5].
The last part of the paper is devoted to a comparison between the
methods presented above. The academic example of a composite long bar
in contact with a rigid obstacle is treated. This problem has the
advantage of presenting complex contact zones and very
ill-conditioned stiffness matrices. An analysis of the efficiency and
robustness of the two algorithms is given.
References
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