*CONTACT INTERFERENCE

Prescribe time-dependent allowable interferences of contact pairs and contact elements.

This option is used to prescribe time-dependent allowable interferences for contact pairs and contact elements. It is useful for solving problems where there are large initial overclosures of the contacting bodies.

This page discusses:

See Also
In Other Guides
Modeling Contact Interference Fits in Abaqus/Standard
Contact Initialization for Contact Pairs in Abaqus/Standard

ProductsAbaqus/StandardAbaqus/CAE

TypeHistory data

LevelStep

Abaqus/CAEInteraction module

Optional parameters

AMPLITUDE

Set this parameter equal to the name of the amplitude curve that defines the magnitude of the prescribed interference during the step. If this parameter is omitted, the prescribed interference is applied immediately at the beginning of the step and ramped down to zero linearly over the step.

OP

Set OP=MOD (default) for existing CONTACT INTERFERENCE definitions to remain, with this option defining a contact interference to be added or modified. Set OP=NEW if all CONTACT INTERFERENCE definitions defined in previous steps should be removed.

SHRINK

Include this parameter to invoke the automatic shrink fit capability. This capability can be used only in the first step of an analysis. When this parameter is included, no data are required other than the contact pairs or elements to which the option is applied. In addition, any AMPLITUDE reference specified will be ignored.

TYPE

Use this parameter to specify whether the prescribed interference will be applied to contact pairs or contact elements. Set TYPE=CONTACT PAIR (default) to specify a contact interference for contact pairs. Set TYPE=ELEMENT to specify a contact interference for contact elements.

Data lines to define an allowable contact interference for a contact pair (TYPE=CONTACT PAIR)

First line

  1. Secondary surface name.

  2. Main surface name. It must be distinct from the secondary surface name; self-contact is not allowed with this option.

  3. If the SHRINK parameter is included, no additional data are required. Otherwise:

  4. Reference allowable interference, v.

  5. X-direction cosine of the shift direction vector (optional).

  6. Y-direction cosine of the shift direction vector (optional).

  7. Z-direction cosine of the shift direction vector (optional).

Repeat this data line as often as necessary to specify additional contact pairs. Each line defines a distinct contact interference between one contact pair.

Data lines to define an allowable contact interference for contact elements (TYPE=ELEMENT)

First line

  1. Name of the element set containing the contact elements.

  2. If the SHRINK parameter is included, no additional data are required. Otherwise:

  3. Reference allowable interference, v.

  4. X-direction cosine of the shift direction vector (optional).

  5. Y-direction cosine of the shift direction vector (optional).

  6. Z-direction cosine of the shift direction vector (optional).

Repeat this data line as often as necessary to specify additional element sets containing contact elements.