×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

surface-to surface contact VS. node-to -surface
2

surface-to surface contact VS. node-to -surface

surface-to surface contact VS. node-to -surface

(OP)
I have solved a very simple contact problem using surface-to-surface contact (CONTA171/TARGET169) elements and also using node-to-surface (CONTA175/TARGET169). I compared the results, they are different--not significantly but well I am concerned. Any idea?

Thanks

RE: surface-to surface contact VS. node-to -surface

I would say, the surf-to-surf contact is better then the node-to-surf contact.

The first one takes into account the form shapes of both contact and target surface. The second one only takes into account the form shape of the target area.

The node-to-surf contact is useful when simulating for example a beam tip contacting a surface.

Alex

RE: surface-to surface contact VS. node-to -surface

Have you checked contact pressure and penetration to compare the two?  Also, what is the contact stiffness for each method?  What "difference" is it that you observe?  Deflection?  Stress?

As was pointed out previously, generally surface-to-surface contact is better for large contact areas.

RE: surface-to surface contact VS. node-to -surface

(OP)
Mihaiupb and Stringmaker,

Thanks for the notes. I have used identical stiffness values for both methods. I usually check strains (and then deformations and stresses) but I checked the contact penetration and pressure as you advised; I can say they are really (!) different, the strains are pretty close though (about +- 5% difference).

Thanks you guys

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources