Defining Surfaces and Contact Pairs in Abaqus

Defining Contact
Lecture 2
L2.2
Overview
• Defining Contact Pairs

• Defining Surfaces for Contact Pairs
• Defining General Contact
• Representation of Curved Surfaces
Solving Contact Problems with New Capabilities in Abaqus

Defining Contact Pairs
L2.4
• Features of contact pairs:

• Contact between pairs of surfaces is explicitly defined. The user defines:
• What constitutes each surface
• Which pairs of surfaces will interact
• Which surface is the master and which is the slave
• Which surface interaction properties are relevant (e.g., friction)
• The contact pair algorithm has certain restrictions on the types of
surfaces involved
• Discussed later
• The input requires more work on the part of the user than general
contact
• Must define surfaces
• Interactions are defined on a pair-wise basis

L2.5
• Example: Analysis of a jounce bumper axis of symmetry
• A jounce bumper is a highly compressible

component that is used as part of the shock top
isolation system in a vehicle plate
• The analysis consists of two steps:

shaft
Step 1 Interference fit between the
bumper and the shaft
Step 2 Move the bottom plate up to
bumper
compress the bumper
• The bumper is expected to fold as it is
compressed, so self-contact must be defined
• Consider first using contact pairs
bottom
plate

L2.6

Surface
1• Example (cont’d): Define surfaces (using keywords) TOPPLATE
• Automatic free surface generation on bumper

elements:
Surface
*SURFACE,NAME=BUMPER-EXT SHAFT
BUMPER,
• Discrete rigid surfaces:

*RIGID BODY, ELSET=BOTDIE, REF NODE=BOTRP Element
set
*SURFACE,NAME=BOTPLATE BUMPER
BOTDIE, SPOS
Surface
*RIGID BODY, ELSET=TOPDIE, REF NODE=TOPRP BUMPER-EXT
*SURFACE, NAME=TOPPLATE
TOPDIE, SPOS
*RIGID BODY, ELSET=SHAFTDIE, REF NODE=SHAFTRP
*SURFACE, NAME=SHAFT
SHAFTDIE, SPOS
Surface
BOTPLATE

L2.7

TOPPLATE
1• Example (cont’d): Define surfaces (using Abaqus/CAE)
Double-click Surfaces to SHAFT

create a new surface
BUMPER-EXT
Model Tree
BOTPLATE
Create discrete rigid part

L2.8
2• Example (cont’d): Define contact

properties
• Contact property definitions are the
same for general contact and contact
pairs
• Contact properties may include:
• Friction
• Contact damping
• Pressure-overclosure relationships
• In the jounce bumper example all
contact pairs use the same interaction
property:
*SURFACE INTERACTION, NAME=Friction
*FRICTION
0.05,

L2.9
3• Example (cont’d): Define contact pairs TOPPLATE
• A contact pair definition is required for

each pair of surfaces that can interact
SHAFT
• Bumper self-contact:
*CONTACT PAIR, INTERACTION=Friction
include inside
BUMPER-EXT,
step definition
BUMPER-EXT
BOTPLATE

L2.10
3• Example (cont’d): Define contact pairs TOPPLATE
• Contact between the bumper and

the rigid bodies:
SHAFT
*CONTACT PAIR, INTERACTION=Friction
BUMPER-EXT, TOPPLATE
BUMPER-EXT, BOTPLATE
BUMPER-EXT, SHAFT
BUMPER-EXT
BOTPLATE

L2.11
• Example (cont’d): Summary

• Steps to define contact pairs:
1• Define surfaces based on the underlying
elements or geometry
2• Define surface interaction properties: friction, undeformed
shape
softened layers, etc.
3• Define pairs of surfaces that can interact
• Results:
final
deformed
shape

L2.12
• Automatic contact detection

• Automatic contact detection is a fast and easy way to define contact
pairs and tie constraints in a three-dimensional model
• Instead of individually selecting surfaces and defining the interactions
between them, you can instruct Abaqus/CAE to automatically locate all
surfaces in a model that are likely to interact based on initial proximity
• Can be used to define contact with shells, membranes, and solids
• Including shell offset
• Native or orphan mesh parts

L2.13
• Example: Disk brake

• A tabular display of possible contact pairs is provided
Shortcuts; e.g.,
manually add contact
pairs to the group

L2.14
• Table operations and rules editor

• Edit multiple cells
• Customize the tabular display

• Other table operations
• Modify rules applied to new contact pairs

L2.15
• Nonoverlapping surfaces
• Can include or filter out
• Distance is within
search tolerance
• But surface normals
do not intersect the
opposing surface No contact pairs detected Two contact pairs detected
(nonoverlapping)

Defining Surfaces for
Contact Pairs
L2.17
Defining Surfaces for Contact Pairs
• Two approaches are available for surface definition:

• Specify the faces of each part instance (or element/element set for
orphan meshes) that may come in contact (as shown earlier)
• Allow Abaqus to determine the “free surfaces” that may come into
contact automatically
• Available only through the keywords interface (i.e., when editing an
input file)

L2.18
• User-specified contact faces: Abaqus/CAE interface

Solid bodies
• The surface on a solid is defined
by selecting the appropriate region
of the exterior of the part
• Regions can be selected individually
or based on face angles

L2.19
• User-specified contact faces: Abaqus/CAE interface (cont'd)
Shells and beams

The surface on a
shell/membrane or
beam/truss is defined by
choosing the appropriate
side of the part
Double-sided shell/membrane
surfaces are allowed for surface-
to-surface formulation. See
Lecture 3

L2.20
• User-specified contact faces:

Keywords interface
• Use face identifiers to specify
each element face forming the
surface
• Example: 4-node quadrilateral
element (CPE4, CAX4, etc.).
*SURFACE, NAME=EXAMPLE
1, S4
1, S1 Sequence of
2, S1 elements is
2, S2 not important
...
• Either element set names or

element numbers can be used
to specify surfaces

L2.21
• User-specified contact faces:

Keywords interface (cont'd)
• Structural element normals
dictate the direction of expected
contact
• Element numbering dictates the
Shells and membranes
positive normal direction (S4R,S8R,M3D4,etc.)
• Positive normal direction = SPOS

surface
• Negative normal direction =
SNEG surface
• Omit surface identifier to define a
double-sided surface (shells and
membranes only) 2D trusses and beams
(B21,T2D2,etc.)

L2.22
• Automatic or free surface generation (keywords interface only)

• Surfaces can be generated automatically for meshes containing solid
(continuum) elements only
• Automatic surface generation is only available through the keywords
interface (i.e., when editing an input file)
• Syntax: Omit face identifiers from the surface definition
*SURFACE, NAME=EXAMPLE
ELSET1,
ELSET2,
100,

L2.23
• General rules for surface definitions

• All elements underlying a surface must be compatible. They must be:
• Of the same dimension (two- or three-dimensional)
• For two-dimensional surfaces: all planar or all axisymmetric
(but not both)
• Of the same order of interpolation (first- or second-order)
• All deformable or all rigid (but not both)

L2.24
• Additional restrictions
• Surface normals
• Surface normals must be consistent
• Beam, shell, and membrane
surfaces can be flipped to
create a valid surface definition *SURFACE, NAME=SURF
for contact BEAMS, SPOS
• Master surface normals should point

toward the slave surface.
• Otherwise, convergence
difficulties will occur *SURFACE, NAME=SURF
BOTTOM, SPOS
• Rigid surfaces TOP, SNEG
• All surfaces defined on rigid bodies

must be specified as master
surfaces

L2.25
• Additional restrictions apply to contact

surfaces depending on the type of
contact formulation
• These are summarized in the following continuous surfaces
table:
Connectivity characteristics
(Yes=allowed, No=not allowed)
Contact formulation Discontinuous

(or 3D faces
T-intersection
joined at only Surface connected at one node
one node)
Finite-sliding, Master: No Master: No
node-to-surface Slave: Yes Slave: Yes T-intersection
Small-sliding, Master: Yes Master: No
node-to-surface Slave: Yes Slave: Yes
Finite-sliding, Master: Yes Master: No
surface-to-surface Slave: Yes Slave: No
Small-sliding, Master: Yes Master: Yes
surface-to-surface Slave: Yes Slave: Yes

L2.26
• Node-based surfaces
• Alternative way to define points for contact
• Contain only nodes
• Are always considered slave surfaces
• Preclude the use of the surface-to-surface discretization
Ball: element-
based surface
Strings: node-
based surface
*SURFACE, TYPE=NODE, NAME=STRINGS

STRINGS,
Prompt when choosing a slave surface in
*CONTACT PAIR, INTERACTION=SMOOTH
Abaqus/CAE; choose the nodes involved in
STRINGS, BALL
contact (set or directly in viewport)
previously defined surface

Defining General Contact
L2.28
• The general contact user interface allows for a concise contact

definition reflecting the physical description of the problem
• The contact definition can be expanded in complexity, as needed
• Independent specification of the contact interaction domain, contact
properties, and surface attributes is permitted
• Minimal algorithmic controls are required
• The general contact user interface is very similar for Abaqus/Explicit
and Abaqus/Standard analyses

L2.29
• Examples of differences between general contact in Abaqus/Explicit

and Abaqus/Standard
Characteristic Abaqus/Explicit Abaqus/Standard

Primary formulation Node-to-surface Surface-to-surface
Master-slave roles Balanced master-slave Pure master-slave
Edge-to-edge contact Available Not available
2D and axisymmetric Not available Available
Most aspects of contact definition Step dependent Model data

L2.31
• Example: Analysis of a jounce bumper axis of symmetry
• A jounce bumper is a highly compressible

component that is used as part of the shock top
isolation system in a vehicle plate
• The analysis consists of two steps:

shaft
Step 1 Interference fit between the
bumper and the shaft
Step 2 Move the bottom plate up to
bumper
compress the bumper
• We now consider this problem using general
contact
bottom
plate

L2.32
• Example: Analysis of a jounce bumper

• The jounce bumper model includes the
following contact definition:
1) Begin the general contact definition
*Contact
*Contact Inclusions, ALL EXTERIOR
2) Specify “automatic” contact

for the entire model
3) Assign global contact properties
*Contact Property Assignment

, , FRICTION

L2.33
• The contact definition can gradually become more detailed, as called

for by the analysis
• Global/local friction coefficients and other contact properties can be
defined
• Pair-wise specification of contact domain (instead of ALL EXTERIOR) is
allowed
• Contact inclusions and exclusions
• User control of contact thickness (especially for shells) is provided
• Surface properties
• Contact initialization (initial adjustments, interference fits, etc.)

L2.34

Surface
• To enhance a general contact definition, you TOPPLATE
often need to define specific contact
surfaces
• Surfaces can span unattached bodies Surface
SHAFT
• Surfaces can include both deformable and
rigid regions
• Surfaces can have mixed parent element
types
• Adjacent shell and solid faces, etc.
Surface
• More than two faces can share a common BUMPER-EXT
edge
• Allows direct modeling of T-
intersections, etc.
Surface
BOTPLATE

L2.35
• In Abaqus/CAE surfaces can be created at the part

level or the assembly level
• Surfaces defined on a part are available in the
assembly for each instance of the part
• Existing surfaces can be merged using the Model
Tree
• In the input file surfaces are defined with the

*SURFACE option
• Boolean operations can be performed on surfaces to
generate other surfaces using the parameter
COMBINE=[UNION | INTERSECTION |
DIFFERENCE]
*Surface, name=surf_contact,
combine=DIFFERENCE Select surfaces in the Model
Tree and click mouse button 3.
elset_main, elset_no_contact

L2.36

Surface
• Example: Nondefault contact domain TOPPLATE
• For some models the default ALL EXTERIOR

surface is not appropriate or not sufficient
Surface
• The general contact domain can be modified by SHAFT
including and/or excluding predefined surfaces
• In the jounce bumper model a safeguard against
contact between the rigid bodies can be
introduced using contact exclusions
Surface
BUMPER-EXT
Surface
BOTPLATE
In this example this step is not required since the
normals between the shaft and the plates remain
perpendicular (contact will not be detected).

L2.37

Surface
• Example: Nondefault contact domain TOPPLATE
• Keywords interface:
Surface
SHAFT
*Contact
*Contact Exclusions
TOPPLATE , SHAFT
TOPPLATE , BOTPLATE
SHAFT , BOTPLATE
Surface
*Contact Property Assignment BUMPER-EXT
, , FRICTION
Surface
BOTPLATE

L2.38
• Example: Contact initialization

• The default behavior of general contact is to
adjust small initial overclosures without strain.
Can treat instead as interference fits Surface
SHAFT
Surface
BUMPER-EXT

L2.39
• Example: Contact initialization

• Keywords interface:
Surface
SHAFT
*Contact Initialization Data,
name=Fit-1, INTERFERENCE FIT
*Contact
, , FRICTION
*Contact Initialization Assignment Surface
BUMPER-EXT
BUMPER-EXT, SHAFT, Fit-1

L2.40
• Nondefault contact properties can be used to enhance contact

modeling
• Contact properties may include:
• Contact pressure-overclosure relationship
• Friction
• Contact damping
• The defaults are:
• A “hard” pressure-overclosure relationship
• No contact pressure until nodes are in contact
• Unlimited contact pressure once contact has been established
• No friction
• No contact damping

L2.41
• Example: Multiple contact properties

• Bolted flange assembly
• Coefficient of friction m = 0.1 for all
contact interactions except for those
involving the gasket (m = 0.4)

, , Friction-0p1
, gasketAll, Friction-0p4

Representation of
Curved Surfaces
L2.43
Representation of Curved Surfaces
• The difference between the true geometry and faceted geometry is

sometimes detrimental to accuracy and convergence
• Geometry corrections for the surface-
Master
to-surface contact formulation target surface
both of the aspects without degrading
per-iteration performance
Slave
• Available for near-axisymetric and surface
near-spherical surfaces
• Example applications on Correction
subsequent slides factors
• Surface smoothing options for the node-to-surface contact formulation

primarily target convergence issues associated with having
discontinuous surface normals
• But generally do not strive to represent exact initial geometry
• Details depend on whether surfaces are 2D or 3D, rigid or
deformable (not discussed in this seminar)
Will discuss contact formulations in next lecture
L2.44
• Effect of geometric corrections in a piston application
Rod and piston-to-pinion Piston-to-cylinder
Cap and rod-to-crank

L2.45
• Example: Concentric rings with interference fit and finite sliding

• Spin inner ring after resolving interference (frictionless)
• Analytical solution: uniform pressure stress per ring
Noisy solution with Accurate solution with

faceted geometry geometric corrections

L2.46
• Applicability of geometric corrections:

• Significant effect for small-to-moderate deformation
• Effect is usually insignificant after large deformation
• Small- or finite-sliding, surface-to-surface contact formulation
• Applicable to most common curved
Axisymmetric
geometries
• Portions of surface geometry must be
approximately:
• Circular in 2D
• Axisymmetric or spherical in 3D Spherical

L2.47
• Abaqus/CAE automatically detects these surfaces in native geometry

models and applies the appropriate smoothing method in the contact
interactions
General contact
Contact pairs
• Benefits:
• Improved accuracy
• Avoid need for matched nodes across contact interface
• Reduced iteration count (sometimes)
L2.48
• Keyword interface for general contact

*Contact
*Contact Inclusions, All Exterior
*Surface Property Assignment, Property=Geometric Correction
surface_name, CIRCUMFERENTIAL, Xa, Ya 2D: Center of circle
surface_name, CIRCUMFERENTIAL, Xa, Ya, Za, Xb, Yb, Zb 3D: 2 points on
symmetry axis
surface_name, SPHERICAL, Xa, Ya, Za
3D: Center of sphere
*Contact y
*Contact Inclusions, All Exterior
*Surface Property Assignment, Prop=Geom Surf_1
Surf_1, CIRCUMFERENTIAL, 1.5, 0.0
Surf_2a, CIRCUMFERENTIAL, -2.5, 0.0 x
Surf_2b, CIRCUMFERENTIAL, 2.5, 0.0
Surf_2
Semi-circle on the left Semi-circle on the right

side of Surf_2 side of Surf_2

L2.49
• Keyword interface for surface-to-surface contact pairs

*Contact Pair, Type=Surface to Surface, Geometric Correction=smoothing_name
*Surface Smoothing, Name=smoothing_name
slave_region, master_region, CIRCUMFERENTIAL, Xa, Ya 2D: Center of circle
slave_region, master_region, CIRCUMFERENTIAL, Xa, Ya, Za, Xb, Yb, Zb

slave_region, master_region, SPHERICAL, Xa, Ya, Za 3D: 2 points on
symmetry axis
3D: Center of sphere
*Contact Pair, Type=Surface, Geom=Smooth1 y

Surf_1, Surf_2
*Surface smoothing, Name=Smooth1 Surf_1
Surf_1, , CIRCUMFERENTIAL, 1.5, 0.0
, Surf_2a, CIRCUMFERENTIAL, -2.5, 0.0 x
, Surf_2b, CIRCUMFERENTIAL, 2.5, 0.0
Surf_2
Semi-circle on the left Semi-circle on the right

side of Surf_2 side of Surf_2

L2.50
• Example: Conical contact interface
With circumferential
Without any surface smoothing
geometry correction

L2.51
• Example: Spherical contact interface

• Uniform interference fit
Without any surface With spherical

geometry correction smoothing

L2.52
• Capability is applicable even if surface geometry deviates somewhat

from a perfect cylinder, sphere, etc.
• Example: Interference fit between elliptical disk and circular ring
Undeformed
Deformed
Without any surface With circumferential

geometry correction correction

L2.53
• Clamp example
Hollow
Slave surfaces tubes
of contact pairs General contact
internal surface
Wallclock (sec.)
1000 1000
6.8EF 6.9EF
750 750 STD
500 500 PRE
250 250
0 0
CP GC GC CP GC GC
faceted smooth faceted smooth
#
iterations 36 64 41 36 55 41

L2.54
• Clamp example (cont.)
• Contact pair model does not

consider contact involving shank Slave surfaces of
contact pairs
• Coarse refinement near bolt holes
• Nonphysical initial overclosures for

general contact without circumferential
smoothing
Shank cross-section adjusted
• Realistic small gaps at these interfaces to conform to hole facets
for general contact with circumferential
corrections activated
• Shank remains cylindrical
• More realistic and improved
performance

Lecture 2 Summary
L2.56
Review of Topics Discussed in this Lecture
• Defining Contact Pairs

• Defining Surfaces for Contact Pairs
• Defining General Contact
• Representation of Curved Surfaces

Defining Surfaces and Contact Pairs in Abaqus

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Defining Surfaces and Contact Pairs in Abaqus

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Defining Contact

• Defining Contact Pairs

Solving Contact Problems with New Capabilities in Abaqus

Defining Contact Pairs

• Features of contact pairs:

Solving Contact Problems with New Capabilities in Abaqus

Defining Contact Pairs

• Example: Analysis of a jounce bumper axis of symmetry

• A jounce bumper is a highly compressible

• The analysis consists of two steps:

Solving Contact Problems with New Capabilities in Abaqus

Defining Contact Pairs

• Automatic free surface generation on bumper

• Discrete rigid surfaces:

Solving Contact Problems with New Capabilities in Abaqus

Defining Contact Pairs

Double-click Surfaces to SHAFT

Solving Contact Problems with New Capabilities in Abaqus

Defining Contact Pairs

2• Example (cont’d): Define contact

Solving Contact Problems with New Capabilities in Abaqus

Defining Contact Pairs

3• Example (cont’d): Define contact pairs TOPPLATE

• A contact pair definition is required for

Solving Contact Problems with New Capabilities in Abaqus

Defining Contact Pairs

3• Example (cont’d): Define contact pairs TOPPLATE

• Contact between the bumper and

Solving Contact Problems with New Capabilities in Abaqus

Defining Contact Pairs

• Example (cont’d): Summary

Solving Contact Problems with New Capabilities in Abaqus

Defining Contact Pairs

• Automatic contact detection

Solving Contact Problems with New Capabilities in Abaqus

Defining Contact Pairs

• Example: Disk brake

Solving Contact Problems with New Capabilities in Abaqus

Defining Contact Pairs

• Table operations and rules editor

• Customize the tabular display

Solving Contact Problems with New Capabilities in Abaqus

Defining Contact Pairs

Solving Contact Problems with New Capabilities in Abaqus

Defining Surfaces for Contact Pairs

• Two approaches are available for surface definition:

Solving Contact Problems with New Capabilities in Abaqus

Defining Surfaces for Contact Pairs

• User-specified contact faces: Abaqus/CAE interface

Solving Contact Problems with New Capabilities in Abaqus

Defining Surfaces for Contact Pairs

• User-specified contact faces: Abaqus/CAE interface (cont'd)

Shells and beams

Solving Contact Problems with New Capabilities in Abaqus

Defining Surfaces for Contact Pairs

• User-specified contact faces:

• Either element set names or

Solving Contact Problems with New Capabilities in Abaqus

Defining Surfaces for Contact Pairs

• User-specified contact faces:

• Positive normal direction = SPOS

Solving Contact Problems with New Capabilities in Abaqus