A comparison of computational methods for large deformation contact problems of flexible bodies

Abstract

AbstractIn the present work we compare two methods for large deformation contact problems. On the one hand the commonly applied node‐to‐segment (NTS) method is investigated, on the other hand the newly emerging mortar method for contact problems is considered. Both approaches rely on a nonlinear finite element discretization of flexible bodies. In addition to static contact problems dynamic problems are considered as well. For both NTS and mortar methods the contact constraints are enforced by means of Lagrange multipliers. Several numerical examples are presented to compare the two alternative approaches.