Analysis of contact through finite element gaps

Abstract

A numerical technique is described for analyzing contact of disconnected structures through the use of finite element gaps. A special gap element is used, together with a stress invariance principle, to model the contact process. The solution is achieved through an iterative procedure which adjusts the modulus of the gap elements. The numerical procedure is described and results are given for two problems of differing complexity. The first is a classical Hertz problem involving contact between a sphere and a rigid plane. The second problem is concerned with the thermostructural analysis of the beat shield for a Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generator design.