Contact Algorithm of Finite Element Analysis for Prediction of Press-fit Curve

Abstract

Contact algorithm has significant influence on the analytic results and calculation time of Finite Element (FE) analysis. It is important to choose an appropriate contact algorithm to predict the press-fit curve with FE method. In this work, a three-dimensional (3D) FE model of a press-fit assembly was set up firstly. Then, it was analyzed by using three different contact algorithms, namely Pure Penalty, Augmented Lagrangian and Normal Lagrange. Finally, the accuracy and the convergence of their calculation results were evaluated with the governing contact algorithms options, including Normal stiffness factor (FKN), Tangent stiffness factor (FKT), Penetration tolerance (FTOLN). The results indicated that accurate results could be obtained through setting the governing parameters properly in all of three contact algorithms, but their calculation efficiencies were quite different. Obviously, the calculation time of Augmented Lagrangian was the shortest.