4331x
000935
2021-05-07

Contact Solids: "Number of Integrated Objects in Contact Surfaces..."

In RFEM, you can display the contact properties between two surfaces by means of contact solids. Among other things, you should ensure that both contact surfaces of a contact solid have the same integrated objects. Therefore, when modeling the contact surfaces, we recommend using the copy function in order to create the second contact surface.

However, one of the contact surfaces may have additional integrated objects. In this case, it is to be defined as Surface A. Then, it is unnecessary for Surface B to include all integrated objects of Surface A.

The FE mesh cannot be generated if this modeling rule is not considered. In that case, the program displays the error message "Numbers of integrated objects in contact surfaces do not correspond".

The contact solid shown in Image 1 has contact surfaces F1 and F2. Contact surface F1 contains the nodes and lines marked in red in Image 1, which are not included in contact surface F2. When contact surface F2 is defined as contact surface A, the error message shown in Image 2 is displayed.

The FE mesh can be generated if contact surface F1 is defined as contact surface A (Image 3).

Alternatively, all additional integrated objects of contact surface F1 can be copied into contact surface 2 so that both contact surfaces contain the same integrated objects (Image 4). In the FE mesh settings, the "Integrate unutilized objects into surfaces" check box must be checked for successful generation of the FE mesh (Image 5).


Author

Ms. von Bloh provides technical support for our customers and is responsible for the development of the SHAPE‑THIN program as well as steel and aluminum structures.

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