Modeling Overlapping Surfaces: Risks and Approaches
Technical Article
When modeling with finite elements, you sooner or later come up with the question of how two surfaces (2D elements) lying on top of each other can be modeled. Hence, both surfaces are quite often modeled in the same plane. The possible consequences of this approach and whether there are better solutions are described below.
Option 1: Modeling in the Same Plane
Option 1 follows the approach to model both surfaces in the same plane. Assuming there is a large rectangular surface (blue) which has to be reinforced by an additional surface (green). Both surfaces have the same Z-coordinates.
Figure 01 - Modeling in One Plane
With a view to the FE mesh of the entire structure as well as the individual surface components, it becomes clear that each surface is meshed with itself.
Figure 02 - FE Mesh on Entire System and Substructure
In the structure on the left, the elements of both surfaces are congruent. This is not the case in the right system. In this case, the FE mesh of the large surface is influenced by other elements integrated into the surface.
Figure 03 - FE Mesh Distortion
To illustrate the different effects, we assign a very soft material to the small surfaces. Additionally, only the small surfaces are stressed in order to better represent the behavior in relation to the large surfaces.
Figure 04 - Comparing Deformations
Due to the congruent FE mesh, the surfaces of the left system act like glued. Consequently, the deformations are identical. The situation is different in the right system. Due to the distortion of the FE mesh of the principal surface, the coordinates of the FE nodes are only in some cases identical to those of the small surface. A force transmission takes place only in these points. This also explains the local deformation peaks of the small surface in the middle region.
Figure 05 - Independent Deformation Due to Missing Contact Definition
If we change the sign of the loading, it is also clear that there are no top and bottom surfaces due to the missing contact definition. Both surfaces can penetrate without force at the locations where they are not connected by congruent FE nodes.
Summary: Real models are usually more complex than the examples shown here. The FE mesh is influenced even more by the more irregular geometry, which may lead to unpredictable connections or releases between the surfaces. In the areas where the surfaces move independently of each other, it is also not possible to define contact conditions. Therefore, a modeling by means of this method should be avoided.
Option 2: Adding Surface Thicknesses
If both surfaces consist of the same material, it makes sense to combine them by adding the thicknesses in a surface. This may require a division of the principal surface, but is fundamentally relatively easy to implement. In the example, a 30 mm thick steel plate was reinforced with another 30 mm plate. To the left, a model with solid elements is shown for verification.
Figure 06 - Adding Surface Thicknesses
Due to the simplified modeling, it is, of course, not possible to precisely consider the interaction of the surfaces.
Option 3: Modeling with Contact Solid
If the interaction between both surfaces plays a governing role, it is possible to use a contact solid. For this, both surfaces should be defined in their centroids. The resulting distance corresponds to the thickness of the contact solid. The contact conditions can be assigned to it atferwards (for example, failure under tension, friction, etc.).
Figure 07 - Overlapping Surfaces Using Contact Solid (End Plate Joint)
The modeling by means of an end plate joint is shown in the video.
Keywords
Stiffening Surface stiffening Double surface Contact solid
Downloads
- Model 1 of the Technical Article | RFEM 5 File
- Model 2 of the Technical Article | RFEM 5 File
- Model 3 of the Technical Article | RFEM 5 File
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