Limitations of the contact detection tool

Although helpful for simplifying the contact definition process, several limitations exist for the contact detection tool.

Contact detection cannot create contact pairs involving the following features:

  • Two-dimensional models

  • Axisymmetric models

  • Beams and trusses

  • Face-to-edge contact

  • Edge-to-edge contact

  • Contact between orphan mesh elements and analytical rigid surfaces

  • Hybrid models containing both orphan mesh and unmeshed geometry

The minimum allowable separation tolerance is 1 × 10−5. The maximum allowable separation tolerance is 1 × 105. Abaqus/CAE cannot accurately calculate separations outside of this range. If your model requires the use of a separation tolerance that does not meet these requirements, you should scale the dimensions of the entire model so that they fall within the functional range.