Specifying and modifying contact initialization assignments for general contact

Contact initializations determine how Abaqus adjusts surfaces in the general contact domain prior to the analysis. Contact initializations for surfaces are specified independently of the contact domain in the Attribute Assignments portion of the interaction editor. Contact initialization can be assigned only in the initial step of an Abaqus/Standard analysis. For more information about contact initializations, see Creating contact initializations, and Controlling initial contact status in Abaqus/Standard.

This task shows you how to:

Related Topics
Creating contact initializations
In Other Guides
Controlling initial contact status in Abaqus/Standard

Specify contact initialization assignments

  1. Display the general contact interaction editor using one of the following methods:

    • To create a new general contact interaction, follow the instructions in Defining general contact.

    • To edit an existing general contact interaction, select InteractionEditinteraction name from the main menu bar.

  2. Click the Contact Properties tab in the Attribute Assignments portion of the interaction editor (if it is not already selected).

  3. If necessary, click in the Contact Properties portion of the interaction editor to create a contact initialization definition; see Creating contact initializations, for more information.

  4. Click next to Initialization assignments.

    The Edit Initialization Assignments dialog box appears. By default, when you select a surface from the list or the table, Abaqus/CAE highlights the surface in the viewport; however, highlighting does not apply for (Global) and (Self). You can toggle off Highlight selected regions at the bottom of the dialog box to turn off selection highlighting.

  5. Select one or more surfaces from the list of existing surfaces in the first column on the left side. Select (Global) to assign an initialization between the entire contact domain and an individual surface.

    Tip: You can click to define a new surface and add it to the list. See Creating surfaces, for instructions on defining surfaces.

  6. Select the second surface or surfaces from the list of existing surfaces in the second column to define the surface pairings.

    • When multiple surfaces are selected in either column, all possible combinations will be generated.

    • To assign an initialization for self-contact, select either the same surface name or (Self) in the second column.

    • Any initialization assignments for regions that fall outside of the contact domain will be ignored.

  7. From the list of existing initializations in the third column, select the initialization to assign. You can create new contact initializations while you are working in the Edit Initialization Assignments dialog box (see Creating contact initializations).

  8. Click the arrows in the middle of the dialog box to transfer your selections to the list of property assignments.

    The table on the right side of the dialog box is updated to reflect your selections.

  9. Repeat the above steps as needed to complete the initialization assignments. If you want to delete initialization assignments, select the rows and click .

    Note:

    The order of assignments may be relevant; when initialization assignments overlap, the last assignment will take precedence.

  10. Click OK to save your selections and to close the Edit Initialization Assignments dialog box.

    The interaction editor reappears with updated information on the number of individual initialization assignments.

  11. Click OK to create the interaction and to close the editor.

Modify a contact initialization assignment

  1. From the main menu bar, select InteractionEditinteraction name.

    The Edit Interaction dialog box appears.

  2. Click the Contact Properties tab in the Attribute Assignments portion of the interaction editor (if it is not already selected).

  3. Click next to Initialization assignments.

    The Edit Initialization Assignments dialog box appears.

  4. Select the row or rows containing the initialization assignment to be modified from the table on the right side of the dialog box.

  5. Select a new initialization from the list in the third column on the left side of the dialog box.

  6. Click the arrow in the middle of the dialog box to replace the initialization with your new selection.

  7. Click OK to save your selections and to close the dialog box.

    The interaction editor reappears.

  8. Click OK to save your changes and to close the interaction editor.