Specifying geometric properties for mechanical contact property options

From the main menu bar, select InteractionPropertyCreate.

In the Create Interaction Property dialog box that appears, do the following:

• Name the interaction property. For more information about naming objects, see Using basic dialog box components.

• Select the Contact type of interaction property.

Click Continue to close the Create Interaction Property dialog box.

From the menu bar in the contact property editor, select MechanicalGeometric Properties.

If you are performing an Abaqus/Standard analysis, you can specify an out-of-plane surface thickness for two-dimensional models or a cross-sectional area for every node on a node-based surface. Enter this value in the Out-of-plane surface thickness or cross-sectional area (Standard) field.

If you are performing an Abaqus/Explicit analysis, you can specify the thickness of an interfacial layer between the two interacting surfaces. Toggle on Thickness of interfacial layer (Explicit), and enter the thickness.

Click OK to create the contact property and to exit the Edit Contact Property dialog box. Alternatively, you can select another contact property option to define from the menus in the Edit Contact Property dialog box.