Finite-sliding interaction between deformable bodies

Abaqus/Standard provides a finite-sliding formulation to model the interaction between two deformable bodies where separation and sliding of finite amplitude and arbitrary rotation of the surfaces may arise. The formulation for two-dimensional and axisymmetric analysis, as well as for tube-in-tube analysis, is discussed in this section.

The following topics are discussed:

Related Topics
Small-sliding interaction between bodies
In Other Guides
Contact formulations in Abaqus/Standard
Tube-to-tube contact elements
Slide line contact elements

ProductsAbaqus/Standard

Depending on the type of contact problem, two approaches are available to the user for specifying the finite-sliding capability: (1) defining possible contact conditions by identifying and pairing potential contact surfaces and (2) using contact elements. With the first approach Abaqus automatically generates the appropriate contact elements.

In axisymmetric problems with asymmetric deformations, ISL21A and ISL22A elements can be used to model contact with CAXA or SAXA elements. Sliding of tubes inside each other can be modeled with ITT21 and ITT31 elements.

To define a sliding interface between two surfaces, one of the surfaces (the “slave” surface) is covered with ISL or ITT elements. The other surface (the “master” surface) is defined as a slide line surface composed of a series of nodes ordered in sequence. The slide line itself can consist of linear or quadratic segments. If smoothing is used, these segments are connected with quadratic or cubic segments such that full slope continuity is achieved. The smoothing procedure is described later in this section.