Contact treatment in isogeometric analysis with NURBS

• Published in: Computer methods in applied mechanics and engineering Vol. 200; no. 9; pp. 1100 - 1112
• Main Authors: Temizer, İ., Wriggers, P., Hughes, T.J.R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 01.02.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Algorithms; Contact; Convergence; Discretization; Exact sciences and technology; Finite element method; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Isogeometric analysis; Mathematical analysis; Mathematical models; Mechanical contact (friction...); Mortar method; NURBS; Physics; Solid mechanics; Structural and continuum mechanics; Thermomechanical contact; Isogeometric analysis; Thermomechanical contact; Mortar method; NURBS; B spline; High strain; Mortar; Thermoelastic contact; Potential theory; Mechanical contact; Frictionless contact; Potential function; Modeling; Contact surface; Spline approximation; Finite element method; Relaxation; Discretization; Non uniform rational B spline; Contact stress; Lagrangian method
• ISSN: 0045-7825; 1879-2138
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cma.2010.11.020

We study NURBS-based isogeometric analysis of contact problems and compare with standard C 0 -continuous Lagrange finite elements. A knot-to-surface (KTS) algorithm is developed to treat the contact constraints with NURBS contact surface discretizations. Qualitative studies deliver satisfactory results for various finite deformation frictionless thermoelastic contact problems. Quantitative studies based on the Hertz problem suggest the need for a relaxation of the mechanical contact constraints that appear in the standard KTS approach. The improved mortar-based KTS algorithm delivers robust and accurate results for NURBS discretizations. Based on numerical examples, we conclude that NURBS-based isogeometric analysis is a viable technology for contact problems and offers potential accuracy as well as convergence improvements over C 0 -continuous finite elements.