Article ID: x264 - Bonded contact using constraint equations

Bonded contact using constraint equations

Article ID: x264

Solution ID: S-018871
Applies to: SOLIDWORKS Simulation, COSMOSM
Version: 2006 and up
Category: Contact
Created: 09/05/2005
Last Revised: 11/23/2016
Discussion

For SOLIDWORKS Simulation

Starting with version 2006, bonded contact can be defined between geometric entities having an
incompatible or compatible mesh.
The way it works in static studies is summarized in the table below:

Selected source and target touch each Selected source and target are separated by a gap
other

Target is face of Target is face of Target is face of Target is face Target is edge
solid body shell solid body of shell of shell

Source is Up to 2011: Mesh is incompatible and 6 constraint equations are

Beam joint created per beam joint (for each 3 translational DOF and 3 rotational
DOF of the single source node on the beam joint). The program
projects the Beam joint onto the face (normal projection if the face is
planar, more sophisticated way if not). The beam joint is only
connected to the face of the element on which the projection happens
to lie.
2012 and up: Beam cross section is imprinted onto the shell/solid face.
Constraint equations are created between the Beam end nodes and all
the nodes on the imprint. If the imprint fails, then the 2011 method is
used.

Source is Mesh is incompatible and 6 constraint equations are created per node Mesh is
whole on the beam (for each 3 translational DOF and 3 rotational DOF of the incompatible.
beam each source node on the beam). Currently, the program projects each The program
beam node onto the face (normal projection if the face is planar, more projects all the
sophisticated way if not). Then each beam node is only connected to nodes of the
the face of the element on which the projection happens to lie. shell edge
radially onto
the beam.

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 Article ID: x264 - Bonded contact using constraint equations

Source is If possible, nodes If vertices are Mesh is incompatible and 6 2015 and up:
vertex of are coincident, but coincident, then constraint equations are created possible in 2D
shell never merged. 6 the program tries per node of the source entity simplification
constraint to merge nodes. (for each 3 translational DOF analysis
equations are Everywhere else, and 3 rotational DOF of the
created per node of mesh is source node)
the source entity incompatible and
(for each 3 6 constraint
translational DOF equations are
Source is and 3 rotational created per node
of face DOF of the source of the source
shell node) entity (for each 3
translational DOF
and 3 rotational
DOF of the
source node)

Source is 2012 and up: If possible, 2012 and up: 6 constraint 2015 and up: 6
edge of When More nodes are When More equations are constraint
shell Accurate method coincident, but Accurate created per equations are
is used, shell end never merged. method is used, node of the generated
face (with thickness 6 constraint shell end face source entity When More
and offset) is equations are (with thickness (for each 3 Accurate
virtually imprinted created per and offset) is translational method is used,
onto the face and node of the virtually DOF and 3 element edges
constraint source entity imprinted onto rotational DOF on the source
equations are (for each 3 the face and of the source edge are
created between translational constraint node) bonded to
the nodes of the DOF and 3 equations are element edges
shell edge and the rotational DOF created between on the target.
nodes on the of the source the nodes of the
node) When
imprint zone. shell edge and Simplified
When Simplified the nodes on bonding
bonding method is the imprint zone. method is used,
used, offset and When nodes on the
shell thickness are Simplified source edge are
ignored. 6 bonding method bonded to
constraint is used, offset element edges
equations are and shell on the target.
created per node of thickness are
the source entity ignored. 6
(for each 3 constraint
translational DOF equations are
and 3 rotational created per
DOF of the source node of the
node) source entity
(for each 3
translational
DOF and 3
rotational DOF
of the source
node)

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 Article ID: x264 - Bonded contact using constraint equations

Source is Mesh is Mesh is incompatible and 3 constraint equations

vertex of incompatible and 3 are created per node of the source entity (for each
solid body constraint 3 translational DOF of the source node - there is no
equations are rotational DOF )
created per node of
the source entity
Source is (for each 3
edge of translational DOF of
solid body the source node -
there is no
rotational DOF )

Source Mesh is compatible

face of and nodes are
solid body merged

Note:

● For more information, please refer to See Article ID: x428 - Bonded contact between non-
touching entities (Solution ID: S-034488).
● Only Static, frequency, buckling, thermal, and linear dynamic studies let users choose
between the More Accurate and Simplified bonding methods. In nonlinear studies, the
Simplified method is used.
● The More Accurate and Simplified bonding methods are compatible with High quality
and Draft quality elements.
● Because the constraint equations are created for the nodes on the Source entity, 6
equations per nodes are created if the source entity belongs to shell elements, while only
3 constraint equations are created if the source entity belongs to solid elements.
Therefore, when a vertex or a straight edge from a solid is selected as source, a spherical
or hinge joint is created instead of a rigid joint.
● More accurate results will be obtained if the created mesh is such that nodes on Source
and Target entity are coincident. To achieve this, you may have to create Split lines.

For COSMOSM only

The following points should be considered in the application of this command:

1. Bonding internally uses constraint equations to match the displacements and rotations of the
two parts. The quality assurance tests have shown that for parts with reasonable stiffness
properties and mesh densities, the maximum displacement and stress values obtained from
the bond command are within ten percent of those values obtained from a merged model
with compatible elements.
2. This command is currently applicable to linear static and nonlinear structural analysis,
frequency and buckling analysis as well as heat transfer analysis.
3. When bonding solids and shells, it is advisable to use shells as the source and solids as the
target irrespective of the element order.
4. When shell elements are connected to solid elements, the common nodes at the boundary

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Article ID: x264 - Bonded contact using constraint equations

should not be merged as this will free the rotational degrees of shell at that node. Actually, it
is advantageous not to have coincident nodes at all in such problems. In shell-to-shell, or,
solid-to-solid connections, merging of the coincident nodes at the boundary is allowed.
5. In problems where the stress concentration at the bonded intersection is critical, both parts
should have a fine mesh in this region.
6. The results obtained may deteriorate in problems where a rigid part is connected to a
relatively flexible part. The bonded area in the flexible part undergoes warping or has high
displacement gradients. The results will improve if the mesh density for the flexible part is
increased in the bonded area.
7. The actual constraint relations between the nodes of source and target geometric entities are
formed and computed in the analysis stage.

Note:

● The above recommendations come from the COSMOSM Basic FEA System manual's
chapter 8: Modeling and Analysis Guidelines (pages 8-1 to 8-7).

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