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A Robust and Efficient General Purpose Contact Algorithm for Rigid and Flexible Bodies

Juhwan Choi, Sungsoo Rhim, Jin Hwan Choi, The 2nd Joint International Conference on Multibody System Dynamics, Stuttgart, May 2012.

Abstract

The analysis of multi-flexible-body dynamics (MFBD) has been an important issue in the area of computational dynamics. Also, dynamic analysis of many mechanical systems often involves contacts among rigid and flexible bodies. But, until now, the contact analysis in the multi-flexible-body dynamics has still remained as a big, challenging area. In order to simulate the contact phenomena, this study uses a compliant contact force model based on the Hertzian contact theory. When generating the contact force with a compliant contact force model, a penetration depth and a contact reference frame (a contact point and normal and tangent directions) must be determined from the geometrical information of the rigid and flexible body surfaces.

How Multibody Dynamics Simulation Technology is Used

In order to develop the robust and efficient general purpose contact algorithms for the rigid and flexible bodies, this study proposed a new contact algorithm. The new contact algorithm is divided into four main parts which are a surface representation, a pre-search, a detailed search and a contact force generation. In the surface representation part, a general surface representation method is proposed which can be used for complex rigid and flexible bodies.