Adaptive computation of impact force under low velocity impact

A simple and computationally efficient adaptive finite element analysis str ategy has been adopted for accurate and reliable evaluation of contact forc e under low velocity impact. Contact of a spherical and cylindrical impacto r on isotopic plates is considered. Adaptive mesh refinement enables the fi nite element mesh to be obtained automatically and the refined meshes influ ence the calculated contact force. Velocity and mass of impactor has some i nfluence on discretization error as the discretization error changes with t he change of these parameters. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights re served.