STRESS-ANALYSIS OF 3-DIMENSIONAL CONTACT PROBLEMS USING THE BOUNDARY-ELEMENT METHOD

This paper presents a technique based on the boundary element method [ I] to analyse three-dimensional contact problems. The formulation is i mplemented for the frictionless and infinite friction conditions. Foll owing a review of the basic nature of contact problems, the analytical basis of the direct formulation of the boundary element method is des cribed. The numerical implementation employs linear triangular element s for the representation of the boundary and variables of the bodies i n contact. Opposite nodal points in similar element pairs are defined on the two surfaces in the area which are expected to come into contac t under the increasing load. The use of appropriate contact conditions enables the integral equations for the two bodies to be coupled toget her. Following an iteration procedure, the size of the contact zone is determined by finding a boundary solution compatible with the contact conditions. Different examples have been analysed in order to verify the applicability of the proposed method to various contact situations . The results have been compared with those obtained using the finite element method in conjunction with the ABAQUS [2] and IDEAS [3] packag es which are shown to be in good agreement. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.