Problem With Contect 1

[hnng]

Hi,

I have just started using ABAQUS, and is stuck with the following problem. I am trying to simulate a moving load on a simply supported beam. I have tried to describe as much as I can, let me know if you need something else.

Part+Property
-------------
Defined a analytical rigid body part (LoadingPlate) which is a line (0,0)(0.005,0) with a reference point at the mid-point.

Assembly
-------------
Defined a Part by the name of BEAM. To summarize the steps of definition - in the sketch plotted 4 points (-0.51,0) (-0.5,0) (0.5,0) (0.51,0). Joined them by lines. Assigned a section (profile+material) to the BEAM.

In the assembly aligned the LoadingPlate reference point to (-0.515,0).

Step
-------------
Created a General, Explicit Step.

Interaction
--------------
Defined a frictionless interaction property.
Created General Contact (Explicit) interaction for the explicit step.
Include surface pairs - ALL* with self
Rest option left as default.

Load
---------------
Simple support on (-0.5,0)(0.5,0) on Beam. Initial velocity of + 1m/s to reference point of rigid body and -6000 N load at reference point in the "2" / Y- direction.

Mesh by parts
--------------
Global Seed size of 0.005.
Element Type - Library -> Explicit Element-> beam (B21) A 2-node linear beam in a plane.

Job
--------------
Submitted the Job

In the whole analysis have defined two surface one is Bottom of loading plate and other is top of beam.

In the JobName.dat file the error statement occurs after:
.
.
*dynamic, explicit
*cload
*contact, op=NEW
*contactinclusions, allexterior
*contactpropertyassignment
*output, field, variable=PRESELECT
*output, history
*nodeoutput, nset=ASSEMBLY_MIDPOINT
*endstep

***Error
*CONTACT INCLUSIONS, ALL EXTERIOR has been used or a blank first surface name was specified under *CONTACT INCLUSIONS or *CONTACT EXCLUSIONS, but the model does not contain any 3D elements from which the contact domain can be constructed.

Can any one help me out with this.

Thanks and Regards

 

[bassmanjax]

General contact is only available for 3D analyses - you are doing a 2D analysis, so you need to define your contact using *CONTACT PAIR rather than *CONTACT.

Regards



Martin Stokes CEng MIMechE

 

[corus]

Contact can be done in 2D but not for beam elements which don't have surfaces as such

corus

 

[hnng]

Thanks bassmanjax, the error is gone now by using contact pair the job is getting submitted properly. Although the results are not what I expected. It may be due to use of beam elements as suggested by corus.

Corus, what is your suggestion if beam element wont work, should I go into 3-D and use solid element to model a beam, or is there a way out in 2D?

Regards