Author(s)

P. Wriggers, A. Reiger

Abstract

Finite element methods (FEM) are flexible tools which can be applied to solve contact problems with arbitrary geometries. As in any numerical method, the solutions obtained with FEM are only approximate. Errors occur e. g. due to the choice of the ansatz space and the approximation of the geometry. In general it is necessary to automatically control the error inherited in the method to obtain reliable solutions. This is especially true in case of nonlinear contact problems since geometry and contact surface can change substantially during the deformation process. Thus the refinement process needed for an accurate analysis cannot be controlled by the user beforehand. Here an adaptive finite

Keywords