Modeling of large deformation - Large sliding contact via the penalty X-FEM technique

In this paper, an extended finite element method is employed to simulate the presence of discontinuities caused by the contact surface. In X-FEM, the need for mesh adaption to interface is neglected and the process is accomplished by partitioning the domain with some triangular sub-elements whose Gauss points are used for integration of the elements. The modified level set technique and the Heaviside enrichment function are employed to approximate the discontinuous displacement field of elements located on the contact surface. The penalty method is used to impose the contact constraints and establish the non-penetration condition. An efficient numerical algorithm is employed to model the large deformation contact behavior based on the node-to-segment technique. Finally, numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the accuracy and capability of proposed X-FEM technique in modeling of large deformation - large sliding contact problems. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.