Finite element analysis of nonsmooth contact Original Research Article

This work develops robust contact algorithms capable of dealing with complex contact situations involving several bodies with corners. Amongst the mathematical tools we bring to bear on the problem is nonsmooth analysis, following Clarke (F.H. Clarke. Optimization and nonsmooth analysis. John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1983.). We specifically address contact geometries for which both the use of normals and gap functions have difficulties and therefore precludes the application of most contact algorithms proposed to date. Such situations arise in applications such as fragmentation, where angular fragments undergo complex collision sequences before they scatter. We demonstrate the robustness and versatility of the nonsmooth contact algorithms developed in this paper with the aid of selected two and three-dimensional applications.