Isogeometric contact

Isogeometric basis functions feature higher and tailorable inter-element continuity, which translates into evident advantages for the description of interacting surfaces, especially in presence of large displacements and large sliding. This has motivated the proposal of isogeometric contact treatments, see our review paper.

We were among the first to develop isogeometric contact formulations with NURBS basis functions (see here and here). This research took place at the external pageLeibniz Universität Hannover through an external pageAlexander von Humboldt Fellowship. We also explored the use of T-Splines to enable local refinement, both in contact and in interfacial debonding problems. More recently we developed contact formulations suitable for the isogeometric collocation framework, first for frictionless contact, then extended to friction, as well as, together with our colleagues in external pageSingapore, to frictional contact of Cosserat rods. With collaborators at external pageBAM, we also investigated coupling between higher-order finite element and isogeometric discretizations for static and dynamic contact problems.

Diagram showing contact simulations with isogeometric NURBS discretizations. The higher inter-element smoothness of isogeometric basis functions leads to improved robustness in computational contact mechanics — Contact simulations with isogeometric NURBS discretizations. The higher inter-element smoothness of isogeometric basis functions leads to improved robustness in computational contact mechanics.

Diagram showing contact of a car bumper with a plate using an isogeometric T-Spline discretization. As opposed to NURBS, T-Spline basis functions enable local refinement, thus improving the computational efficiency. — Contact of a car bumper with a plate using an isogeometric T-Spline discretization. As opposed to NURBS, T-Spline basis functions enable local refinement, thus improving the computational efficiency.

Funding:

external pageERC Starting Researcher Grant “Mechanical modeling of interfaces in advanced materials and structures” (2011-2016).

Isogeometric contact

Publications