How to simulate gap closing and transfering load?

Hello,

I have an assembly with two plates that is contstrained using assembly constraints.  There is a gap of 2mm between the plates.  What I need to do is apply a load to one of the plates, which will cause it to deform and contact the other plate, thus transferring the load and deforming the other plate.  In the end, both plates would deform and the gap would be closed.

My problem is I cannot simulate this gap properly.  If I create a connection between the two plates, the gap is never closed.  It deforms both plates, but the gap is rigid and is always 2mm.  I have tried modeling a square "spacer" and giving it material properties of foam, creating a spring connection, and a virtual part and cannot get the results I'm looking for.  Can anyone shed some light on this problem?

What you want to do is assign a contact property to the constraint you created.  The contact property command is found under the "connection property toolbar".  Once you open the connection property toolbar,  select the FACE to FACE connection properties and the second icon will be the "Contact Property".  Make sense?

PS. Using "foam" properties in CATIA is a bad assumption unless the properties are linear and valid for small strain asumption  With AFC, it's fine

Greg,

I have used the contact connection to simulate transfering load from one plate to another.  Each plate has a mesh size of 2mm and the gap is 2mm.  When using the contact connection, it works fine.  However, if I tighten the mesh up to 1mm, I get the attached error.  After playing around with the different connection options, I found the following:

* Slider Connection, Contact Connection, and Fastened Connection: The FEA model will not compute (attached error)
* Rigid Connection: The FEA model computes, but does not transfer load to the other plate.
* Smooth Connection: The FEA model computes and transfers load, but seems to maintain the gap vs. one plate touching the other and transferring the load.

I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions to make this work properly because closing the gap in the model defeats the purpose, and I want to tighten the mesh size so I get a better result with a lower error rate.

Thanks,

-Dave

Hi,

How do you extract the load actually transferred between the plates?

SS