Surface Contacts - AUTODESK Nastran In-CAD

A correct choice of contact type is fundamental for a reliable mechanical simulation. The following four main types of contact surfaces are shown using the AUTODESK Nastran In-CAD software.

A simple FEA model was made to explain each surface contact.

Separation (Nastran: General)

• This type of contact is a true surface to surface contact. Both sliding and opening are allowed.

Bonded (Nastran: Welded)

• This type of contact is used to bond the touching surfaces together. It moves together with loading.
• The advantage with this type of contact is that the mesh does not have to be the same.
• It can be useful in cases where touching surfaces on different parts have dissimilar meshes and do not undergo relative displacement. In other words the surfaces are treated to be bonded together.

Sliding / No Separation (Nastran: Slide)

• With this type of contact the element will act similar to a welded contact element in tension and compression, but will slide in-plane.
• Friction is ignored for this contact type, so contact data should not include friction settings.
• Slide contact can be used in linear and nonlinear solutions.

Separation / No Sliding (Nastran: Rough)

• With this type of contact the element will act similar to a general contact element in tension and compression, but will not permit sliding in-plane.
• If the analysis types are not nonlinear, the contact type will default to welded.

Fonte: https://help.autodesk.com/view/NINCAD/2018/ENU/