Set Up an Auto Contact Run

  1. Load the Abaqus user profile and select either the 2D or 3D template.
  2. From the Utility Browser, Abaqus menu, click Contact Manager.
  3. Click Auto.
    The Auto Contact dialog opens.
  4. Select the type of interface to create in the Type of Interface field.
  5. Click the yellow components button and select your components.
    The components are automatically placed in the Component table in the Auto Contact dialog.
  6. Enter a value in the Proximity Distance field.
    The proximity distance is the maximum distance between two selected components. When you create the pair, any surfaces that are farther away than the value entered here will not be created as a contact pair. The default value is zero.


    Figure 1.
  7. Enter a value in the Maximum reverse angle field.
    If the angle between two normals of elements or element faces exceeds this value, the element will not be added to the main or secondary surface.
  8. If creating a contact pair, select the type of interaction in the Interaction:field. You can use the icon to open a browser to view the options more easily, or you can click New to create a new interaction.
  9. Click Find.
    The status bar activates and the Auto Contact Browser opens.
  10. Use the Auto Contact Browser to make any necessary adjustments to the interfaces and surfaces.
  11. When finished modifying, click Create.
    The interfaces and surfaces marked as Accepted are created. The Contact Manager window reopens with the new information listed.