Mesh size for contacts

[autodesk428JLG]

Hi!

When you use contacts thru surfaces for example, i understand that nastran create surface elelemts. Are those finer mesh size or how does that work? I have some contacts and was thinking about doing a local finer mesh at my contact locations. 

Thanks in advance! BR/ Daniel

[John_Holtz · Accepted solution]

Hi @autodesk428JLG 

I am not sure in which direction you are hoping for a "finer mesh size". In the plane of the contact? Perpendicular to the contact?

I think it is not correct to say that the contact creates "surface elements". Contact connects a node on the secondary face to the entire element face on the matching primary face and transmits a force. If the gap between the two contact faces is 0, the force transmitted is the same as when where is a gap of 10 meters. (Ok, 10 m gap is an exaggeration.) There is no element size of any consequence because force is force.

John