ON A PATCH TEST FOR CONTACT PROBLEMS IN TWO DIMENSIONS

R. L. TAYLOR AND P. PAPADOPOULOS
Nonlinear Computational Mechanics, P. Wriggers and W. Wagner editors, pp. 690-702, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, (1991)



Abstract

In this paper we propose a simple finite element completeness check in the spirit of the patch test originating in the work of Irons, with particular reference to frictionless contact problems in two dimensions. Attention is primarily focused on classical slideline treatments based on node-to-node or node-to-surface geometric assumptions. Representative element meshes are subjected to the proposed test via a penalty formulation and conclusions are drawn for both linear and quadratic order elements. In view of encountered shortcomings, a more general slideline methodology is advocated.


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