A surface contact type controls which forces are transferred between two or more parallel surfaces that are covered in a group (surface contacts).
In RFEM, several contact types are possible. Basically, there are two different superordinate contact types: First, a "Contact Perpendicular to Surfaces," and second, a "Contact Parallel to Surfaces" can be defined.
For the Contact Perpendicular to Surfaces, the following criteria are available in the program:
- Full force transmission: Both compression and tension forces are transferred.
- Failure under tension: The contact is released when the surfaces move away from each other.
- Failure under compression: Only tensile forces are transferred.
The criteria for the Contact parallel to surfaces control how shear forces are transferred between the surfaces:
- Failure if contact perpendicular to surfaces failed
- Full force transmission
- Rigid friction
- Elastic friction
- Elastic surface behavior