Isogeometric contact analysis: Geometric basis and formulation for frictionless contact

This paper introduces an isogeometric framework for the numerical analysis of contact problems. In this approach, NURBS is utilized as basis for geometric representation and analysis. The contact surfaces and the underlying solids are parameterized in an identical paradigm. The use of NURBS geometry eliminates at the onset the geometric discontinuities induced by the traditional faceted approximation. Contact detection is carried out patch-wise, instead of element-wise, leading to an efficient and robust numerical algorithm. A strategy for smoothing sharp corners is also described. The algorithm does not rely on fillets but entails only a minor perturbation to the NURBS parameters. A variationally consistent surface-to-surface formulation is developed in the context of frictionless contact. Numerical examples are presented to demonstrate the performance and utility of the method.