PARAM, FASTCONT

Bulk Data Entry Activates the fast contact algorithm. This algorithm can only be used if the nonlinearity in the model comes from just contact.

Parameter Values Description
FASTCONT <YES, NO>
YES
Fast Contact Analysis is activated.
NO (Default)
Fast Contact Analysis is not activated.

Comments

  1. In models containing contact, CONTACT/CGAP(G)-based Fast Contact is only supported for CONTACT=SLIDE.
  2. Models containing surfaces with user-created CGAP elements are also supported.
  3. MPC-based Fast Contact Analysis is available via PARAM, CDITER, SUPORT, SPOINT, and SPC entries are required for such model. PARAM,FASTCONT should not be used for MPC-based Fast Contact.
  4. Material nonlinearity or nonlinear geometry is not supported with this algorithm.
  5. Explicitly defined CGAP(G) is also allowed.
  6. Node-to-Surface (N2S) and Surface-to-Surface (S2S) types of CONTACT are supported in the fast contact algorithm.
  7. FASTCONT analysis is also available for contacts between PPLANE elements.
  8. Friction with CONTACT is also allowed in FASTCONT analysis.
  9. In optimization, FASTCONT uses the converged contact status from the previous iteration in the subsequent design iterations. This significantly reduces the number of contact iterations needed in later design phases, leading to a shorter overall runtime for the solution.
  10. When a FASTCONT analysis does not converge, a list of fast contact switches in the last iteration is printed to the output (.out) file. The default limit for number of gaps printed is 50. The list of fast contact switches contains two columns. The “Grid” column refers to the grid at which the contact switch occurs and the “Dir” column refers to component direction of the contact switch.