Contacts (optimization)

The Contacts option allows you to change the behavior of parts that are contacting when running an optimization.

This option is set to Sliding only by default. Changing it to Sliding with separation will produce more accurate results, but will also significantly increase total run time.

You can define the contact behavior in the Run Optimization window.

  1. On the Strucutres ribbon, click Run Optimization on the Optimize icon.

  2. Select an optimization Type and Objective. The options in the Run Optimization window will change based on which options you select.
  3. Click the button next to Contacts and select Sliding only or Sliding with separation.

  4. Set the remaining options for the run as desired.
  5. Click Run to start the optimization. While the optimization run is in progress, you can monitor its status using the Run Status window.

  6. When complete, double-click the name of the run to view the results.

Contact Behavior

Figure 1. Sliding Only
Figure 2. Sliding with Separation