Boundary element analysis of contact problems using artificial boundary

ABSTRACT BOUNDARY ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF CONTACT PROBLEMS USING ARTIFICIAL BOUNDARY TONUÇ, Galip M. Sc. in Mechanical Engineering Supervisor: Asst. Prof. Dr. Ibrahim H. GÜZELBEY July 1999, 109 pages In this work, artificial boundary has been used to analyse two dimensional contact problems in direct boundary element method. A new approach of regular boundary element has been adapted to an existing two-dimensional boundary element contact program. The results of the suggested new approach for the direct regular boundary element have been compared with the existing boundary element program and other artificial boundary approach results. It was observed that they have the similar accuracy. The developed approach has been tested using some simple cases. Furthermore some other case studies have been also carried out for contact problems. All cases have been validated using ANSYS Finite Element Package program. It has been shown that the new approach successfully avoids from the singularities and gives similar results with direct boundary element. New approach is more accurate than the other artificial boundary approach at nearby of boundary. Key words: Boundary Element Method, Contact Problems, Regular Element, Artificial Boundary, Artificial Element, ANSYS. IV