add wiki

wiki/concepts/Finite Element Contact Formulation.md

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ title: "Finite Element Contact Formulation"
 complexity: advanced
 domain: computational-mechanics
 created: 2026-05-29
-updated: 2026-05-29
+updated: 2026-06-01
 address: c-000060
 aliases:
   - contact formulation
@@ -19,13 +19,25 @@ status: current
 related:
   - "[[Abaqus Theory Manual]]"
   - "[[Abaqus-Analysis-User-s-Guide-Volume-I|Abaqus Analysis User's Guide Volume I]]"
+  - "[[Abaqus-Analysis-User-s-Guide-Volume-IV|Abaqus Analysis User's Guide Volume IV]]"
+  - "[[Abaqus-Analysis-User-s-Guide-Volume-V|Abaqus Analysis User's Guide Volume V]]"
   - "[[Abaqus Surface and Assembly Modeling]]"
   - "[[Abaqus Analysis Procedures]]"
+  - "[[Abaqus Contact Interaction Definition]]"
+  - "[[Abaqus Contact Property Models]]"
+  - "[[Abaqus Contact Formulations and Enforcement]]"
+  - "[[Abaqus Contact Diagnostics and Modeling Difficulties]]"
+  - "[[Abaqus Standard Contact Elements]]"
+  - "[[Abaqus Connector Elements and Behaviors]]"
+  - "[[Abaqus Cohesive and Gasket Elements]]"
+  - "[[Abaqus Special-Purpose Interaction Elements]]"
   - "[[Nonlinear Finite Element Analysis]]"
   - "[[ABAQUS]]"
 sources:
   - "[[Abaqus Theory Manual]]"
   - "[[Abaqus-Analysis-User-s-Guide-Volume-I|Abaqus Analysis User's Guide Volume I]]"
+  - "[[Abaqus-Analysis-User-s-Guide-Volume-IV|Abaqus Analysis User's Guide Volume IV]]"
+  - "[[Abaqus-Analysis-User-s-Guide-Volume-V|Abaqus Analysis User's Guide Volume V]]"
 ---
 
 # Finite Element Contact Formulation
@@ -42,6 +54,10 @@ Surface interactions can also carry frictional, thermal, electrical, acoustic, o
 
 The user guide adds the model-definition layer: contact and interface behavior are applied to named surfaces, which can be element-based, node-based, analytical rigid, or Eulerian material surfaces. This makes surface definition and orientation part of the contact model, not just preprocessing detail.
 
+[[Abaqus-Analysis-User-s-Guide-Volume-IV|Volume IV]] adds element alternatives to pure surface contact. Connector elements can idealize point-to-point joint behavior, cohesive and gasket elements can give an interface its own constitutive thickness or traction-separation law, and special-purpose surface or acoustic interface elements can expose targeted interaction behavior.
+
+[[Abaqus-Analysis-User-s-Guide-Volume-V|Volume V]] expands contact into a complete modeling workflow: define general contact or contact pairs, assign surface and contact properties, select formulation and enforcement methods, inspect diagnostics, resolve modeling difficulties, and use Abaqus/Standard contact elements only for specialized cases.
+
 ## Why It Matters
 
 Contact is one of the common reasons a finite element problem becomes nonlinear. It can dominate convergence, mesh sensitivity, and physical response, especially in shell-to-solid interaction, impact, forming, bolted assemblies, and problems with changing boundary conditions.
@@ -52,8 +68,13 @@ Contact is one of the common reasons a finite element problem becomes nonlinear.
 - [[Abaqus Analysis Procedures]] determines whether the contact is solved by implicit, explicit, dynamic, or specialized workflows.
 - [[Abaqus Element Library]] supplies the surfaces and element types that participate in contact.
 - [[Abaqus Surface and Assembly Modeling]] describes how named surfaces are constructed before they are used by contact.
+- [[Abaqus Contact Interaction Definition]], [[Abaqus Contact Property Models]], and [[Abaqus Contact Formulations and Enforcement]] split the Abaqus contact workflow into definition, behavior, and numerical enforcement.
+- [[Abaqus Contact Diagnostics and Modeling Difficulties]] covers initial overclosures, surface quality, redundant constraints, and other contact failure modes.
+- [[Abaqus Connector Elements and Behaviors]] and [[Abaqus Cohesive and Gasket Elements]] cover element-based interaction alternatives.
 
 ## Sources
 
 - [[Abaqus Theory Manual]]
 - [[Abaqus-Analysis-User-s-Guide-Volume-I|Abaqus Analysis User's Guide Volume I]]
+- [[Abaqus-Analysis-User-s-Guide-Volume-IV|Abaqus Analysis User's Guide Volume IV]]
+- [[Abaqus-Analysis-User-s-Guide-Volume-V|Abaqus Analysis User's Guide Volume V]]