Remeshing strategies for large deformation problems with frictional contact and nearly incompressible materials

We present a framework to efficiently solve large deformation contact problems with nearly incompressible materials by implementing adaptive remeshing. Specifically, nodally integrated elements are employed to avoid mesh locking when linear triangular or tetrahedral elements are used to facilitate mesh re-generation. Solution variables in the bulk and on contact surfaces are transferred between meshes such that accuracy is maintained and re-equilibration on the new mesh is possible. In particular, the displacement transfer in the bulk is accomplished through a constrained least squares problem based on nodal integration, while the transfer of contact tractions relies on parallel transport. Finally, a residual-based error indicator is chosen to drive adaptive mesh refinement. The proposed strategies are applicable to both two-dimensional or three-dimensional analysis and are demonstrated to be robust by a number of numerical examples. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.