Tube-to-Tube Contact Element Library

This section provides a reference to the tube-to-tube contact elements available in Abaqus/Standard.

This page discusses:

Element Types

ITT21: Tube-to-tube element for use with two-dimensional beam and pipe elements
ITT31: Tube-to-tube element for use with three-dimensional beam and pipe elements

ITT21: 1, 2

ITT31: 1, 2, 3

ITT21: Two additional variables relating to the contact forces.

ITT31: Three additional variables relating to the contact forces.

ITT21: X, Y

ITT31: X, Y, Z

None.

S11: Normal component of the force between the two pipes.
S12: Shear force between the two pipes, parallel to the axis of the second (outer) pipe.
S13: Shear force between the two pipes, normal to the contact direction and to the axis of the second (outer) pipe (for ITT31 only).

E11: Overclosure of the surfaces in the direction normal to the tangent to the centerline of the second (outer) pipe.
E12: Accumulated relative tangential motion between the two pipes, parallel to the axis of the second (outer) pipe.
E13: Accumulated relative tangential motion between the two pipes, normal to the contact direction and to the axis of the second (outer) pipe (for ITT31 only).