| Frictional contact problems with large sliding are of interest in many engineering applications. One particular class of such applications involves press fit connections. In computer hardware, for instance, the connection between the electronic connector and the printed wiring board is of that type. The electrical and mechanical quality of that connection depends on the deformations occurring during the assembly process which involves friction and large sliding. Prediction of those deformations and the corresponding state of stress are here of considerable importance.;In this study, finite element simulation of frictional contact problem between two deformable three-dimensional bodies is presented. Elasto-plastic model and a regularized friction law are employed. Large strains are allowed to occur in both of the contacting bodies. The problem to be solved is governed by the nonlinear equilibrium equations of those bodies and the constraints describing compatibility of their displacements. Lagrange multiplier technique is employed to ensure that in the contact area, which changes in the process, this compatibility is enforced.;The approach is applicable to a wide range of contact problems, even though, here the presentation of numerical results is mainly related to the press fit connection problem. In this context, the numerical analysis presented provides, for example, an estimate of the force needed to mount an electronic connector to the printed wiring board and gives an assessment of the deformation and stress levels for both the connector and the board.;Based on the insight gained from the analysis of the press fit connection problem, two modified iterative schemes were employed and found to be more robust than the existing approaches. The same insight led also to an improvement in prediction of the driving force needed to create a press fit connection. |
