Claude-skill-registry abaqus-interaction

Define contact and interactions - contact pairs, tie constraints, connectors. Use when user mentions contact, friction, tie, parts touching, or bonded surfaces.

install
source · Clone the upstream repo
git clone https://github.com/majiayu000/claude-skill-registry
Claude Code · Install into ~/.claude/skills/
T=$(mktemp -d) && git clone --depth=1 https://github.com/majiayu000/claude-skill-registry "$T" && mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills && cp -r "$T/skills/data/abaqus-interaction" ~/.claude/skills/majiayu000-claude-skill-registry-abaqus-interaction && rm -rf "$T"
manifest: skills/data/abaqus-interaction/SKILL.md
source content

Abaqus Interaction Skill

Define contact pairs, tie constraints, coupling, and connectors between parts in an assembly.

When to Use This Skill

Route here when user mentions:

  • "Contact between surfaces"
  • "Friction", "sliding contact", "frictionless"
  • "Tie constraint", "bonded surfaces", "welded"
  • "Parts touching", "parts can separate"
  • "Coupling", "connector", "spring element"
  • "Join different meshes"

Route elsewhere:

  • Complete contact analysis workflow →
    /abaqus-contact-analysis
  • Fixed supports or displacements →
    /abaqus-bc
  • Applied forces or pressures →
    /abaqus-load

Key Decisions

1. What Type of Connection?

User DescribesInteraction TypeKey Feature
Welded, glued, bondedTie constraintPermanent, no relative motion
Parts can slide and separateSurface-to-surface contactFriction, gap allowed
Load from point to surfaceCouplingReference point control
Spring, damper, hingeConnectorStiffness/damping behavior
Adhesive, delaminationCohesiveDamage initiation criteria

2. Contact Formulation

FormulationWhen to Use
Surface-to-surfaceGeneral contact (recommended default)
Node-to-surfaceLegacy compatibility, special cases
General contactAutomatic detection (explicit dynamics)
Self-contactFolding, buckling, large deformation

3. Typical Friction Coefficients

Surface PairFriction Coefficient
Frictionless0.0
Lubricated metal0.1 - 0.3
Dry metal-to-metal0.3 - 0.5
Rubber on surface0.5 - 0.8
No slip (rough)Use ROUGH formulation

What to Ask User

If unclear, ask:

  1. Bonded or sliding?

    • Bonded (no relative motion) → Tie constraint
    • Sliding allowed → Contact with friction
  2. Friction coefficient?

    • If not specified, suggest typical value for material pair
    • Frictionless is valid for lubricated or normal-dominant cases
  3. Which surface is master/slave?

    • User may not know - guide them (see below)
  4. Can surfaces separate?

    • Yes →
      allowSeparation=ON
    • No (always in contact) →
      allowSeparation=OFF

Master/Slave Selection Guidelines

CriterionMaster SurfaceSlave Surface
StiffnessStiffer bodySofter body
Mesh densityCoarser meshFiner mesh
SizeLarger surfaceSmaller surface
GeometryFlat/convexCurved/concave

When in doubt: The coarser mesh should be master.

Workflow: Setting Up Interactions

Step 1: Identify Contact Pairs

List all surfaces that interact. For each pair determine:

  • Type (contact vs tie)
  • Master and slave assignment
  • Friction requirements

Step 2: Create Surfaces

Surfaces must be defined on assembly instances before creating interactions.

Step 3: Define Contact Properties

For contact interactions, define:

  • Normal behavior: Hard contact, allow separation
  • Tangential behavior: Friction formulation and coefficient

Step 4: Create Interaction

Assign contact property to surface pair in appropriate step.

Step 5: Verify Setup

Check for:

  • Correct master/slave assignment
  • Appropriate initial gap/overclosure
  • Contact pair is active in correct step

Common Gotchas

SymptomLikely CauseSolution
Contact not detectedSurfaces too far apartUse
adjust=ON
or reduce initial gap
Severe discontinuity warningsContact chatteringAdd stabilization, use smaller increments
Negative eigenvalueWrong master/slaveSwap master and slave surfaces
Overclosure too largeInitial interferenceUse shrink fit option or adjust geometry
Tie not workingSurfaces not close enoughIncrease position tolerance

Validation Checklist

Before running analysis:

  • All contacting surface pairs identified
  • Master/slave correctly assigned
  • Contact properties defined (normal + tangential)
  • Interaction assigned to correct step
  • Initial gaps/overclosures within tolerance
  • Friction coefficient appropriate for materials

Code Patterns

For API syntax and code examples, see: