***********************************************************************
This transmission contains information which may be confidential and  
which may also be privileged.  It is intended for the named addressee  
only.  Unless you are the named addressee, or authorised to receive it 
on behalf of the addressee you may not copy or use it, or disclose it 
to anyone else.  If you have received this transmission in error please 
contact the sender.  Thank you for your cooperation. 
***********************************************************************
I am modeling an array of components which come into contact at various times through a period of life.  Contact pairs are defined in particular areas where the contact occurs.  In real life the components are free to move but in an analysis these components have to be stabalised somewhat to avoid instabilities, but not as much as to affect the results.  I am using ABAQUS V5.8 and have springs (SPRING1) attached to specific positions on components and these are in turn connected to ground to restrain the movement.  In order to get the problem to run successfully the spring stiffness used contrains the components too much and does not give a true representation of the problem.  I have now looked into using dashpots (DASHPOT1) instead and have even thought about having a ground to dashpot to spring to component configuration.

I would appreciate some advise on how to overcome this problem or another means of constraining the model to obtain a solution but still allow quite a bit of movement in the array.

Thank you in advance.



Richard Charles
AEA Technology Energy
Nuclear Tech/Eng Integrity
RD3/021 Risley
Warrington
Tel: 01925 25 4795
Fax: 01925 25 2285




%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%