Modeling cohesive behavior in Abaqus contact analyses

When you define contact in the Abaqus environment, you can model cohesive behavior for the contacting surfaces. In Abaqus, cohesive behavior is a generalized traction-separation behavior for surfaces. Cohesive behavior is defined as a surface-based contact property for contact pairs. Surface-based cohesive behavior is primarily intended for situations in which the interface thickness is negligibly small. For example, you can use cohesive behavior when you model the following:

• The delamination at interfaces in terms of traction versus separation.

• Two sticky surfaces that come into contact with each other during an analysis. Sticky surfaces are surfaces or parts of surfaces that are not initially in contact but which may bond together when they come into contact with each other. Subsequently, the bond may damage and fail.

Surface-based cohesive behavior has the following characteristics:

• It allows you to specify cohesive data, such as the fracture energy as a function of the ratio of normal to shear displacements at the interface.

• It assumes a linear elastic traction-separation law prior to damage.

• It assumes that the failure of the cohesive bond is characterized by progressive degradation of the cohesive stiffness, which is driven by a damage process.

• It allows specification of post-failure cohesive behavior if failed nodes re-enter contact.

For more information, see:

• Surface-based cohesive behavior in the Abaqus Analysis User’s Guide.

• *COHESIVE BEHAVIOR in the Abaqus Keywords Reference Guide.

Defining cohesive behavior

You use the Cohesive Behavior modeling object to define properties for the surface-based cohesive behavior. For example, you can define the traction-separation response behavior as well as specify the set of nodes affected by the cohesive behavior. For Structural analyses, you define the cohesive behavior through the Contact Pairs modeling object, and for Dynamic Explicit analyses, you use the Contact Property modeling object, which includes the Surface Interaction modeling object to define cohesive behavior.

After you define the Cohesive Behavior modeling object, do one of the following to include the modeling object in the solution:

• For Structural analysesIn the Contact Pair dialog box, select the Include Cohesive Behavior check box and then specify the modeling object.

• For Dynamic Explicit analysesIn the Contact Property dialog box, select to create a Surface Interaction Property modeling object, and then select the Include Cohesive Behavior check box and specify the modeling object.

The options in the Cohesive Behavior dialog box correspond to the parameters for the Abaqus *COHESIVE BEHAVIOR keyword.

Defining damage modeling

When you include cohesive behavior in a solution, you can also include damage modeling to simulate the degradation and eventual failure of the bond between two cohesive surfaces. You specify damage behavior as part of the interaction properties for the surfaces. Cohesive surfaces can have only one damage initiation criterion and only one damage evolution law.

For more information, see Defining damage modeling for Abaqus cohesive behavior.

Where do I find it?

Application	Pre/Post
Prerequisites	A Simulation file as the work part and displayed partAbaqus as the specified solverStructural or Dynamic Explicit as the specified analysis type
Command Finder	Modeling Objects
Location in dialog box	Type→Cohesive Behavior

Learn more

Contact and glue overview (Abaqus)

Comparison of general contact and contact pair (Abaqus)

Contact with Clearance (Abaqus)

Bolt Contact with Clearance (Abaqus)

Surface Based Coupling (Abaqus)

Tie Surface (Abaqus)

Defining damage modeling for Abaqus cohesive behavior

Removing elements and contact pairs (Abaqus)

Automatic face pairing

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