3D line-to-surface contact is represented by following the positions of lines on the contact surface, modeled by CONTA177 elements, relative to 3D surface segments on the target surface, modeled by TARGE170 elements.
Line-to-surface contact modeled by CONTA177 is depicted in the figure below.
The CONTA177 element type:
Has two nodes or three nodes.
Is paired with a target surface defined by TARGE170 elements.
Uses the same real constant set as used for the surface-to-surface contact elements. See Real Constants for more information.
Supports 3D rigid-flexible and flexible-flexible contact.
Supports 3D beams and shell edges with or without midside nodes.
Can be generated by the ESURF command (similar to the surface-to-surface contact elements) in many cases. See Performing a 3D Line-to-Surface Contact Analysis for details.
The associated 3D target elements (TARGE170) can be surface segments (TRIA, QUAD, TRI6, QUA8) and/or line segments (LINE, PARA). Use the 3D primitive segments (CYLI, CONE, SPHE) to model rigid-flexible contact.