17.1. Introduction

Simulating contact in a transient dynamic analysis can be challenging. The presence of inertial forces can adversely affect convergence in contact problems. The simulated response must also be accurate to ensure that it remains stable, and consistent with physical behavior, over a long time period.

The impact of a metal bar on a rigid wall is ideal for demonstrating various solution options, as this problem has been extensively studied and documented, and there are existing analytical and numerical solutions available for comparison.