Simulation of Metal Forming by a Meshless Contact Algorithm

{Metal forming process is characterized by large deformation that poses a great challenge for the implementation of contact algorithm. Based on the meshless representation of the geometry, a new contact detection algorithm is presented in this paper. The advantage of this algorithm is that it can handle a wide variety of complicated geometry involved in the forming process. Because only a simple scalar criterion is used, the algorithm is applicable to parallel computing and detection of self-contact. Although the algorithm is derived based on the framework of meshless method, it can be implemented in both finite element and meshless methods.}