Implementation of an equivalent linear contact model to study the dynamical characteristics of assembled structures with different contact pairs

Assembled structures having different contacting materials with a considerable contact pressure distribution at the interface, require a simulation model capable of assimilating the effect of nonlinearity due to the interface materials and contacts. A damped pressure dependent joint model is used as an equivalent localized-linear contact model, which builds discrete spring and hysteretetic damper elements at the contact interface. The global damping of assembled structure is modelled as the cumulative effect from material and contact damping, wherein the later is perceived to be predominant in the micro-slip region in comparison to the sliding and stick regions. A test structure has been examined with a layered copper-prepreg plate as the contacting pair. A good match of simulation results of test structures with experiments with a significant reduction in computational time in comparison to conventional non-linear models motivates the trial on more complex systems.