This paper presents an isogeometric finite element formulation for nonlinear beams with impenetrability constraints, based on the kinematics of Cosserat rods with unconstrained directors. The beam cross-sectional deformation is represented by director vectors of an arbitrary order. For the frictionless lateral beam-to-beam contact, a surface-to-surface contact algorithm combined with an active set strategy and a penalty method...

This paper focuses on the numerical modeling of the dynamics of mechanical systems. Robots that can inspect high-voltage lines inspired this research. Their control systems must anticipate potential grab positions appropriately. We intend to formulate equations dedicated to the numerical description of the robot/cable contact. The investigated problem is not straightforward, since parts of the modeled systems are numerically inhomogeneous....

The paper presents a dedicated numerical algorithm. The algorithm is advantageous during investigations of the dynamics of a hybrid multibody / finite-elements system. We focus our attention on interactions resulting from mechanical contact. Pointwise contact connects a vertex of the multibody structure and a surface of the elastic reference body. Instead of a positive value of the relative penetration factor, constraint equations...