I am trying to use COSMOS 2008 Adv Pro to model a flatindentor pushing into a semi-infinite plane of a relatively softmaterial. The load on the indentor is high enough to yield the softmaterial in the plane, which leaves behind a permanent impressionin the soft material when the indentor is withdrawn. As an outputof the analysis, I would like to produce a load-displacement curvefor the indenting operation.

The indentor material is a linear elastic material with a highelastic modulus. The soft plane material is a non-linear with adefined stress-strain curve that looks like a classic plasticallydeforming metal. The yield strength of the plane material issignificantly below the indentor's yield strength.

My non-linear static model behaves well thoughout the elasticrange, but when the plastic deformation becomes significant, thesimulation diverges and the solver chokes.

Is this typical behavior for COSMOS Non-linear when dealing withthese sorts of problems? It's my interpretation that the simulationruns smoothly until the deformation of mesh in the soft material isbig enough that the deformation of the mesh elements reaches somecritical value. I've seen some papers describing using FEA tosimulate this type of phenomenon, but non using any of the COSMOSproducts.

Please let me know if you have any experience with running thistype of simuation. Your input will be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Eric
SolidworksSimulation