High-order mortar-based element applied to nonlinear analysis of structural contact mechanics

In this paper we present a high-order contact element using a mortar-based domain decomposition method. The main objective is to verify the solution accuracy by increasing the element interpolation order in two-dimensional contact problems, considering large deformations and friction. We present studies of accuracy, processing time and contact stress oscillation using h- and p-refinements. The comparative results show that the high-order interpolation is a strategy with superior performance for the contact problems analysed. The results for the p-refinement improved the solution accuracy of the stresses and forces generated by contact with a lower processing time.