Distance between plates connected by a contact

You must keep a maximum distance between parallel plates while modeling a contact or bolted connection with a contact. Plates can be analyzed up to a distance of 2 mm from each other. If the gap between plates is bigger than 2 mm, the analysis can’t be performed.

An example is a connection of two parallel Z-section members connected by bolts and by a contact.

Gap = 0 mm (plates are parallel and aligned and surfaces match), analysis is successful.

Gap = 2 mm (plates are parallel and aligned, but there is a gap between the surfaces) - application shows the error "The distance of plates for making a contact is too large. The limit value is 2.00 mm.".