Abstract: The calculation of the contact-impact interface is one of the key technologies of the dynamic analysis of the mechanical system in CAE, the efficient, accurate and reliable contact algorithm, including the contact searching algorithm and the contact force algorithm, is the core part of the calculation of the contact-impact interface. Combined with the dynamic explicit FEM calculation of the mechanical system, the contact-impact interface model is described. The typical calculation models and contact algorithms used frequently for the calculation of the contact-impact interface are discussed emphatically, and compared with one another, their merit and defect are pointed out respectively. The general process of the dynamic explicit FEM calculation of the mechanical system is provided. Some influencing factors and error analysis of contact algorithms are explained briefly, and some viewpoints on further research of contact algorithms for the calculation of the contact-impact interface are offered.

Key words: Contact algorithm, Contact force, Contact searching, Contact-impact interface, Explicit FEM