Contact stabilization introduces viscous damping between two surfaces to stabilize rigid body motion prior to the establishment of contact. Contact stabilization definitions are assigned to surfaces independently of the contact domain in the Attribute Assignments portion of the interaction editor.
A contact stabilization definition can be assigned in any step of an Abaqus/Standard analysis other than the initial step. Since general contact interactions must be created in the initial step, stabilization assignments require you to edit a previously created general contact interaction.
Stabilization effects are typically enforced only in the step in which they are applied. However, if a nondefault amplitude is selected as part of the contact stabilization definition, the stabilization effects may carry over into subsequent steps as described in “Stabilization for general contact in Abaqus/Standard,” Section 36.2.5 of the Abaqus Analysis User's Guide. To remove stabilization effects in this situation, you must create a separate contact stabilization definition using the Reset values from previous steps option and apply that stabilization definition in a subsequent step.
For more information about contact stabilization definitions, see “Creating contact stabilization definitions,” Section 15.12.5.
To specify contact stabilization assignments:
From the main menu bar, select Interaction
Editinteraction name.
Click the Contact Properties tab in the Attribute Assignments portion of the interaction editor (if it is not already selected).
If necessary, click 
in the Contact Properties portion of the interaction editor to create a contact stabilization definition; see “Creating contact stabilization definitions,” Section 15.12.5, for more information.
Click 
next to Stabilization assignments.
The Edit Stabilization Assignments dialog box appears. By default, when you select a surface from the list or the table, Abaqus/CAE highlights the surface in the viewport; however, highlighting does not apply for the default surfaces labeled (Global) and (Self). You can toggle off Highlight selected regions at the bottom of the dialog box to turn off selection highlighting.
Select one or more surfaces from the list of existing surfaces in the first column on the left side. Select (Global) to introduce stabilization effects between the entire contact domain and an individual surface.
Tip:
You can click 
to define a new surface and add it to the list. See “Creating surfaces,” Section 73.3.3, for instructions on defining surfaces.
Select the second surface or surfaces from the list of existing surfaces in the second column to define the surface pairings.
When multiple surfaces are selected in either column, all possible combinations are generated.
To assign a stabilization definition for self-contact, select either the same surface name or (Self) in the second column.
Any stabilization assignments for regions that fall outside of the contact domain are ignored.
From the list of existing stabilization definitions in the third column, select the stabilization to assign. You can create new contact stabilization definitions while you are working in the Edit Stabilization Assignments dialog box (see “Creating contact stabilization definitions,” Section 15.12.5).
Click the arrows 
in the middle of the dialog box to transfer your selections to the list of stabilization assignments.
The table on the right side of the dialog box is updated to reflect your selections.
Repeat the above steps as needed to complete the stabilization assignments. If you want to delete stabilization assignments, select the rows and click 
.
Note: The order of assignments may be relevant; when stabilization assignments overlap, the last assignment takes precedence.
Click OK to save your selections and to close the Edit Stabilization Assignments dialog box.
The interaction editor reappears with updated information on the number of individual stabilization assignments.
Click OK to save your changes and to close the editor.
To modify a contact stabilization assignment:
From the main menu bar, select InteractionEditinteraction name.
The Edit Interaction dialog box appears.
Click the Contact Properties tab in the Attribute Assignments portion of the interaction editor (if it is not already selected).
Click next to Stabilization assignments.
The Edit Stabilization Assignments dialog box appears.
Select the row or rows containing the stabilization assignment to be modified from the table on the right side of the dialog box.
Select a new stabilization definition from the list in the third column on the left side of the dialog box.
Click the arrow 
in the middle of the dialog box to replace the stabilization definition with your new selection.
Click OK to save your selections and to close the dialog box.
The interaction editor reappears.
Click OK to save your changes and to close the interaction editor.
