Define desired input-output relationship and fix the code accordingly

[NoraHagmeyer]

As discussed in !3, the pressure output is currently not usable/ does not give any additional information compared to the overall contact force and area. A well-defined input-output relationship, not relying on third-party code as wrapper is in order.

interested parties: @tsarikahin @RShaw026

[NoraHagmeyer]

In GitLab by @tsarikahin on Nov 9, 2021, 09:18

I would definitely be interested in integrating a mechanism to apply a well-defined input-output relation, an advanced calculation of the contact area, not only the overall area but also outputting the contact area matrix.

[NoraHagmeyer]

As discussed, I still don't understand the need for a different calculation tool for the contact area at this point, as the current calculation takes into account the hard-coded use of constant shape functions. But I support implementing further tools related to the BEM code directly withing the code instead of some 3rd party wrapper programs 👍.

As for the pressure distribution matrix.. the way the code is structured right now does not produce this information, since the code was written to only output the computed overall contact area and force. If the pressure distribution is of interest at some point, this information would have to be produced.

[RShaw026]

When MIRCO is used as a library, the following output from MIRCO is needed:

• Homogenized pressure

When MIRCO is used as a standalone tool, the following outputs are helpful:

• Homogenized pressure
• Active set
• Pressure field
• Displacement field on the active set and also on the whole surface (the full-sized coefficient of influence matrix needs to be built for this)

Please let us know your thoughts @isteinbrecher @jacopenji