> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://tlcfem.gitbook.io/suanpan-manual/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://tlcfem.gitbook.io/suanpan-manual/element/special/contact3d.md).

# Contact3D

3D Node(Slave)-Triangular Facet(Master) Contact Element

* Number of DoFs: 3
* DoF Label: U1, U2, U3

## Syntax

```
element Contact3D (1) (2) (3) [4]
# (1) int, unique element tag
# (2) int, master group tag
# (3) int, slave group tag
# [4] double, penalty factor
```

## Remarks

1. The contact algorithm is implemented via penalty function method as an element. The parameter `[4]` controls the magnitude of penalty.
2. No matter whether the `nlgeom` switch is on or off for connected elements, the contact detection itself is always conducted in a nonlinear manner, similar to the total Lagrangian formulation for the precise computation of contact.
3. The node-facet contact detection is performed for all nodes defined in slave group and facets defined by nodes in master group. There are $$n/3$$ facets for $$n$$ nodes in master group. So the number of nodes in master group must be multiples of $$3$$.


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