New features in Z-set 8.0.3

Many comprehensive developments were added to the 8.0.3 version of Z-set. A summary of some of the additions follows. See also the new features in Z-mat.

• New solvers New sparse iterative and sparse direct solvers have been added. These effectively increase the problem size which can be treated by an order of magnitude.

   ***file_management
    **max_nb_dof 10000000
   ***linear_solver sparse_dscpack
    **renumbering
   

   ***file_management
    **max_nb_dof 10000000
   ***linear_solver sparse_iterative
    **solver cg
     *max_iteration 1000
     **precond cholesky
   

• Revised Contact The contact algorithm has been re-written, with new features to stabilize disconnected parts, and greatly improved efficiency and reliability.

  ***contact penalty
    **conv 1.e-6 200 1.e-6
    **solve_method direct
   **stablize 1.e-3
    **zone
      *impactor l1
      *target l2
      *friction 0.1
      *warning_distance 0.3
      *gap 0.0
   

  In the 8.0 the soft option has been totally depreciated. The standard algorithm should now be penalty which treats very well over and under constrained contact problems. There is now an option for which local solver to use for all contact laws, either a direct or iterative method (normally direct is best).
• Full NT version The windows version of the code is now completly implemented as a full-native program.