This study presents the development of a thermo-mechanical simulation model
for an elastic-plastic contact problem between a half cylinder and a plane
plate. The set of equations was solved using direct coupling method by Ansys
mechanical. The results obtained from the present numerical model of the
structural contact without heat transfer are compared with those of
analytical, experimental and other numerical models. Then, the contact
problem was solved using a coupled thermo-mechanical model. Computational
results showed significant effects of thermal consideration in the
elastic-plastic contact problem. Large deformations of structure due to high
temperature are predicted using the thermo-mechanical model with
elastic-plastic deformations. This model is useful to predict deformations
on the structural components due to contact at high temperature situation.