An updated fast continuous contact detection algorithm and its implementation in case study of ice-structure interaction by peridynamics

Peridynamics is a mesh-free particle method that has been proposed in the last two decades. Contact between bodies in Peridynamics is a challenging and critical phenomenon that not only affects the computational efficiency of the algorithm, but is also closely related to the accuracy of the calculations. Therefore, it is important to develop a contact detection algorithm that is efficient, accurate, easy to extend to coupled numerical methods, and conducive to parallel computation. This study proposes a fast and continuous contact detection algorithm (FCCDA) that consists of two main parts. The first involves establishing a regular box bounding the entire target of collision to avoid the unnecessary calculation of material points that are not in contact with it, where this critically reduces the number of time-consuming calculations. The second part is a graphics-based algorithm to identify specific particles that penetrate the target. Both the numerical strategies and the mathematical methodologies of the FCCDA are discussed here. It was embedded into a Peridynamics system and examined in the context of a benchmark case for verification. Ship–ice interaction and propeller–ice interaction are also demonstrated using the proposed algorithm as examples of its applications to engineering.