  In this paper, we introduce a novel parallel contact algorithm designed to
run efficiently in High-Performance Computing based supercomputers. Particular
emphasis is put on its computational implementation in a multiphysics finite
element code. The algorithm is based on the method of partial Dirichlet-Neumann
boundary conditions and is capable to solve numerically a nonlinear contact
problem between rigid and deformable bodies in a whole parallel framework. Its
distinctive characteristic is that the contact is tackled as a coupled problem,
in which the contacting bodies are treated separately, in a staggered way.
Then, the coupling is performed through the exchange of boundary conditions at
the contact interface following a Gauss-Seidel strategy. To validate this
algorithm we conducted several benchmark tests by comparing the proposed
solution against theoretical and other numerical solutions. Finally, we
evaluated the parallel performance of the proposed algorithm in a real impact
test to show its capabilities for large-scale applications.
