1. A method, comprising: generating a first simulated object, in a computer system, represented by line finite elements each comprising two or more nodes that represent a first physical object, the first simulated object comprising a plurality of segments placed adjacent to each other to form a surface of the first simulated object; generating a second simulated object that represents a second physical object, the second simulated object comprising a plurality of segments placed adjacent to each other to form a surface of the second simulated object; determining a distance between individual segments of the first simulated object and the plurality of segments of either the first or the second simulated object; determining a stiffness matrix for at least one segment of the first simulated object that is in contact with at least one segment of the second simulated object when the at least one segment of the first simulated object is in contact with the at least one segment of the second simulated object; determining a force vector for the at least one segment of the first simulated object that is in contact with at least one segment of the second simulated object when the at least one segment of the first simulated object is in contact with the at least one segment of the second simulated object; and converting the stiffness matrix and the force vector from the at least one segment of the first simulated object and the at least one segment of the second simulated object to determine a stiffness matrix and a force vector on the two or more nodes of the line finite element representation of the first and second physical objects.