diff --git a/src/shared/particle_dynamics/solid_dynamics/contact_dynamics/contact_repulsion.cpp b/src/shared/particle_dynamics/solid_dynamics/contact_dynamics/contact_repulsion.cpp
index e5d891b63d..20d9c27e5e 100644
--- a/src/shared/particle_dynamics/solid_dynamics/contact_dynamics/contact_repulsion.cpp
+++ b/src/shared/particle_dynamics/solid_dynamics/contact_dynamics/contact_repulsion.cpp
@@ -10,20 +10,20 @@ RepulsionForce<Contact<Inner<>>>::
     : RepulsionForce<Base, DataDelegateInner>(self_contact_relation, "SelfRepulsionForce"),
       ForcePrior(particles_, "SelfRepulsionForce"),
       solid_(DynamicCast<Solid>(this, sph_body_.getBaseMaterial())),
-      self_repulsion_density_(*particles_->getVariableDataByName<Real>("SelfRepulsionDensity")),
+      self_repulsion_factor_(*particles_->getVariableDataByName<Real>("SelfRepulsionFactor")),
       vel_(*particles_->getVariableDataByName<Vecd>("Velocity")),
       contact_impedance_(sqrt(solid_.ReferenceDensity() * solid_.ContactStiffness())) {}
 //=================================================================================================//
 void RepulsionForce<Contact<Inner<>>>::interaction(size_t index_i, Real dt)
 {
-    Real p_i = self_repulsion_density_[index_i] * solid_.ContactStiffness();
+    Real p_i = self_repulsion_factor_[index_i] * solid_.ContactStiffness();
     Vecd force = Vecd::Zero();
     const Neighborhood &inner_neighborhood = inner_configuration_[index_i];
     for (size_t n = 0; n != inner_neighborhood.current_size_; ++n)
     {
         size_t index_j = inner_neighborhood.j_[n];
         const Vecd &e_ij = inner_neighborhood.e_ij_[n];
-        Real p_star = 0.5 * (p_i + self_repulsion_density_[index_j] * solid_.ContactStiffness());
+        Real p_star = 0.5 * (p_i + self_repulsion_factor_[index_j] * solid_.ContactStiffness());
         Real impedance_p = 0.5 * contact_impedance_ * (vel_[index_i] - vel_[index_j]).dot(-e_ij);
         // force to mimic pressure
         force -= 2.0 * (p_star + impedance_p) * e_ij * inner_neighborhood.dW_ij_[n] * Vol_[index_j];
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ RepulsionForce<Contact<>>::RepulsionForce(BaseContactRelation &solid_body_contac
     : RepulsionForce<Base, DataDelegateContact>(solid_body_contact_relation, "RepulsionForce"),
       ForcePrior(particles_, "RepulsionForce"),
       solid_(DynamicCast<Solid>(this, sph_body_.getBaseMaterial())),
-      repulsion_density_(*particles_->getVariableDataByName<Real>("RepulsionDensity"))
+      repulsion_factor_(*particles_->getVariableDataByName<Real>("RepulsionFactor"))
 {
     const Real contact_stiffness_1 = solid_.ContactStiffness();
 
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ RepulsionForce<Contact<>>::RepulsionForce(BaseContactRelation &solid_body_contac
     {
         contact_solids_.push_back(&DynamicCast<Solid>(this, contact_bodies_[k]->getBaseMaterial()));
         contact_Vol_.push_back(contact_particles_[k]->getVariableDataByName<Real>("VolumetricMeasure"));
-        contact_contact_density_.push_back(contact_particles_[k]->getVariableDataByName<Real>("RepulsionDensity"));
+        contact_repulsion_factor_.push_back(contact_particles_[k]->getVariableDataByName<Real>("RepulsionFactor"));
 
         const Real contact_stiffness_k = contact_solids_[k]->ContactStiffness();
         contact_stiffness_ave_.push_back(2 * contact_stiffness_1 * contact_stiffness_k / (contact_stiffness_1 + contact_stiffness_k));
@@ -52,13 +52,13 @@ RepulsionForce<Contact<>>::RepulsionForce(BaseContactRelation &solid_body_contac
 //=================================================================================================//
 void RepulsionForce<Contact<>>::interaction(size_t index_i, Real dt)
 {
-    Real sigma_i = repulsion_density_[index_i];
+    Real sigma_i = repulsion_factor_[index_i];
     Vecd force = Vecd::Zero();
     for (size_t k = 0; k < contact_configuration_.size(); ++k)
     {
         Vecd force_k = Vecd::Zero();
 
-        StdLargeVec<Real> &contact_density_k = *(contact_contact_density_[k]);
+        StdLargeVec<Real> &contact_density_k = *(contact_repulsion_factor_[k]);
         StdLargeVec<Real> &Vol_k = *(contact_Vol_[k]);
 
         Neighborhood &contact_neighborhood = (*contact_configuration_[k])[index_i];
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ RepulsionForce<Contact<Wall>>::RepulsionForce(BaseContactRelation &solid_body_co
     : RepulsionForce<Base, DataDelegateContact>(solid_body_contact_relation, "RepulsionForce"),
       ForcePrior(particles_, "RepulsionForce"),
       solid_(DynamicCast<Solid>(this, sph_body_.getBaseMaterial())),
-      repulsion_density_(*particles_->getVariableDataByName<Real>("RepulsionDensity"))
+      repulsion_factor_(*particles_->getVariableDataByName<Real>("RepulsionFactor"))
 {
     for (size_t k = 0; k < this->contact_configuration_.size(); ++k)
     {
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ RepulsionForce<Contact<Wall>>::RepulsionForce(BaseContactRelation &solid_body_co
 //=================================================================================================//
 void RepulsionForce<Contact<Wall>>::interaction(size_t index_i, Real dt)
 {
-    Real p_i = repulsion_density_[index_i] * solid_.ContactStiffness();
+    Real p_i = repulsion_factor_[index_i] * solid_.ContactStiffness();
     /** Contact interaction. */
     Vecd force = Vecd::Zero();
     for (size_t k = 0; k < contact_configuration_.size(); ++k)
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ RepulsionForce<Wall, Contact<>>::RepulsionForce(BaseContactRelation &solid_body_
     {
         contact_solids_.push_back(&DynamicCast<Solid>(this, contact_bodies_[k]->getBaseMaterial()));
         contact_Vol_.push_back(contact_particles_[k]->getVariableDataByName<Real>("VolumetricMeasure"));
-        contact_contact_density_.push_back(contact_particles_[k]->getVariableDataByName<Real>("RepulsionDensity"));
+        contact_repulsion_factor_.push_back(contact_particles_[k]->getVariableDataByName<Real>("RepulsionFactor"));
     }
 }
 //=================================================================================================//
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ void RepulsionForce<Wall, Contact<>>::interaction(size_t index_i, Real dt)
     for (size_t k = 0; k < contact_configuration_.size(); ++k)
     {
         StdLargeVec<Real> &Vol_k = *(contact_Vol_[k]);
-        StdLargeVec<Real> &contact_density_k = *(contact_contact_density_[k]);
+        StdLargeVec<Real> &contact_density_k = *(contact_repulsion_factor_[k]);
         Solid *solid_k = contact_solids_[k];
 
         Neighborhood &contact_neighborhood = (*contact_configuration_[k])[index_i];
diff --git a/src/shared/particle_dynamics/solid_dynamics/contact_dynamics/contact_repulsion.h b/src/shared/particle_dynamics/solid_dynamics/contact_dynamics/contact_repulsion.h
index db6155f560..762e48da58 100644
--- a/src/shared/particle_dynamics/solid_dynamics/contact_dynamics/contact_repulsion.h
+++ b/src/shared/particle_dynamics/solid_dynamics/contact_dynamics/contact_repulsion.h
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ class RepulsionForce<Contact<Inner<>>> : public RepulsionForce<Base, DataDelegat
 
   protected:
     Solid &solid_;
-    StdLargeVec<Real> &self_repulsion_density_;
+    StdLargeVec<Real> &self_repulsion_factor_;
     StdLargeVec<Vecd> &vel_;
     Real contact_impedance_;
 };
@@ -84,10 +84,10 @@ class RepulsionForce<Contact<>> : public RepulsionForce<Base, DataDelegateContac
 
   protected:
     Solid &solid_;
-    StdLargeVec<Real> &repulsion_density_;
+    StdLargeVec<Real> &repulsion_factor_;
     StdVec<Solid *> contact_solids_;
     StdVec<Real> contact_stiffness_ave_;
-    StdVec<StdLargeVec<Real> *> contact_contact_density_, contact_Vol_;
+    StdVec<StdLargeVec<Real> *> contact_repulsion_factor_, contact_Vol_;
 };
 using ContactForce = RepulsionForce<Contact<>>;
 
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ class RepulsionForce<Contact<Wall>> : public RepulsionForce<Base, DataDelegateCo
 
   protected:
     Solid &solid_;
-    StdLargeVec<Real> &repulsion_density_;
+    StdLargeVec<Real> &repulsion_factor_;
     StdVec<StdLargeVec<Real> *> contact_Vol_;
 };
 using ContactForceFromWall = RepulsionForce<Contact<Wall>>;
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ class RepulsionForce<Wall, Contact<>> : public RepulsionForce<Base, DataDelegate
 
   protected:
     StdVec<Solid *> contact_solids_;
-    StdVec<StdLargeVec<Real> *> contact_contact_density_, contact_Vol_;
+    StdVec<StdLargeVec<Real> *> contact_repulsion_factor_, contact_Vol_;
 };
 using ContactForceToWall = RepulsionForce<Wall, Contact<>>;
 } // namespace solid_dynamics
diff --git a/src/shared/particle_dynamics/solid_dynamics/contact_dynamics/repulsion_density_summation.cpp b/src/shared/particle_dynamics/solid_dynamics/contact_dynamics/repulsion_density_summation.cpp
index ff52379f6c..ef2746a3c0 100644
--- a/src/shared/particle_dynamics/solid_dynamics/contact_dynamics/repulsion_density_summation.cpp
+++ b/src/shared/particle_dynamics/solid_dynamics/contact_dynamics/repulsion_density_summation.cpp
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ namespace solid_dynamics
 //=================================================================================================//
 RepulsionDensitySummation<Inner<>>::
     RepulsionDensitySummation(SelfSurfaceContactRelation &self_contact_relation)
-    : RepulsionDensitySummation<Base, DataDelegateInner>(self_contact_relation, "SelfRepulsionDensity")
+    : RepulsionDensitySummation<Base, DataDelegateInner>(self_contact_relation, "SelfRepulsionFactor")
 {
     Real dp_1 = self_contact_relation.getSPHBody().sph_adaptation_->ReferenceSpacing();
     offset_W_ij_ = self_contact_relation.getSPHBody().sph_adaptation_->getKernel()->W(dp_1, ZeroVecd);
@@ -22,12 +22,12 @@ void RepulsionDensitySummation<Inner<>>::interaction(size_t index_i, Real dt)
         Real corrected_W_ij = std::max(inner_neighborhood.W_ij_[n] - offset_W_ij_, Real(0));
         sigma += corrected_W_ij * particles_->ParticleVolume(inner_neighborhood.j_[n]);
     }
-    repulsion_density_[index_i] = sigma;
+    repulsion_factor_[index_i] = sigma;
 }
 //=================================================================================================//
 RepulsionDensitySummation<Contact<>>::
     RepulsionDensitySummation(SurfaceContactRelation &solid_body_contact_relation)
-    : RepulsionDensitySummation<Base, DataDelegateContact>(solid_body_contact_relation, "RepulsionDensity")
+    : RepulsionDensitySummation<Base, DataDelegateContact>(solid_body_contact_relation, "RepulsionFactor")
 {
 }
 //=================================================================================================//
@@ -44,11 +44,11 @@ void RepulsionDensitySummation<Contact<>>::interaction(size_t index_i, Real dt)
             sigma += contact_neighborhood.W_ij_[n] * contact_particles_[k]->ParticleVolume(contact_neighborhood.j_[n]);
         }
     }
-    repulsion_density_[index_i] = sigma;
+    repulsion_factor_[index_i] = sigma;
 };
 //=================================================================================================//
 ShellContactDensity::ShellContactDensity(ShellSurfaceContactRelation &solid_body_contact_relation)
-    : RepulsionDensitySummation<Base, DataDelegateContact>(solid_body_contact_relation, "RepulsionDensity"),
+    : RepulsionDensitySummation<Base, DataDelegateContact>(solid_body_contact_relation, "RepulsionFactor"),
       solid_(DynamicCast<Solid>(this, sph_body_.getBaseMaterial())),
       kernel_(solid_body_contact_relation.getSPHBody().sph_adaptation_->getKernel()),
       particle_spacing_(solid_body_contact_relation.getSPHBody().sph_adaptation_->ReferenceSpacing())
@@ -97,11 +97,11 @@ void ShellContactDensity::interaction(size_t index_i, Real dt)
         // to maintain enough contact pressure to prevent penetration while also maintaining stability.
         contact_density_i += heuristic_limiter * sigma * calibration_factor_[k];
     }
-    repulsion_density_[index_i] = contact_density_i;
+    repulsion_factor_[index_i] = contact_density_i;
 }
 //=================================================================================================//
 ShellSelfContactDensitySummation::ShellSelfContactDensitySummation(ShellSelfContactRelation &self_contact_relation)
-    : RepulsionDensitySummation<Base, DataDelegateInner>(self_contact_relation, "SelfRepulsionDensity")
+    : RepulsionDensitySummation<Base, DataDelegateInner>(self_contact_relation, "SelfRepulsionFactor")
 {
 }
 //=================================================================================================//
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ void ShellSelfContactDensitySummation::interaction(size_t index_i, Real dt)
     const Neighborhood &inner_neighborhood = inner_configuration_[index_i];
     for (size_t n = 0; n != inner_neighborhood.current_size_; ++n)
         sigma += inner_neighborhood.W_ij_[n] * particles_->ParticleVolume(inner_neighborhood.j_[n]);
-    repulsion_density_[index_i] = sigma;
+    repulsion_factor_[index_i] = sigma;
 }
 //=================================================================================================//
 } // namespace solid_dynamics
diff --git a/src/shared/particle_dynamics/solid_dynamics/contact_dynamics/repulsion_density_summation.h b/src/shared/particle_dynamics/solid_dynamics/contact_dynamics/repulsion_density_summation.h
index 6317886e28..b348e318c6 100644
--- a/src/shared/particle_dynamics/solid_dynamics/contact_dynamics/repulsion_density_summation.h
+++ b/src/shared/particle_dynamics/solid_dynamics/contact_dynamics/repulsion_density_summation.h
@@ -48,11 +48,11 @@ class RepulsionDensitySummation<Base, DataDelegationType>
     template <class BaseRelationType>
     RepulsionDensitySummation(BaseRelationType &base_relation, const std::string &variable_name)
         : LocalDynamics(base_relation.getSPHBody()), DataDelegationType(base_relation),
-          repulsion_density_(*this->particles_->template registerSharedVariable<Real>(variable_name)){};
+          repulsion_factor_(*this->particles_->template registerSharedVariable<Real>(variable_name)){};
     virtual ~RepulsionDensitySummation(){};
 
   protected:
-    StdLargeVec<Real> &repulsion_density_;
+    StdLargeVec<Real> &repulsion_factor_;
 };
 
 template <>
diff --git a/tests/2d_examples/test_2d_self_contact/self_contact.cpp b/tests/2d_examples/test_2d_self_contact/self_contact.cpp
index 7ba8bcc9c5..02eac17fcb 100644
--- a/tests/2d_examples/test_2d_self_contact/self_contact.cpp
+++ b/tests/2d_examples/test_2d_self_contact/self_contact.cpp
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ int main(int ac, char *av[])
     //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
     IOEnvironment io_environment(sph_system);
     BodyStatesRecordingToVtp write_beam_states(beam_body);
-    write_beam_states.addToWrite<Real>(beam_body, "SelfRepulsionDensity");
+    write_beam_states.addToWrite<Real>(beam_body, "SelfRepulsionFactor");
     RegressionTestDynamicTimeWarping<ObservedQuantityRecording<Vecd>>
         write_beam_tip_displacement("Position", beam_observer_contact);
     //-----------------------------------------------------------------------------