Is there any way to assign element based surface for 2D shell element??

I am trying to simulate 2D metal cutting simulation using surface to surface contact in dynamic explicit model. But what I am seeing is.. there is no contact between workpiece surface with failed element (i.e. Chips) which reduces the force value during simulation.

In 3D simulation for 3D stress element (C3D8R), I can do element based surface by editing the input file. Is there any such way in 2D shell element (say CPE4R) also? Please help