Characteristics[edit]

LS-DYNA consists of a single executable file and is entirely command-line driven. Therefore, all that is required to run LS-DYNA is a command
shell, the executable, an input file, and enough free disk space to run the calculation. All input files are in simple ASCII format and thus can be
prepared using any text editor. Input files can also be prepared with the aid of a graphical preprocessor. There are many third-party software
products available for preprocessing LS-DYNA input files. LSTC also develops its own preprocessor, LS-PrePost, which is freely distributed and
runs without a license. Licensees of LS-DYNA automatically have access to all of the program's capabilities, from simple linear static mechanical
analysis up to advanced thermal and flow solving methods. Furthermore, they have full use of LSTC's LS-OPT software, a standalone design
optimization and probabilistic analysis package with an interface to LS-DYNA.

Capabilities[edit]
LS-DYNA's potential applications are numerous and can be tailored to many fields. LS-DYNA is not limited to any particular type of simulation. In
a given simulation, any of LS-DYNA's many features can be combined to model a wide variety of physical events. An example of a simulation that
involves a unique combination of features is the NASA JPL Mars Pathfinder landing which simulated the space probe's use of airbags to aid in its
landing.

LS-DYNA's analysis capabilities:

 Full 2D & 3D capabilities

 Nonlinear dynamics
 Rigid body dynamics
 Quasi-static simulations
 Normal modes
 Linear statics
 Thermal analysis
 Fluid analysis
 Eulerian capabilities
 ALE (Arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian)
 FSI (Fluid-Structure Interaction)
 Navier-Stokes fluids
 Compressible fluid solver, CESE (Conservation Element & Solution Element)
 FEM-rigid multi-body dynamics coupling (MADYMO, Cal3D)
 Underwater shock
 Failure analysis
 Crack propagation
 Real-time acoustics
 Implicit springback
 Multi-physics coupling
 Structural-thermal coupling
 Adaptive remeshing
 SPH (Smoothed particle hydrodynamics)
 DEM (Discrete element method)
 EFG (Element Free Galerkin)
 Radiation transport
 EM (Electromagnetism)

Material Library[edit]
LS-DYNA's comprehensive library of material models:

 Metals
 Plastics
 Glass
 Foams
 Fabrics
 Elastomers
 Honeycombs
 Concrete & soils
 Viscous fluids
 User-defined materials

Element Library[edit]
Some of the element types available in LS-DYNA:

 Beams (standard, trusses, discrete, cables, and welds) (with over 10 beam element formulations)
 Discrete Elements (Springs and Dampers)
 Lumped Inertias
 Lumped Masses
 Accelerometers
 Sensors
 Seat Belts
 Pretensioners
 Retractors
 Sliprings
 Shells (3, 4, 6, and 8-node including 3D shells, membranes, 2D plane stress, plane strain, and axisymmetric solids) (with over 25 shell
element formulations)
 Solids (4 and 10-node tetrahedrons, 6-node pentahedrons, and 8-node hexahedrons) (with over 20 solid element formulations)
 SPH Elements
 Thick Shells (8-node)

Contact Algorithms[edit]
LS-DYNA's contact algorithms:

 Flexible body contact

 Flexible body to rigid body contact
 Rigid body to rigid body contact
 Edge-to-edge contact
 Eroding contact
 Tied surfaces
 CAD surfaces
 Rigid walls
 Draw beads