Starting LS-Dyna

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Turgut ŞAHİN

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Feb 22, 2026, 11:35:47 AM (3 days ago) Feb 22
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Hello,

I am a material science and engineering student in Turkiye and I want to learn and use LS-Dyna for my licence thesis it's about metallic foam fast defermation and/or blast analysis where should can I start?

I am good at Ansys Structural, CFD and I have used AutoDyne once in  a project so I'm familliar with FEA.

May you suggest me documents and tutorials which I can learn zero to advance?

Thanks
Turgut.

James Kennedy

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Feb 22, 2026, 2:33:36 PM (3 days ago) Feb 22
to Turgut ŞAHİN, ls-d...@googlegroups.com

Dear Turgut,

 

Perhaps a bit old, however, much still can be learned from these notes.

 

----------------------------------------------

 

For those who day “I  am new to LS-DYNA and new to FEM”. You

need proper training in understanding FEM and LS-DYNA if you are

going to be able to perform any reasonable LS-DYNA studies. These

are not simple subjects that can be picked at the drop of a hat.

 

----------------------------------------------

First of all, I believe that you will find LS-DYNA much easier to
understand and use if you have a good background in nonlinear finite
element analysis and explicit integration methods. I recommend the
following book to address these two thoughts:

Nonlinear Finite Elements for Continua and Structures by Ted Belytschko,
Wing Kam Liu, and Brian Moran

Taken from Back Cover of Book:

This book provides a comprehensive description of the major methodologies
of nonlinear finite element analysis for solid mechanics, as applied to
continua and structures. Treatment of the subject is integrated in such
a way that the reader can gain an understanding of the fundamental methods,
a feeling for the comparative usefulness of different approaches and an
appreciation of the difficulties inherent in nonlinear analysis. In-depth
coverage of the following is given:

* Lagrangian and arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian treatments of continua
* many of the material laws used in today's software and research
* solution methods, including explicit and implicit time integration
methods and methods for equilibrium problems
* basic concepts such as stability and smoothness, and techniques such
as linearization and regularization
* methods for shells and structures
* contact-impact problems
* element technology, including multi-field elements

Ideal for self-study, no other book provides such a comprehensive
description of nonlinear finite element analysis for solid mechanics.
This is an invaluable reference not only for final year undergraduates,
postgraduates, academics and engineers working on sophisticated finite
element software and in the field of solid mechanics, but also for all
users of nonlinear finite element programs.

 

-----------------------------------------------

 

LS-PrePost is an advanced pre and post-processor that is delivered free

with LS-DYNA. The user interface is designed to be both efficient and

intuitive. LS-PrePost runs on Windows, Linux, and Unix utilizing OpenGL

graphics to achieve fast rendering and XY plotting. The latest builds can

be downloaded from LSTC's FTP Site.

 

http://www.lstc.com/lspp/

http://ftp.lstc.com/anonymous/outgoing/lsprepost/4.3/

 

LS-DYNA, developed by Livermore Software Technology Corp. (LSTC),

is a multi-purpose explicit and implicit finite element program (a solver)

used to analyze the nonlinear response of structures. Its fully automated

contact analysis and wide range of material models enable users worldwide

to solve complex real world problems.

 

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.

 

A license (obtained from your local distributor or LSTC) is required to

run the LS-DYNA software. Customer support should be available if

you are having trouble installing the software or obtaining information

to request a password.

 

-----------------------------------------------

 

Some simple examples to get started:

 

http://ftp.lstc.com/anonymous/outgoing/trent001/manuals/getting-started/GettingStarted.pdf

http://www.dynasupport.com/tutorial/getting-started-with-ls-dyna/getting-started

 

-----------------------------------------------

 

Introductions to LS-DYNA.

-----------------------------------------------

 

An introduction to LS-DYNA covering general work with different

solvers, LS-DYNA capabilities and keyword file structure plus an

introduction to LS-PrePost presenting layout, pre-processing, post-

processing, special features, and composite tool:

 

Forsberg, J., "Short Introduction to LS-DYNA and LS-PrePost",

DYNAmore Nordic, Linköping, Sweden, September, 2013.

 

http://www.solid.iei.liu.se/Education/TMHL19/intro_lsdyna_lsprepost.pdf

-----------------------------------------------

 

A collection of slides from a two day class edited for print.  It is 366

pages in 18 different chapters showing the most needed commands. 

LS-PrePost is used throughout the booklet to illustrate how the

commands can be applied in LS-PrePost. A CD is included which

contains 27 different exercises with answer sheets both for print and for

reading.  The booklet is for new users that want to get started quickly. A

further description of the booklet and some sample pages can be found in

the link below:

 

Jensen, M.R., "Getting Started with LS-DYNA - Course Notes", Livermore

Software Technology, Livermore , California , 366 pages, April, 2012.

 

For purchase/order, contact al...@lstc.com.  For information, contact

in...@lstc.com (please enter in subject line - Author, Morten Jensen).

-----------------------------------------------

 

This book guides the user step by step to solve problems of diverse

nature using LS-PREPOST and LS-DYNA.  A set of 13 solved examples

have been presented with clear instructions in such a manner that the

beginners can easily equip themselves with a deep knowledge of LS-

PREPOST and LS-DYNA.  This book is especially designed to help the

undergraduate and post graduate engineering students in the fields of

mechanical, manufacturing, and other related fields.  Practicing engineers

who are going to solve transient dynamic problems in engineering would

find this book extremely helpful:

 

Shah, Q.H., and Abid, H.M., "From LS-PrePost to LS-DYNA: An

Introduction", Lambert Academic Publishing, 132 pages, July, 2011.

 

http://www.amazon.com/FROM-LS-PREPOST-LS-DYNA-INTRODUCTION-Beginners/dp/3845409517

 

This book guides a beginner by presenting a step by step procedure to

Solve problems of diverse nature using LS-PrePost and LS-Dyna.  A lot

of necessary information is contained in 18 chapters that would enable

the engineers to solve various problems.  This book is especially designed

to help the senior undergraduate and post graduate engineering students

in the field of mechanical, manufacturing and civil engineering to facilitate

them in their research projects:

 

Shah, Q.H., and Abid, H.M., "LS-DYNA for Beginners: An Insight into

LS-PrePost and LS-DYNA", Lambert Academic Publishing, 152 pages,

April, 2012.

 

http://www.amazon.com/LS-DYNA-Beginners-insight-Ls-Prepost-Ls-Dyna/dp/3846556777

 

------------------------------------------------


I would "highly" suggest that ALL attend an Introductory Class to
learn to use all the LS-DYNA features easily. There are many different
people/organizations all over the world providing this service. I
suggest that you contact LSTC or your local distributor for someone
that is near where you live/work.

http://www.lstc.com/pages/classes.htm

http://www.arup.com/dyna/training/training.htm

http://www.gisseta.com/gisseta3.html

http://www.jlrcom.com/ansys/ls-dyna

http://www.dynamax-inc.com/services.htm

In Germany, I suggest contacting DYNAmore (they offer many classes):

 

https://www.dynamore.de/en/training/seminars


----------------------------------------------

A relatively new LS-DYNA training option (for a fee) is now becoming more
readily available with "online" courses and training being offered. Among
these are:

http://lsdyna-online.com/

http://www.courseforme.com/online-ls-dyna-training-3003.html

 

----------------------------------------------

 

As I have often stated, please remember that LS-DYNA always leads

LS-PrePost and is the solver, thus LS-PrePost may not help you regarding

issues such as this. I always recommend that you first learn to use the

LS-DYNA User’s Manual if you want the most up to date information.

 

 -----------------------------------------------

 

Nearly all the necessary manuals can be downloaded from here:

 

http://www.lstc.com/download/manuals

 

Over 500 examples can be downloaded from here:

 

https://www.dynaexamples.com/

 

The site presents papers from the European and International LS-DYNA User Conferences

and papers provided by other users. 2265 papers are available.

 

https://www.dynalook.com/

 

 -----------------------------------------------

 

Sincerely,

James M. Kennedy

KBS2 Inc.

February 22, 2026

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