Good to know about LS-Dyna

Before you start a simulation make sure that you have:

• Made a new folder with the command: mkdir foldername
• Copied or moved your key-file and k-files to this folder.
- Copy command: cp file to_folder
- Move command: mv old_file_location new_file_location

Start in a terminal window with the command: ls-dyna i=infile.key

Paus with: ctrl-C

• to kill your simulation write: sw1
• to get status and continue write: sw2

During the simulation information will continuously be written in the terminal window every
time data is writen in one of the output files. Also, when the simulations terminates information
is given whether it is a normal termination or an error termination.

Output files:
d3plot, d3plot01, d3plot02 … binary files that contain data for viewing the
simulation in LS-Prepost.
d3hsp contains a lot of data about your model and
simulation, for example masses.
glstat global data (energies)
rbdout rigid body data (head accelerations)
deforc discrete element data (neck joint moment)
jntforc joint data (neck joint force)
See the manual for more output file options (*DATABASE_)

After a simulation always:

• Study your results in LS-Prepost.
• Open the d3hsp file in Emacs or any other text editor. In this file you should at least
check the following:
- Compare the smallest time step to the critical time step for the contacts.
- Make sure that the masses of different parts seems realistic.

The manuals are available on www.syd.kth.se/neuronik/4E1150/ under Downloads.

There is a keyword manual, an examples manual and a theory manual.
Good to know about LS-Prepost

Start and open the graphical interface with the command: ls-prepost
To open a key-file: File > Open > Keyword
To open a d3plot-file: File > Open > Binary (chose: d3plot)
The lower menu lets you change view of the model (for example rotate, zoom in & out, and
change background color) as well as control how the animation is played (start, stop, reverse…).
The top right menu lets you chose how to show results and depending on what you chose the
bottom right menu will adapt so that you can make your selections. The most useful commands
from these menus are (from top left to bottom right):
Follow The motion follows a node or plane, that is fix on the screen.
Trace Draws a line tracing the motion of nodes during animation.
SPlane Splits the model along a plane to show the animation of a cross
section of the model.
Range Chose between a dynamic or static color bar for displaying data that
is use with Fcomp.
Vector Display data as arrows, for example velocity.
Measure Measure coordinates, angles and so on.
Find Find and highlight an element or node by entering its number.
ASCII Plot and view data from the ascii output files (glstat, rbdout, deforc,
jntforc…)
Fcomp Displays the results as color fringes on model, for example von
mises stress or strain. Adjust scale with Range.
Color Change color of the model parts.
Model Change between several models/simulations that you have opened.
Blank Blank a part or some elements so that they do not show on the
screen.
SelPart Select what parts to show on the screen.
Save an image: File > Print…
In the window that shows up chose:
- Print to file / Skriv till fil.
- File type (jpg, tif or gif).
- If you want to invert the background or not.
Make a movie: File > Movie…
In the window that shows up do not change anything but the file name.
Press Start. It may take some time to make the movie and it is
important that the window on the screen is not covered during this
process. The movie is based on a screen dump so anything that enter the
“movie window” will show up on your movie and obscure your model.

The manual is available on www.syd.kth.se/neuronik/4E1150/ under Downloads.