Converting

g an
ANSYS Database to
/
y
an ANSYS/LS-Dyna
Database
Steve Hale
CAE Associates, Inc.

CAE Associates Inc. and ANSYS Inc. Proprietary

2012 CAE Associates Inc. and ANSYS Inc. All rights reserved.

Step 1: Convert Elements

Convert the Elements from Implicit to Explicit :

If only implicit companion elements were used, issue the ETCHG, ITE
command to convert the implicit elements to their explicit counterparts:

Preprocessor > Element Type > Switch Elem Type > Implic to Explic

NOTE: ANSYS quadratic element types cannot be converted (except for

higher-order tet elements (SOLID187))
Implicit LINK8

=>

Explicit LINK160

Implicit BEAM4

=>

Explicit BEAM161

Implicit SHELL181

=>

Explicit SHELL163

Implicit SOLID185

=>

Explicit SOLID164

Implicit SOLID187

=>

Explicit SOLID168

Implicit COMBIN14

=>
>

Explicit COMBI165

Implicit MASS21

=>

Explicit MASS166

Implicit LINK10

=>

Explicit LINK167

Step 1: Convert Elements

Most converted element types do not require any modifications

modifications. However
However,
there are some exceptions.

Experience has shown that the 10-noded tet element type (SOLID168)
d
does
nott perform
f
wellll iin contact.
t t

Does not calculate contact pressure accurately.

Recommendation: Edit the *SECTION_SOLID command in the LS-Dyna input

f to use element formulation
file
f
17 instead off 16 (default).
( f
)
Change the ELFORM option to type 17
This formulation calculates contact and applied pressures accurately.

Can also use a 4-noded tet: Tet type 13

Much faster than Solid168s and about 25% slower than Tet type 10
Contact pressures are calculated correctly.
Mesh as Solid164 elements using tet shapes.
Edit the *SECTION_SOLID command in the LS-Dyna input file to include these.
Change the ELFORM option to define the element type

Step 1: Convert Elements

The SHELL163 element type should also be

evaluated.

This element type has 20 different element formulations

((*SECTION
SECTION_SHELL).
SHELL). Key ones include:

Belytschko-Tsay (BT, KEYOPT(1)=0 or 2, default):

Simple shell element

Very fast (relative cost = 1.0)

1 0)

Used extensively in crashworthiness analyses

Valid for small shear strains, large rotations

Wrong results for warping/torsion too flexible

Poor results for in-plane shear deformations > 5%

Belytschko-Wong-Chiang (BWC, KEYOPT(1)=10):

Relative cost = 1.28 * BT

Correct results for warped shells and torsion

Poor results for in-plane shear deformations > 5%

Step 1: Convert Elements

General Element Guidelines:

Avoid small elements whenever possible as they will significantly reduce the time step
size, thereby increasing the run time.

Minimize
Mi
i i th
the use off d
degenerate
t llower-order
d ttriangular/tetrahedron/prism
i
l /t t h d / i
elements.
l
t
Although these elements are supported, they are not very accurate.

Minimize the use of Solid168 higher-order tetrahedral elements because they can
significantly increase run times AND are not accurate at contact interfaces.
Consider using alternate tetrahedral element types if brick meshing is too difficult.

Avoid acute angled elements and warped shells, as they will degrade the accuracy of
the results.

Fully integrated elements can be defined in regions of a model where hourglass

control is needed.
However, volumetric locking (due to Poissons ratios approaching 0.5) and shear locking (e.g.,
in the bending of a simply supported beam) are possible with fully integrated brick elements.
Shear locking becomes worse with high aspect ratios.

Step 2: Assign Hourglass Control

Hourglass modes are nonphysical

nonphysical, zero-energy modes of deformation that
produce zero strain and no stress.

Hourglass modes typically have no stiffness and give a zigzag deformation

appearance to a mesh
mesh.

Single-point (reduced) integration elements are prone to hourglassing.

The occurrence of hourglass

g
deformations in an analysis
y can invalidate results
and should be minimized.
Why? Hourglassing will influence stiffness and mass distribution which can lead to
inaccuracies in the deformation, stress, and strain solutions.

Step 2: Assign Hourglass Control

Minimizing hourglassing in ANSYS/LS-DYNA

Avoid single point loads, which are known to excite hourglass modes. Try to
distribute loads over several elements as pressures.

Avoid poorly-shaped elements and elements with high aspect ratios, which are
more susceptible to hourglassing.

Use hourglass controls (viscous or stiffness):

Solution > Analysis Options > Hourglass Ctrls > Local

VAL1 = 3 iis usually

ll th
the
most effective method for
high speed transients

VAL1 = 5 is usuallyy the

most effective method for
low speed transients

VAL1 = 1 is the default

Step 3: Assign Material Models/Properties

Advanced material modeling capabilities

Metals

Concrete

Foam

Polymers

Rubber

Ceramics

Soil, Sand

Fluid, gas

Others: Biological tissue, wood, airbags, explosives

Material models can include strain-rate

dependency, plasticity, equations of state,
nonlinear elasticity, and other complex behaviors.

LS-Dyna
LS
D
contains
t i over 150 diff
differentt material
t i l
models.

Many of the material models require numerous

parameters
parameters.

Strain-Rate
S
i
Dependent
d
Properties of Ti-6Al-4V

Step 3: Assign Material Models/Properties

Available ANSYS/LS-DYNA material models include:

Step 4: Create LS-Dyna Parts

A Part is a g
group
p of elements that have the same combination of element type,
yp , real
constant set, and material reference numbers.

Typically, a Part is a specific component within a model.

Each Part is given a Part ID number which can be used in various ANSYS/LS
ANSYS/LS-DYNA
DYNA
commands.

The following are some tasks that can use Part IDs:

Defining or deleting contact (EDCGEN and EDDC)

Defining rigid body loads, constraints, inertia properties, or assemblies (EDLOAD,

EDCRB, EDIPART, and EDASMP)

Apply initial velocities (EDPV)

Applying damping to a component within a model (EDDAMP)

Example:

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Step 5: Apply Loads and Constraints

Unlike an implicit static analysis

analysis, an explicit dynamic analysis must
have all loads applied as a function of time. The load step concept
of general ANSYS does not apply.
Because of the time dependence, many
standard ANSYS loading commands
((e.g.,
g F and SF)) are not valid in
ANSYS/LS-DYNA.

FORCE

TIME

There is a unique procedure for applying

loads in an explicit dynamic analysis
using two array parameters. One array is
for the time values and the other array is
for the loading condition.

The D command cannot be used to apply loads because it is not time

dependent in nature. It can only be used to apply nodal restraints
((fixed zero displacements).
p
)

11

Step 5: Apply Loads and Constraints

Define array parameters for time and

load:

Loads are applied over a specific time

interval. The times and their
corresponding load values are defined
in array parameters (*DIM and *SET):

Utility Menu > Parameters > Array

Parameters > Define/Edit > Add

Apply Loads:

Once the nodal component and array

parameters have been defined, the
load can be applied to the model
using the EDLOAD command:

Solution > Loading Options > Specify

Loads

Now select the desired load type, the

component or part on which to apply
the load, and the time/load vectors
(parameters):

12

Step 5: Apply Loads and Constraints

Initial velocity (EDVEL) cam be used to simulate free motion instead

of ramping on a load to generate the motion.

Preprocessor > LS-DYNA Options > Initial Velocity

Fixed Displacements:

Solution > Constraints > Apply > On Nodes (etc.)

The D command can only be used to apply zero displacements (both
translational and rotational) to nodes
nodes. As previously noted
noted, non
non-zero
zero
displacements are applied with the EDLOAD command.
13

Step 6: Define Contact

The three basic steps in defining contact within ANSYS/LS-DYNA

ANSYS/LS DYNA are:

Select the contact model that best simulates your physical system

Identify the contact entities (Not required for single surface contact)

Define the contact and any additional input parameters required

Select the contact model and friction:

For most analyses, the automatic single surface (ASSC), automatic general (AG), nodes-to-surface
(NTS), and surface-to-surface (STS) contact models are recommended. They are very robust and
cover most applications.
pp

The Surface-to-Surface (STS) contact model is the closest model to the standard surface-to-surface
contact type in ANSYS implicit.

Additional information can be found in the ANSYS/LS-Dyna Users Guide

Note: The Automatic Surface

Surface-to-Surface
to Surface contact model is recommended for shell contact
contact.

Identifyy the contact entities:

Contact and target surfaces can be defined with nodal components or Part numbers.
14

Step 7: Define Solution Controls

Specify the termination time (analysis transient time):

The termination time is the actual time for which the physical process is being
simulated. In an explicit dynamic analysis, this time is usually of very short
duration often on the order of milliseconds.
Solution > Time Controls > Solution Time

15

Step 7: Define Solution Controls

Specify the results output and restart frequency:

Solution > Output Controls > File Output Freq

The frequency for which results and restart files are written is based on the
number of desired data sets or the actual time interval desired

The EDHTIME field specifies how often are written to the time history file
(Jobname.HIS or d3thdt).
This is useful for writing results at a higher frequency for a small subset of the
model. The nodal subset for which results are written to this file is specified as
follows:
Solution > Output Controls > Select Component

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