| Avoid | Because |
| :--- | :--- |
| Outdated YouTube playlists (pre-2015) | Keywords like *CONTACT_..._SURFACE_TO_SURFACE have changed. Old syntax may fail. |
| Pirated .k files from random forums | They often have corrupted keywords or unrealistic material models. |
| Starting with a full car model | You will drown. Start with a single cube hitting a plate. |
| Using *CONTACT_..._AUTOMATIC_... without understanding SLSFAC | Contact stiffness controls stability. Wrong values = exploding model. |
Would you like a direct link to the LS-DYNA Example Problems Manual PDF or the LS-PrePost download page?
Finding free, high-quality LS-DYNA tutorials is easiest through a mix of official Ansys resources, academic support sites, and dedicated YouTube channels. Since LS-DYNA is now an Ansys product, many "official" learning paths are hosted on their academic portals. 1. Official Ansys Academic Resources
Ansys provides structured, professional-grade educational content for students and researchers. Ansys LS-DYNA Student Version
: You can download a free student version of the software, which includes the solver and pre/post-processors. LS-DYNA Introductory Tutorials
: A comprehensive guide covering meshing, keyword setup, and running simulations with LS-Run and LS-PrePost. Learning Tracks & Webinars
: Targeted at engineering education, these cover concepts like explicit dynamics and real-world applications like impact and crashworthiness. 2. Comprehensive Example Databases
For those who learn by doing, these repositories offer thousands of ready-to-run models. Welcome to LS-DYNA Examples
For those looking to learn for free, there are several high-quality resources ranging from official student versions of the software to comprehensive video tutorials and manuals. 1. Free Software & Official Learning
Before starting tutorials, you can access the software for free through academic versions: Ansys LS-DYNA Student Version
: Ansys provides a free version for students and self-learners for educational use. This version includes the solver and Ansys LS-PrePost , which is the standard free pre- and post-processor. Ansys Learning Library
: This portal contains official knowledge articles, examples, and learning tracks for LS-DYNA. LS-DYNA Support Tutorials
: Provides a suite of tutorials designed to get new users up and running with both explicit and implicit analysis. 2. Video Tutorial Series (Beginner to Advanced)
YouTube is home to structured playlists that walk through specific simulation setups:
Finding high-quality free LS-DYNA tutorials is essential because the software has a notoriously steep learning curve and relies heavily on "tribal knowledge" within the engineering community. Top Recommended Free Resources
Dynaexamples.com: This is widely considered the gold standard for self-study.
Review: It provides approximately 30 example packages created by experts like James Kennedy. These are the same examples used in paid introductory seminars, making them highly professional.
Best For: Learning specific simulation types (crash, impact, thermal) by downloading and reverse-engineering keyword files.
LS-DYNA Support & Tutorials (Ansys): Official suite of tutorials for new users.
Review: Excellent for learning the integration between LS-DYNA and LS-PrePost. It covers both explicit and implicit analysis and is designed for university-level instruction. ls dyna tutorials free
Best For: Beginners who need a structured introduction to model setup and solving.
Dynamore Nordic (Student Tutorials): Specialized introductory videos and files.
Review: These focus on practical "how-to" steps, such as crushing tubular structures or basic meshing. They are highly regarded for their clarity in explaining "unitless" systems—a common hurdle for new users.
Best For: Step-by-step visual learners who prefer video walk-throughs over static manuals. YouTube Channels for Focused Learning
LS-DYNA for Beginners: Frequently recommended for its "hollow tube compression" and "ball on plate" tutorials.
Amin Topa: Highly recommended in engineering forums for clear explanations of complex FEA concepts. Expert Tips for Free Learning
Use LS-PrePost (It's Free): While the LS-DYNA solver requires a license, the LS-PrePost software for meshing and boundary conditions is free.
Learn Keyword Files: Experts recommend not being afraid to edit the "keyword file" (.k file) directly in a text editor like Notepad++ to understand how parameters influence the model.
Check Student Licenses: If you are affiliated with a university, you can download the Ansys LS-DYNA Student Version for free to practice these tutorials at home. Ansys LS-DYNA Student Version
Ansys LS-DYNA Student is the leading explicit simulation software for analyzing materials under extreme conditions. LS-DYNA Student Software — Dynamore Nordic AB
LS-DYNA is freely available to students, and downloading the software is just a few clicks away. Dynamore Nordic AB
Master LS-DYNA: The Ultimate Guide to Finding Free Tutorials and Resources
LS-DYNA is widely considered the "gold standard" for explicit finite element analysis (FEA). Whether you are simulating a high-speed vehicle crash, a bird strike on a jet engine, or complex metal forming, the learning curve can be steep.
The good news? You don’t need a massive corporate training budget to get started. Here is a curated guide to the best LS-DYNA tutorials available for free. 1. The Official Starting Point: LS-DYNA Support
Before diving into YouTube, start with the source. LSTC (Livermore Software Technology Corp) and Ansys provide a wealth of documentation that serves as the backbone for all learning.
LS-DYNA Examples: The official LS-DYNA Examples website provides keyword files and PDF descriptions for everything from air shocks to composite failure. This is the best way to see how "pro" decks are built.
LS-PrePost Tutorials: You can’t use LS-DYNA without its pre-processor. The official LS-PrePost site offers step-by-step guides on meshing, cleaning geometry, and setting up boundary conditions. 2. Best YouTube Channels for Visual Learners
If you prefer watching someone click through the interface, these three channels are the community favorites:
Engineering Analysis with LS-DYNA: This channel is a goldmine for beginners. It covers fundamental concepts like contact definitions, material cards (MAT_024), and basic impact simulations. | Avoid | Because | | :--- |
Ansys Learning: Since Ansys acquired LSTC, their "How To" series has become top-tier. They offer high-production-value tutorials that bridge the gap between theoretical physics and software application.
The "Welcome to LS-DYNA" Series: Search for introductory webinars hosted by distributors like Oasys or DynaMore. They often post hour-long deep dives into specific topics like SPH (Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics). 3. Essential Free Documentation & Forums
When you hit the inevitable "Error Termination" message, these resources will save your project:
The LS-DYNA Manual: It’s thousands of pages long, but the Keyword User’s Manual (Volumes I, II, and III) is the ultimate free resource. If you don't understand a parameter in a material card, the manual is the only place with the definitive answer.
DynaLook: This site hosts papers from past International LS-DYNA Conferences. If you are doing something niche—like modeling a specific type of foam or concrete—search here to see how researchers did it previously.
LS-DYNA Reddit & Forum: The community on r/FEA or the "LS-DYNA Group" on LinkedIn is surprisingly helpful for troubleshooting specific deck errors. 4. How to Structure Your Learning Path
If you are teaching yourself for free, follow this roadmap to avoid burnout:
Master LS-PrePost: Learn to create a simple box mesh and assign parts.
The "Simple Drop Test": Your first project should be dropping a rigid ball onto an elastic plate. This teaches you about Part/Section/Material definitions.
Understanding Units: LS-DYNA is unitless. You must be consistent (e.g., mm, s, tonne, N, MPa).
Contact & Boundary Conditions: Learn the difference between *CONTACT_AUTOMATIC_SINGLE_SURFACE and *CONTACT_TIED.
Post-Processing: Learn to extract Force-Displacement curves and use the Binary Plot (d3plot) to animate results. 5. Getting the Software for Free
To use these tutorials, you need the software. If you are a student, Ansys offers a free Student Version of LS-DYNA that is capped at a certain number of nodes/elements. It is more than enough to complete every beginner and intermediate tutorial found online. Final Thought
LS-DYNA is a "garbage in, garbage out" program. Use these free tutorials not just to learn which buttons to click, but to understand the physics behind the keywords. Once you understand the energy balance and time-step stability, you'll be able to simulate almost anything.
Learning Without Limits: A Guide to Free LS-DYNA Resources LS-DYNA is a premier multiphysics solver renowned for its ability to simulate highly nonlinear, short-duration events like vehicle crashes, ballistic impacts, and material failures. While historically associated with high costs, a wealth of free learning materials and even software versions now exist to help beginners and experts alike master this powerful tool. 1. Essential Software Access
To practice tutorials, you need the software. Ansys LS-DYNA Student is a free version available for self-learning and educational projects.
Capabilities: Includes all standard functionality for models up to 128k nodes/elements.
Included Tools: Comes with Ansys LS-DYNA Student, LS-PrePost (pre/post-processor), and LS-Run. 2. Top-Rated Free Tutorial Platforms
For structured learning, several platforms offer step-by-step guides ranging from basic UI navigation to complex keyword editing. academic support sites
Ansys Innovation Space: Provides free introductory courses and LS-DYNA tutorials that cover both explicit and implicit analysis. LS-DYNA Examples (DynaExamples)
: A massive repository of approximately 500 examples with downloadable input files. You can search by training class or specific simulation type (e.g., impact, thermal, or metal forming). DynaSupport: Offers a foundational Getting Started with LS-DYNA
manual that serves as a recipe-style guide for setting up solution control, geometry, and boundary conditions. Predictive Engineering: Hosts the LS-DYNA Handbook
, providing high-level analysis theory and techniques for structural mechanics. 3. Visual and Community Learning (YouTube)
Visual learners can find comprehensive playlists that walk through model setup and result visualization.
Unpopular Mechanics: Noted for detailed tutorials on shell element formulations, CAD cleanup, and realistic rendering.
Ameen Topa: Offers a series of LS-DYNA Basic Tutorials created from scratch, designed for users to follow step-by-step.
Predictive Engineering & Oasys Ltd: Recommended by the community for professional-grade insights into specific engineering applications. 4. Specialized Learning Topics
As you progress, you can find free resources focused on advanced simulation mechanics: Contact Modeling: Guides on Contact Treatment
explain how to choose between the numerous contact types available in LS-DYNA. Practical Engineering: The book LS-DYNA for Engineers: A Practical Tutorial Book
(found on ResearchGate) offers workshop-style tutorials focused on solving real-world problems rather than heavy mathematical theory.
Academic Resources: Universities often share introductory materials, such as Memorial University’s Simple Cantilever Tutorial, which helps new users understand dynamic integration and material density.
If you have zero experience, following a random tutorial list won't help. Use this structured 7-day plan using only free resources.
Before diving into the links, it is important to understand that LS-DYNA is different from standard FEA software like Ansys Mechanical or Abaqus/Standard. It uses a solver-based workflow (usually via keyword files, .k files) rather than a purely point-and-click GUI.
Free tutorials are valuable because they allow you to learn the syntax of LS-DYNA keywords (e.g., *MAT_024, *CONTACT_AUTOMATIC_SINGLE_SURFACE) at your own pace. Once you understand the keyword structure, you can simulate almost any non-linear event.
Troubleshooting Tutorials
r/LSDYNA and the "LS-DYNA Community" Discord server are goldmines. Users frequently share .k files and ask "Why did this fail?" Reading those threads is a free tutorial in error solving.
To use the tutorials, you need LS-DYNA or a free pre/post-processor.