Ansys LS-DYNA
Simulation & CAE software
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What is Ansys LS-DYNA
Ansys LS-DYNA is a finite element analysis (FEA) solver focused on explicit dynamics for simulating highly nonlinear, transient events such as crash, impact, drop, metal forming, and other short-duration phenomena. It is used by CAE analysts and engineering teams in automotive, aerospace, defense, manufacturing, and consumer products to evaluate structural response, material behavior, and failure under complex loading. The product supports multi-physics coupling (for example, structural with thermal or fluid effects) and is typically deployed as part of an enterprise CAE workflow with pre/post-processing and HPC execution.
Strong explicit dynamics capability
LS-DYNA is widely used for explicit time-integration problems where contact, large deformation, and material nonlinearity dominate. It supports a broad set of contact algorithms and element formulations that are commonly required for crash and impact simulation. This makes it a practical choice for transient events that are difficult to solve with general-purpose implicit solvers.
Broad material and failure models
The solver includes extensive libraries for metals, polymers, composites, foams, and other engineering materials, including rate-dependent and damage/failure behavior. This helps teams model forming, fracture, and energy absorption with fewer custom implementations. It also supports calibration workflows when paired with external test data and material characterization processes.
HPC-ready for large models
LS-DYNA is designed to run large-scale models using parallel processing on workstations and clusters. It supports distributed-memory execution (MPI) and is commonly used in batch-oriented simulation pipelines. This enables higher-fidelity meshes and longer simulation windows when adequate compute resources are available.
Steep learning curve
Effective use typically requires specialized CAE expertise in meshing, contact setup, material selection, and numerical controls. Model setup and result interpretation can be less approachable for general mechanical CAD users compared with integrated CAD/CAE tools. Organizations often need formal training and internal best-practice standards to achieve consistent results.
Pre/post-processing not standalone
LS-DYNA is primarily a solver; users generally rely on separate pre-processing and post-processing tools for geometry preparation, meshing, and results visualization. This can introduce workflow complexity and additional licensing or toolchain decisions. Data exchange between tools may require careful management of formats, units, and solver-specific keywords.
Compute and licensing costs
High-fidelity explicit simulations can be computationally intensive, especially with fine meshes, complex contact, or multi-physics coupling. Runtime and hardware requirements can become a constraint for iterative design workflows. Licensing is typically enterprise-oriented and may be less cost-effective for occasional or small-team use cases.
Plan & Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key features & notes |
|---|---|---|
| Node‑Locked License | Contact sales (no public price) | Licensed to a single machine; limited to the number of cores allowed by the license. See Ansys LS‑DYNA licensing docs. |
| Network (Concurrent / Core‑based) License | Contact sales (no public price) | Licensed by number of cores licensed; permits use across multiple machines up to licensed cores; uses LSTC/Ansys license server. |
| HPC / LS‑DYNA HPC Licenses | Contact sales (no public price) | Required for SMP and MPP parallel processing; standard Ansys HPC packs do not work with LS‑DYNA—use Ansys LS‑DYNA HPC licenses for running in parallel. |
| Academic / Student (Ansys LS‑DYNA Student) | Free for eligible students (educational use only) | Student edition available for download (educational use; built‑in license with expiration indicated on download page). |
No public per‑seat or subscription prices are published on the official Ansys LS‑DYNA pages; commercial pricing is provided via Ansys sales or authorized resellers.
Seller details
ANSYS, Inc.
Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, USA
1970
Public
https://www.ansys.com/
https://x.com/ansys
https://www.linkedin.com/company/ansys-inc/
