LS-Dyna Ball and Block Tutorial Part 3: Database Node and Element Sensors

I'm here to provide some low level, beginner introduction tutorials for the finite element analysis solver, LS-Dyna. This video is a continuation on how to set up and simulate an impact in LS-Dyna between a semi-rigid ball and a soft foam block. I go over how to set up *Database ASCII cards to get outputs from your simulations, and specifically *Database history cards like solid elements and nodes. These database cards can be thought of like physical sensors which you can use to measure things like force and kinematics. We will be comparing a few different ways to retrieve kinematics and force from a simulation and the benefits of each way. These outputs include Nodout, Elout, Secforc, Rcforc. This will be an ongoing tutorial where we will walk through how to set up a model, define boundary conditions and database outputs, simulate and retrieve data using post-processing, and perform a sensitivity study on varying certain parameters within things like the element formulation, contact definitions, and variations in how output sensors are set up. Download the model shown in the tutorial here: https://feassistant.com/product/ball-... Finite element analysis uses the finite element method (FEM) to simulate physical, real-world events, to get a desired response. These models can then be used to estimate the response of an object through limitless forms of situations. I will not be going through equations behind the calculations of FEM in this video, but I will be explaining with broad, easy to understand concepts. The pre-processor used in the video is LS-PrePost, which is a free to use pre and post processor for the finite element analysis solver LS-Dyna. LS-PrePost can be downloaded for free using the link below: http://www.lstc.com/download I hope this video is helpful. Let me know if you have any questions in the comments or create a post on the forum: https://feassistant.com/ Here's a thread on LS-Dyna database cards: https://feassistant.com/forums/ls-dyn... The first video in this series is here:    • LS-Dyna Ball and Block Tutorial Part 1: Me...   The second video in this series is here:    • LS-Dyna Ball and Block Tutorial Part 2: Da...