D3PLOT 22.1

Key to Finding Information in Ansys LS-DYNA Database Files

Key to finding information in Ansys LS-DYNA database files

.PTF file .CTF file .THF file .XTF file

Whole model data:

Global energies KE, IE, TE KE, IE, TE KE, IE, TE KE, IE, TE
Global velocities VX, VY, VZ VX, VY, VZ VX, VY, VZ VX, VY, VZ
External work EW
Time-step DT

Data by material:

Material energies KE, IE KE, IE
Material velocities VX, VY, VZ VX, VY, VZ
Masses Mass Mass

Nodal data:

Geometry [X,Y,Z] coords [X,Y,Z] coords [X,Y,Z] coords [X,Y,Z] coords
Displacements [dX,dY,dZ] [dX,dY,dZ] [dX,dY,dZ] [dX,dY,dZ]
Temperatures [temps] [temps]
Velocities [vX,vY,vZ] [vX,vY,vZ] [vX,vY,vZ]
Accelerations [aX,aY,aZ] [aX,aY,aZ]
Nodes for reactions Geom + reacts

Solid & thick shell element data:

Topology Connectivity & mat'l Connectivity & mat'l
Stresses &c Stress tensor Stress tensor
Plastic Strain Plastic strain
Strain tensor Strain tensor
Extra variables Extra variables
(Els in TH blocks)

Thin shell element data:

Topology Connectivity & mat'l Connectivity & mat'l
Stresses &c Stress tensor Stress tensor
Plastic Strain Plastic strain
Strain tensor Strain tensor
Extra variables Extra variables
Force/moment resultants Force/moment resultants
Thickness & strain energy density Thickness & strain energy density
(Els in TH blocks)

Beam element data:

Topology Connectivity & mat'l Conn'ty & mat'l Conn'ty & mat'l
Results Forces & moments Forces & moments Extra data Mat'l 29
Extra data Mat'l 29 (Els in TH blocks) (Els in TH blocks)

Spring element data:

Topology Conn'ty & mat'l
Results Force/elongation
Moment/rotation

Seat-belt etc elem data:

Topology Conn'ty & mat'l
Results Force/elongation
/pullout etc

Lumped-mass element data:

Topology Node no & mass

Stonewall data:

Geometry All geom
Normal forces Fwalls Fwalls Fwalls

Interface data:

Geometry All geom
Summary forces Fx,Fy,Fz summaries
Detailed results Segment stresses
All nodal forces

Joint data:

Topology Nodes, type
stiffness

Airbag (control volume) data:

Results Pressures etc

Notes on file types:

.PTF file : "Complete state" file is written at low frequency and has a complete description of the whole model.
.CTF file : "Contact force" file is written at the same frequency as the .PTF file, & is a complete description of the interface forces & stresses.
.THF file : "Time history" file is written at a high frequency and contains a (user-specified) subset of the model for detailed examination. It is used for XY graph type display (eg T/HIS).
.XTF file : "Extra time-hist" file is written at the same frequency as the .THF file, and contains extra information that cannot be accomodated in the .THF file structure. Used for XY plots, and also for providing the geometry for the graphics display of walls, joints, springs, etc
.ZTF file : "Extra static data" file is not generated by Ansys LS-DYNA, but rather by running PRIMER either in batch (immediately after the analysis) or manually. Extra "static" data are extracted from the keyword input deck and become available for post-processing.