Isogeometric Analysis with LS-DYNA

In the last decade numerous research has been done in the area of Isogeometric Analysis (IGA). The intention of this rather new technology is the wish to have a stronger integration of Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Finite Element Analysis (FEA). Its basic idea is to use the same mathematical description for the geometry as well in the design process (CAD) as in the later analysis (FEA). One of the wide spread geometry description methodology in CAD-systems is the usage of Non-Uniform Rational B-Splines (NURBS) as basis functions. NURBS-based finite elements have been proven to be very well suited for computational analysis leading to qualitatively more accurate results in comparison with standard finite elements based on Lagrange polynomials. Therefore continuous development of Isogeometric Analysis has been added to LS-DYNA in the last years. The present contribution will give an overview about the current possibilities in LS-DYNA to use NURBS-based CAD-geometry description for numerical simulation and outline future plans for their enhancements.