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Reference Guide
This manual provides a detailed list of all the input keywords and options available in Radioss.
Starter Input
This manual provides a list of all the model definition keywords and options available in Radioss.
Properties
Block Format Keyword
Composite Options
Block Format Keyword
/PLY
Block Format Keyword This option is used to define plies made of 4-node and 3-node shell elements with /PROP/PCOMPP.

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What's New
View new features for Radioss 2025.
Overview
Radioss^® is a leading explicit finite element solver for crash and impact simulation.
Tutorials
Discover Radioss functionality with interactive tutorials.
User Guide
This manual provides details on the features, functionality, and simulation methods available in Altair Radioss.
Reference Guide
This manual provides a detailed list of all the input keywords and options available in Radioss.
- File Extensions and Formats
  Current Radioss format uses the 12x extension format.
- Single File Input
  This format allows running either Starter or Engine with the same file.
- New Keywords in 2025
  New and modified features in Radioss.
- Starter Input
  This manual provides a list of all the model definition keywords and options available in Radioss.
  - 2D and 3D Analysis Options
  - Starter Keywords Syntax
    Block Format Keyword
  - Smooth Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH)
    The Smooth Particle Hydrodynamics method formulation is used to solve the equations of mechanics, when particles are free from a meshing grid.
  - Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
  - General Controls
    Block Format Keyword In this group, keywords are used to set default value, global parameter, analysis type, input/output print, damping and ALE and CFD treatment for the whole model. For default value, it is still possible to overwrite in each specific keywords.
  - Nodes
    Block Format Keyword In Radioss, two node types are available. They use Cartesian coordinate to describe the position of each node.
  - Elements
    Block Format Keyword
  - Component and Parts Organization
    Block Format Keyword In this group, keywords are used to combine material and property information (/PART), assemble model (/SUBSET) or define a separate model (//SUBMODEL).
  - Interfaces
    Block Format Keyword Interfaces solve the contact and impact conditions between two parts of a model. Several interface types are available in Radioss and use different contact treatments.
  - Materials
  - Properties
    Block Format Keyword
    - Truss Property
      Block Format Keyword
    - Beam Properties
      Block Format Keyword
    - Spring and Joint Properties
      Block Format Keyword
    - Shell Properties
      Block Format Keyword
    - Thick Shell Properties
      Block Format Keyword
    - Brick Properties
      Block Format Keyword
    - SPH Property
      Block Format Keyword
    - CFD Properties
      Block Format Keyword
    - Other Properties
    - Composite Options
      Block Format Keyword
      - /DRAPE
        Block Format Keyword This option is used to read fiber orientation changes and thinning for each of the plies which are usually the result of a manufacturing process simulation.
      - /PLY
        Block Format Keyword This option is used to define plies made of 4-node and 3-node shell elements with /PROP/PCOMPP.
      - /STACK
        Block Format Keyword Used to define the stacking sequence of a composite shell (shell belonging to a part referencing /PROP/PCOMPP) in conjunction with the /STACK option.
  - Monitored Volumes (Airbags)
    Block Format Keyword Monitored volumes can be used to model an airbag, tire, tank, or any closed volume.
  - Constraints
    Block Format Keyword Radioss supports several different kinematic constraints, which are mainly used to impose acceleration, velocity, displacement or temperature in structure or constraint the moving of structure. They are mutually exclusive for each degree-of-freedom (DOF). Two kinematic conditions applied to the same node may be incompatible.
  - Load Cases
    Block Format Keyword In Radioss the following load cases are available. Stress/strain as initial state could be considered by modeling, as well as pressure, gravity, and thermal load.
  - Tools
    Block Format Keyword In this group, tools like transformation, frames, skews, and curve are introduced.
  - Groups(Sets)
    Block Format Keyword Keywords in this group are used to define how to select a group of node, part, elements, lines, or surfaces.
  - Adaptive Meshings
    Block Format Keyword Adaptive Meshing is used in metal forming to divide the element to better describe the geometry. /ADMESH/GLOBAL and /ADMESH/SET are not available for SPMD computation.
  - Output Database
    Block Format Keyword Time histories output for different element groups, section output, or gauge output are described in this group.
- Engine Input
  This manual provides a list of all the solution definition keywords and options available in Radioss.
- LS-DYNA Input
  This manual provides a list of LS-DYNA input files available in Radioss.
- Multi-Domain
  This manual contains the description of the keywords for the Radioss Multi-Domain.
- Obsolete Keywords
  Keywords that are still supported, but no longer maintained (*) are considered obsolete.
- Other Files
- Definition
Example Guide
This manual presents examples solved using Radioss with regard to common problem types.
Verification Problems
This manual presents solved verification models.
Frequently Asked Questions
This section provides quick responses to typical and frequently asked questions regarding Radioss.
Theory Manual
This manual provides detailed information about the theory used in the Altair Radioss Solver.
User Subroutines
This manual describes the interface between Altair Radioss and user subroutines.

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/PLY

Block Format Keyword This option is used to define plies made of 4-node and 3-node shell elements with /PROP/PCOMPP.

Format


(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)	(6)	(7)	(8)	(9)	(10)
/PLY/`ply_ID`/`unit_ID`
`ply_title`
`mat_ID`	`t`		$Δ ϕ$		`grsh4n_ID`	`grsh3n_ID`	`Npt_ply`	$α_{i}$

Optional line


(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)	(6)	(7)	(8)	(9)	(10)
`drape_ID`

Definition


Field	Contents	SI Unit Example
`ply_ID`	Ply identifier. (Integer, maximum 10 digits)
`unit_ID`	Unit identifier. (Integer, maximum 10 digits)
`ply_title`	Ply title. (Character, maximum 100 characters)
`mat_ID`	Material identifier for ply. (Integer)
`t`	Thickness of ply. (Real)	$[m]$
$Δ ϕ$	Incremental angle for ply. (Real)	$[\deg]$
`grsh4n_ID`	Shell 4-nodes group identifier connected to Ply. (Integer, maximum 10 digits)
`grsh3n_ID`	Shell 3-nodes group identifier connected to Ply. (Integer, maximum 10 digits)
`Npt_ply`	Number of integration points through ply thickness with, 1 ≤ `Npt_ply` ≤ 10. Default = 1 (Integer)
$α_{i}$	Angle between first and second material direction for ply $i$ . Default = 90.0 (Real)	$[\deg]$
`drape_ID`	(Optional) Drape identifier. 6 (Integer)

Comments

The ply option is used in combination with /STACK and /PROP/PCOMPP to create ply-based sandwich composite properties. See Example (Substack with /DRAPE) in /STACK.
All elements defined in the ply must belong to a part using the /PROP/PCOMPP property. The compatibility to material law of this option is similar to /STACK.
The ply can be attached to a group of shell element (4 or 3 node shell or both).
If both the grsh4n_ID and the grsh3n_ID are 0, the ply is void (no element).
The orthotropy angle is defined as follows from the reference vector (Anisotrophy in Layer (Ply)) in the stack:
$ϕ = ϕ_{s} + ϕ_{i} + Δ ϕ + θ_{d r a p e}$
Where,

$ϕ_{i}$

is defined per ply in stack

$ϕ_{s}$

is defined on the element

$∆ ϕ$

is defined on the ply

$ϕ_{d r a p e}$

is defined in the drape table
If drape_IDis defined, the angle of each element defined in the drape is incremented by the value defined for this element $θ_{d r a p e}$ and the thickness is modified according to the thinning for this element (/DRAPE).