Load Cases in Patran are used to group a series of Load sets into one load environment for the model. A load case is selected when preparing an analysis, not load sets. The individual load sets are translated into the input options described in the Object Tables of the section on Loads and Boundary Conditions form.

If free-free modal analysis will be performed, a load case does not need to be chosen. There should be no more than one load case specified for a modal analysis. Only one load case which defines the static pre-load state should be specified in a Buckling analysis. The Buckling step is implied, and does not need to be explicitly specified.

The Patran Load Case form is used to Create, Modify, Delete, and Show load cases. It is also used to prioritize Loads/BCs sets within a load case. For more information, see Load Cases Forms (p. 160) in the Patran Reference Manual.