Functional Assignments > Load Cases Application > 1.1 Overview of the Load Cases Application
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1.1 Overview of the Load Cases Application
Purpose
The Load Cases application provides the ability to group multiple loads and boundary conditions (LBCs) sets, see Loads and Boundary Conditions Form, 21, into single load cases for application to the model. Load cases remain in the database unless deleted.
Definitions
 
Load Cases
Group of selected loads and boundary conditions sets. Each load case has a unique user-selected descriptive name as well as an associated descriptive statement.
Loads and BCs Sets
These are named groups of node and/or element loads that are created in the Loads and BCs Application. Fields created in the Fields Application may or may not have been used in their creation.
Static Load Cases
Load cases in which none of the constituent loads or boundary conditions sets has a time varying component.
Time Dependent Load Cases
Load cases in which one or more of the constituent loads or boundary conditions sets has a time varying component. These are also referred to as dynamic load cases.
Priority
In the event that a conflict arises between loads and boundary conditions set types (e.g., Displacement) with the same loads and boundary conditions type (e.g., Nodal, Element Uniform) that belong to the same load case, the priority will specify which loads and boundary conditions set will take precedence. Priorities may be set so that values are added together when a conflict arises or priorities may be set so that one load and boundary conditions set overwrites other sets with which it conflicts. Priorities are currently not supported by the MSC Nastran analysis preference.
Load Case
Scale Factor
A scale factor which is applied to the entire load case. Each load case has a load case scale factor. The default value is 1.0. Some analysis preferences may not allow a scale factor other than 1.0.
Load Case LBC
Scale Factor
Scale factor applied to a LoadsBC set by the load case. Some analysis preferences may not allow a scale factor other than 1.0.
Capabilities
The Load Cases function provides the ability to combine a large number of individual loads and boundary conditions sets into a single coherent case for application to the model. If supported by the analysis preference, the use of load case LBC scale factors can reduce the number of individual loads and boundary conditions required. Unless deleted, load cases remain in the database and provide a permanent record of the analysis loading conditions.
The Load Cases function provides the capability of creating, deleting, modifying, and showing load cases.
Summary of Key Features
The Load Cases function provides straightforward, intuitive means for combining separate loads and boundary conditions sets to form load cases. Key features of the Load Cases function are:
Provides archival load case data within the database.
Provides a means of creating new load cases by retrieving, modifying, and renaming existing load cases.
Provides for creating, deleting, modifying, and showing load cases. When deleting load cases, provides the option of also deleting the constituent Loads/BCs sets. If load and boundary conditions sets to be deleted belong to more than one load case, they will not be deleted.
Provides a means of re-use of Loads/BCs sets by use of load case LBC scale factors. This can reduce the number of individual Loads/BCs required.