Overview of the Load Cases Application

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.

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.

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.