Load Cases

For a Stationary study, you can define load cases and constraint cases. A load or constraint can be assigned to a load or constraint group, and then used conditionally.

For most load types, the load case acts as a simple multiplier, but some cases need a more detailed discussion:

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A or node can be assigned both a constraint group and a load group. You can use the constraint group to switch off the whole constraint. The load group acts as a multiplier to non-zero prescribed values of displacement and rotations.

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When a load case multiplier is used for , the multiplier is applied not to the actual temperature, but to the difference between the temperature and the strain free reference temperature. The temperature difference, and thus the thermal strain, is proportional to the load case multiplier.

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Since nodes are exclusive (only the last one given gives a contribution for a certain domain), you cannot switch between different nodes only by assigning them to different load cases.

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A or node can be assigned a constraint group, which you can use to switch it on and off. If there is also a subnode, then you can assign a load group to that subnode. The prescribed predeformation is then multiplied by the load case multiplier. nodes are exclusive, you cannot switch between them by assigning them to different load cases.

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A can be assigned both a constraint group and a load group. You can use the constraint group to switch off the prescribed displacements and rotations. The load group acts as a multiplier to non-zero prescribed values of displacement and rotations.

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If you have added or nodes under a , you can assign individual load groups to these nodes

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If you have added or nodes under a , you can assign individual load groups to these nodes.


	For an example about how to set up expressions for controlling position and distribution of loads using load cases, see Pratt Truss Bridge: Application Library path Structural_Mechanics_Module/Civil_Engineering/pratt_truss_bridge.