Defining a load case

You use the Load Case menu in the Load module to define a load case. You can create load cases in static perturbation, direct steady-state dynamic, SIM-based steady-state dynamic (mode-based and subspace-based), and substructure generation analyses. You must create the individual loads and boundary conditions in the Load module prior to creating a load case. For more information, see Creating loads, and Creating boundary conditions.

Related Topics
Suppressing and resuming objects
Load case editors
In Other Guides
Multiple load case analysis

  1. From the main menu bar in the Load module, select Load CaseCreate.

    Tip: You can also create a load case using the tool in the Load module toolbox.

  2. In the Create Load Case dialog box that appears, do the following:

    1. Name the load case. For more information about naming objects, see Using basic dialog box components.
    2. Select the step. You can define a load case only during the following steps: static, linear perturbation; steady-state dynamic, direct; SIM-based steady-state dynamic (modal and subspace); and substructure generation.
    3. Click Continue.

    The load case editor appears.

  3. If you want to include loads in the load case, click the Loads tab. Specify the loads using one of the following methods:

    • Click at the bottom of the page to display a list of the loads available for the selected step.

      1. From the Load Selection dialog box, select the loads from the list (see Selecting multiple items from lists and tables, for more information). The selected loads are highlighted in the viewport.

      2. In the Scale factor field, enter a nonzero value to scale the magnitude of the selected loads. Enter a negative value to apply the selected loads in the opposite direction. The default value of the scale factor for each load is 1.0.

      3. Click OK to save your selections and to close the Load Selection dialog box.

    • Enter data in the table using the keyboard.

      1. Enter the name of a previously defined load.

      2. Enter a nonzero value to scale the magnitude of the load. Enter a negative value to apply the load in the opposite direction. The default value of the scale factor is 1.0.

      3. Repeat the previous steps to specify all the loads to include in the load case.

    The load case editor displays the loads and scale factors included in the load case. To highlight loads in the viewport, click the table row headings to select the loads in the editor (see Selecting multiple items from lists and tables, for more information) and toggle on Highlight selections in viewport. Suppressed loads are not highlighted in the viewport. To remove loads from the table, click the table row headings to select the loads and click .

  4. If you want to include boundary conditions in the load case, click the Boundary Conditions tab to display the boundary conditions page. By default, Abaqus/CAE will include all boundary conditions propagated or modified from the base state in each load case you create. You can toggle off this behavior at the top of the boundary condition page. Specify the boundary conditions using one of the following methods:

    • Click at the bottom of the page to display a list of the boundary conditions available for the selected step.

      1. From the Boundary Condition Selection dialog box, select the boundary conditions from the list (see Selecting multiple items from lists and tables, for more information). The selected boundary conditions are highlighted in the viewport.

      2. In the Scale factor field, enter a nonzero value to scale the magnitude of the selected boundary conditions. The default value of the scale factor for each boundary condition is 1.0.

      3. Click OK to save your selections and to close the Boundary Condition Selection dialog box.

    • Enter data in the table using the keyboard.

      1. Enter the name of a previously defined boundary condition.

      2. Enter a nonzero value to scale the magnitude of the boundary condition. The default value of the scale factor is 1.0.

      3. Repeat the previous steps to specify all the boundary conditions to include in the load case.

    The load case editor displays the boundary conditions and scale factors included in the load case. The scale factor is relevant only if the boundary condition has a nonzero value. To highlight boundary conditions in the viewport, click the table row headings to select the boundary conditions in the editor (see Selecting multiple items from lists and tables, for more information) and toggle on Highlight selections in viewport. Suppressed boundary conditions are not highlighted in the viewport. To remove boundary conditions from the table, click the table row headings to select the boundary conditions and click .

  5. Click OK to save your load case definition and to close the editor.