Load Case Files
Folks,
I have a question about load case files. Since we cannot paste images into these emails, I'll try to explain the situation with words.
Imagine you have a model of a straight pipe (call it model 1). Also imagine you have a separate model of the same straight pipe, but with an elbow on each end (call it model 2). I want to run an analysis on model 2 and export a load case file (i.e., LCWRITE). I want to read that load case file into model 1 (i.e., LCASE). When attempting this, it seems to give problems. I would like to ask if anyone has a good understanding of the load case files. They are binary files, so I'm unable to open and study them. If I can determine how the load case files are formed and built, I may be able to come up with a clever workaround. In other words, I'm wondering if the load cases are built, based on mesh numbering. If so, I may be able to come up with a way to control the mesh numbering in each model to make the process work.
I hope I explained it clear enough. Thanks in advance!
Matt Ridzon, PE, MSME
Sr. Engineering Analyst
Email matt@prime-engineer.commailto:matt@prime-engineer.com
Mail 266 Main St, Burlington, VT 05401
Web www.prime-engineer.comhttp://www.prime-engineer.com/
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PRIME ENGINEERING LLC
This message (including any attachments) may contain confidential, proprietary, privileged and/or private information. The information is intended to be for the use of the individual or entity designated above. If you are not the intended recipient of this message, please notify the sender immediately, and delete the message and any attachments. Any disclosure, reproduction, distribution or other use of this message or any attachments by an individual or entity other than the intended recipient is prohibited.
Hi Matt,
Just at the top of my head, did you consider submodeling for this? The
global model is model 2 and local model is model 1. Solve model 1 first
then do the CBDOF to model 1. Sounds a feasible work around?
Good luck!
Mohammad
---====
Mohammad A Gharaibeh, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering
The Hashemite University
P.O. Box 330127
Zarqa, 13133, Jordan
Tel: +962 - 5 - 390 3333 Ext. 4771
Fax: +962 - 5 - 382 6348
---====
On Tue, 24 Feb 2026 at 11:11 PM Matthew Ridzon, PE via Xansys <
xansys-temp@list.xansys.org> wrote:
Folks,
I have a question about load case files. Since we cannot paste images
into these emails, I'll try to explain the situation with words.
Imagine you have a model of a straight pipe (call it model 1). Also
imagine you have a separate model of the same straight pipe, but with an
elbow on each end (call it model 2). I want to run an analysis on model 2
and export a load case file (i.e., LCWRITE). I want to read that load case
file into model 1 (i.e., LCASE). When attempting this, it seems to give
problems. I would like to ask if anyone has a good understanding of the
load case files. They are binary files, so I'm unable to open and study
them. If I can determine how the load case files are formed and built, I
may be able to come up with a clever workaround. In other words, I'm
wondering if the load cases are built, based on mesh numbering. If so, I
may be able to come up with a way to control the mesh numbering in each
model to make the process work.
I hope I explained it clear enough. Thanks in advance!
Matt Ridzon, PE, MSME
Sr. Engineering Analyst
Email matt@prime-engineer.commailto:matt@prime-engineer.com
Mail 266 Main St, Burlington, VT 05401
Web www.prime-engineer.comhttp://www.prime-engineer.com/
[A blue hexagon with white letters Description automatically generated]
PRIME ENGINEERING LLC
This message (including any attachments) may contain confidential,
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Oops, I made a mistake. I blame keyboard suggestions.
Solve model 1 first then do CBDOF to model 2 (not model 1).
I hope this helps.
Thanks,
M
---====
Mohammad A Gharaibeh, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering
The Hashemite University
P.O. Box 330127
Zarqa, 13133, Jordan
Tel: +962 - 5 - 390 3333 Ext. 4771
Fax: +962 - 5 - 382 6348
---====
On Tue, 24 Feb 2026 at 11:34 PM Mohammad Gharaibeh mgharai1@binghamton.edu
wrote:
Hi Matt,
Just at the top of my head, did you consider submodeling for this? The
global model is model 2 and local model is model 1. Solve model 1 first
then do the CBDOF to model 1. Sounds a feasible work around?
Good luck!
Mohammad
---====
Mohammad A Gharaibeh, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering
The Hashemite University
P.O. Box 330127
Zarqa, 13133, Jordan
Tel: +962 - 5 - 390 3333 Ext. 4771
Fax: +962 - 5 - 382 6348
---====
On Tue, 24 Feb 2026 at 11:11 PM Matthew Ridzon, PE via Xansys <
xansys-temp@list.xansys.org> wrote:
Folks,
I have a question about load case files. Since we cannot paste images
into these emails, I'll try to explain the situation with words.
Imagine you have a model of a straight pipe (call it model 1). Also
imagine you have a separate model of the same straight pipe, but with an
elbow on each end (call it model 2). I want to run an analysis on model 2
and export a load case file (i.e., LCWRITE). I want to read that load case
file into model 1 (i.e., LCASE). When attempting this, it seems to give
problems. I would like to ask if anyone has a good understanding of the
load case files. They are binary files, so I'm unable to open and study
them. If I can determine how the load case files are formed and built, I
may be able to come up with a clever workaround. In other words, I'm
wondering if the load cases are built, based on mesh numbering. If so, I
may be able to come up with a way to control the mesh numbering in each
model to make the process work.
I hope I explained it clear enough. Thanks in advance!
Matt Ridzon, PE, MSME
Sr. Engineering Analyst
Email matt@prime-engineer.commailto:matt@prime-engineer.com
Mail 266 Main St, Burlington, VT 05401
Web www.prime-engineer.comhttp://www.prime-engineer.com/
[A blue hexagon with white letters Description automatically generated]
PRIME ENGINEERING LLC
This message (including any attachments) may contain confidential,
proprietary, privileged and/or private information. The information is
intended to be for the use of the individual or entity designated above. If
you are not the intended recipient of this message, please notify the
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Matt:
Load Case combinations are only supported when used with result sets from the same results file. By supported, I mean the LC commands are only guaranteed to work if they use the same results file. If you had identical meshes (node numbers, node locations, element numbers, node connectivity, etc. match exactly), LC commands “might” work with different results files, but it is not guaranteed. I have seen cases where results from what seemed to be identical meshes produced erroneous LC results. I would not trust LC operations that used different results files. This limitation is documented in Section 7.3.3.1.1 of the MAPDL Basic Analysis Guide.
Regards,
Dan
[cid:9feab0c2-5790-48c3-a2fc-ea92cdf55c4a]
From: Mohammad Gharaibeh via Xansys xansys-temp@list.xansys.org
Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2026 3:42 PM
To: XANSYS Mailing List Home xansys-temp@list.xansys.org
Cc: Mohammad Gharaibeh mgharai1@binghamton.edu
Subject: [Xansys] Re: [External Email] Load Case Files
[External Sender]
Oops, I made a mistake. I blame keyboard suggestions.
Solve model 1 first then do CBDOF to model 2 (not model 1).
I hope this helps.
Thanks,
M
---====
Mohammad A Gharaibeh, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering
The Hashemite University
P.O. Box 330127
Zarqa, 13133, Jordan
Tel: +962 - 5 - 390 3333 Ext. 4771
Fax: +962 - 5 - 382 6348
---====
On Tue, 24 Feb 2026 at 11:34 PM Mohammad Gharaibeh mgharai1@binghamton.edu
wrote:
Hi Matt,
Just at the top of my head, did you consider submodeling for this? The
global model is model 2 and local model is model 1. Solve model 1 first
then do the CBDOF to model 1. Sounds a feasible work around?
Good luck!
Mohammad
---====
Mohammad A Gharaibeh, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering
The Hashemite University
P.O. Box 330127
Zarqa, 13133, Jordan
Tel: +962 - 5 - 390 3333 Ext. 4771
Fax: +962 - 5 - 382 6348
---====
On Tue, 24 Feb 2026 at 11:11 PM Matthew Ridzon, PE via Xansys <
xansys-temp@list.xansys.org> wrote:
Folks,
I have a question about load case files. Since we cannot paste images
into these emails, I'll try to explain the situation with words.
Imagine you have a model of a straight pipe (call it model 1). Also
imagine you have a separate model of the same straight pipe, but with an
elbow on each end (call it model 2). I want to run an analysis on model 2
and export a load case file (i.e., LCWRITE). I want to read that load case
file into model 1 (i.e., LCASE). When attempting this, it seems to give
problems. I would like to ask if anyone has a good understanding of the
load case files. They are binary files, so I'm unable to open and study
them. If I can determine how the load case files are formed and built, I
may be able to come up with a clever workaround. In other words, I'm
wondering if the load cases are built, based on mesh numbering. If so, I
may be able to come up with a way to control the mesh numbering in each
model to make the process work.
I hope I explained it clear enough. Thanks in advance!
Matt Ridzon, PE, MSME
Sr. Engineering Analyst
Email matt@prime-engineer.commailto:matt@prime-engineer.com
Mail 266 Main St, Burlington, VT 05401
Web www.prime-engineer.comhttp://www.prime-engineer.com/<http://www.prime-engineer.comhttp://www.prime-engineer.com/>
[A blue hexagon with white letters Description automatically generated]
PRIME ENGINEERING LLC
This message (including any attachments) may contain confidential,
proprietary, privileged and/or private information. The information is
intended to be for the use of the individual or entity designated above. If
you are not the intended recipient of this message, please notify the
sender immediately, and delete the message and any attachments. Any
disclosure, reproduction, distribution or other use of this message or any
attachments by an individual or entity other than the intended recipient is
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Yes, we already considered submodeling. However, part of the workflow involves a spectrum analysis on the models. Unfortunately, ANTYPE,SPECTR does not support submodeling.
—Matt
-----Original Message-----
From: Mohammad Gharaibeh via Xansys xansys-temp@list.xansys.org
Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2026 3:42 PM
To: XANSYS Mailing List Home xansys-temp@list.xansys.org
Cc: Mohammad Gharaibeh mgharai1@binghamton.edu
Subject: [Xansys] Re: [External Email] Load Case Files
Oops, I made a mistake. I blame keyboard suggestions.
Solve model 1 first then do CBDOF to model 2 (not model 1).
I hope this helps.
Thanks,
M
---====
Mohammad A Gharaibeh, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering
The Hashemite University
P.O. Box 330127
Zarqa, 13133, Jordan
Tel: +962 - 5 - 390 3333 Ext. 4771
Fax: +962 - 5 - 382 6348
---====
On Tue, 24 Feb 2026 at 11:34 PM Mohammad Gharaibeh mgharai1@binghamton.edu
wrote:
Hi Matt,
Just at the top of my head, did you consider submodeling for this? The
global model is model 2 and local model is model 1. Solve model 1
first then do the CBDOF to model 1. Sounds a feasible work around?
Good luck!
Mohammad
---====
Mohammad A Gharaibeh, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering
The Hashemite University
P.O. Box 330127
Zarqa, 13133, Jordan
Tel: +962 - 5 - 390 3333 Ext. 4771
Fax: +962 - 5 - 382 6348
---====
On Tue, 24 Feb 2026 at 11:11 PM Matthew Ridzon, PE via Xansys <
xansys-temp@list.xansys.org> wrote:
Folks,
I have a question about load case files. Since we cannot paste
images into these emails, I'll try to explain the situation with words.
Imagine you have a model of a straight pipe (call it model 1). Also
imagine you have a separate model of the same straight pipe, but with
an elbow on each end (call it model 2). I want to run an analysis on
model 2 and export a load case file (i.e., LCWRITE). I want to read
that load case file into model 1 (i.e., LCASE). When attempting
this, it seems to give problems. I would like to ask if anyone has a
good understanding of the load case files. They are binary files, so
I'm unable to open and study them. If I can determine how the load
case files are formed and built, I may be able to come up with a
clever workaround. In other words, I'm wondering if the load cases
are built, based on mesh numbering. If so, I may be able to come up
with a way to control the mesh numbering in each model to make the process work.
I hope I explained it clear enough. Thanks in advance!
Matt Ridzon, PE, MSME
Sr. Engineering Analyst
Email matt@prime-engineer.commailto:matt@prime-engineer.com
Mail 266 Main St, Burlington, VT 05401
Web www.prime-engineer.comhttp://www.prime-engineer.com/
[A blue hexagon with white letters Description automatically
generated] PRIME ENGINEERING LLC
This message (including any attachments) may contain confidential,
proprietary, privileged and/or private information. The information
is intended to be for the use of the individual or entity designated
above. If you are not the intended recipient of this message, please
notify the sender immediately, and delete the message and any
attachments. Any disclosure, reproduction, distribution or other use
of this message or any attachments by an individual or entity other
than the intended recipient is prohibited.
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send an email to xansys-temp-leave@list.xansys.org If you are
receiving too many emails from XANSYS please consider changing
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Please send administrative requests such as deletion from XANSYS to xansys-mod@tynecomp.co.uk and not to the list
Folks,
From my testing with a small model today, it seems like the results in the load case file are mapped by way of element and node numbers. If I manually control the mesh numbering so that the bodies are meshed the same, and have the same numbering, the load case file from the larger global model will map onto the smaller local model. Results on the local model match what was on the global model. Spatial location does not seem to be a factor; i.e., I can translate or rotate the smaller local model to another spot and the outcome is the same. APDL does produce a warning message since it detects that the load case file was built from a different model.
If I change mesh numbering on the smaller local model, the results appear to be bogus.
Nevertheless, the documentation clearly says that this is unsupported, so I'm abandoning this idea. It looks risky.
—Matt
-----Original Message-----
From: Daniel Shaw via Xansys xansys-temp@list.xansys.org
Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2026 3:49 PM
To: XANSYS Mailing List Home xansys-temp@list.xansys.org
Cc: Daniel Shaw daniel.shaw@ansys.com
Subject: [Xansys] Re: [External Email] Load Case Files
Matt:
Load Case combinations are only supported when used with result sets from the same results file. By supported, I mean the LC commands are only guaranteed to work if they use the same results file. If you had identical meshes (node numbers, node locations, element numbers, node connectivity, etc. match exactly), LC commands “might” work with different results files, but it is not guaranteed. I have seen cases where results from what seemed to be identical meshes produced erroneous LC results. I would not trust LC operations that used different results files. This limitation is documented in Section 7.3.3.1.1 of the MAPDL Basic Analysis Guide.
Regards,
Dan
[cid:9feab0c2-5790-48c3-a2fc-ea92cdf55c4a]
-----Original Message-----
From: Matthew Ridzon, PE
Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2026 8:05 AM
To: 'XANSYS Mailing List Home' xansys-temp@list.xansys.org
Cc: Mohammad Gharaibeh mgharai1@binghamton.edu
Subject: RE: [Xansys] Re: [External Email] Load Case Files
Yes, we already considered submodeling. However, part of the workflow involves a spectrum analysis on the models. Unfortunately, ANTYPE,SPECTR does not support submodeling.
—Matt
-----Original Message-----
From: Mohammad Gharaibeh via Xansys xansys-temp@list.xansys.org
Sent: Tuesday, February 24, 2026 3:42 PM
To: XANSYS Mailing List Home xansys-temp@list.xansys.org
Cc: Mohammad Gharaibeh mgharai1@binghamton.edu
Subject: [Xansys] Re: [External Email] Load Case Files
Oops, I made a mistake. I blame keyboard suggestions.
Solve model 1 first then do CBDOF to model 2 (not model 1).
I hope this helps.
Thanks,
M
---====
Mohammad A Gharaibeh, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering
The Hashemite University
P.O. Box 330127
Zarqa, 13133, Jordan
Tel: +962 - 5 - 390 3333 Ext. 4771
Fax: +962 - 5 - 382 6348
---====
On Tue, 24 Feb 2026 at 11:34 PM Mohammad Gharaibeh mgharai1@binghamton.edu
wrote:
Hi Matt,
Just at the top of my head, did you consider submodeling for this? The
global model is model 2 and local model is model 1. Solve model 1
first then do the CBDOF to model 1. Sounds a feasible work around?
Good luck!
Mohammad
---====
Mohammad A Gharaibeh, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering
The Hashemite University
P.O. Box 330127
Zarqa, 13133, Jordan
Tel: +962 - 5 - 390 3333 Ext. 4771
Fax: +962 - 5 - 382 6348
---====
On Tue, 24 Feb 2026 at 11:11 PM Matthew Ridzon, PE via Xansys <
xansys-temp@list.xansys.org> wrote:
Folks,
I have a question about load case files. Since we cannot paste
images into these emails, I'll try to explain the situation with words.
Imagine you have a model of a straight pipe (call it model 1). Also
imagine you have a separate model of the same straight pipe, but with
an elbow on each end (call it model 2). I want to run an analysis on
model 2 and export a load case file (i.e., LCWRITE). I want to read
that load case file into model 1 (i.e., LCASE). When attempting
this, it seems to give problems. I would like to ask if anyone has a
good understanding of the load case files. They are binary files, so
I'm unable to open and study them. If I can determine how the load
case files are formed and built, I may be able to come up with a
clever workaround. In other words, I'm wondering if the load cases
are built, based on mesh numbering. If so, I may be able to come up
with a way to control the mesh numbering in each model to make the process work.
I hope I explained it clear enough. Thanks in advance!
Matt Ridzon, PE, MSME
Sr. Engineering Analyst
Email matt@prime-engineer.commailto:matt@prime-engineer.com
Mail 266 Main St, Burlington, VT 05401
Web www.prime-engineer.comhttp://www.prime-engineer.com/
[A blue hexagon with white letters Description automatically
generated] PRIME ENGINEERING LLC
This message (including any attachments) may contain confidential,
proprietary, privileged and/or private information. The information
is intended to be for the use of the individual or entity designated
above. If you are not the intended recipient of this message, please
notify the sender immediately, and delete the message and any
attachments. Any disclosure, reproduction, distribution or other use
of this message or any attachments by an individual or entity other
than the intended recipient is prohibited.
Xansys mailing list -- xansys-temp@list.xansys.org To unsubscribe
send an email to xansys-temp-leave@list.xansys.org If you are
receiving too many emails from XANSYS please consider changing
account settings to Digest mode which will send a single email per day.
Please send administrative requests such as deletion from XANSYS to
xansys-mod@tynecomp.co.uk and not to the list
Xansys mailing list -- xansys-temp@list.xansys.org To unsubscribe send an email to xansys-temp-leave@list.xansys.org If you are receiving too many emails from XANSYS please consider changing account settings to Digest mode which will send a single email per day.
Please send administrative requests such as deletion from XANSYS to xansys-mod@tynecomp.co.uk and not to the list