Question:
I would expect the results from my load combination (CO) set to a linear analysis to equal the summation of the results from my load cases (LC) also set to a linear analysis. Why do the results not match?
Answer:
The reason there is a difference in results between superimposing LCs in COs vs. RCs is because when you apply the loads at once in a CO you will receive a different load distribution throughout the entire structure compared to the RC where the results are what are being added together. This is based on FEA where adding all of the loading together is different compared to solving the LCs each individually and adding the results together. Can be compared to a different order of operations to put it simply. You can see the comparison in the two figures below. Figure 1 is the load cases added up in CO1 and figure 2 has the LCs added together in RC1.