# "An error occurred” after job preparation / Fatal IO Error

**URL:** <https://www.simscale.com/forum/t/an-error-occurred-after-job-preparation-fatal-io-error/101272>\
**Category:** CAD & Meshing\
**Created:** [August 7, 2026, 4:05pm UTC](https://www.simscale.com/forum/t/an-error-occurred-after-job-preparation-fatal-io-error/101272 "2026-08-07T16:05:37Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![dhandley](https://www.simscale.com/forum/letter_avatar/dhandley/32/5_5575768a8748004e209b776fc1b2916d.png) [@dhandley](https://www.simscale.com/forum/u/dhandley)\
**Post date:** [August 7, 2026, 4:05pm UTC](https://www.simscale.com/forum/t/an-error-occurred-after-job-preparation-fatal-io-error/101272/1 "2026-08-07T16:05:38Z")

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Hi all,

I’m very new to SimScale and FEA in general, so I’m hoping someone can point me in the right direction.

I’m currently trying to run a **static structural analysis of a caravan chassis** , mainly to check the chassis/drawbar under several VSB1 proof-load cases.

I originally had a much finer second-order mesh, but the simulation ran out of memory. I’ve since reduced the model significantly and changed to a **first-order mesh** for an initial diagnostic run.

The current run shows:

- Mesh order: **1st**
- Number of nodes: **810,292**
- Job preparation: **Successful**
- Then immediately: **“An error occurred”**
- The error links to the Fatal IO Error article: [https://www.simscale.com/knowledge-base/fatal-io-error-an-error-occurred/](https://www.simscale.com/knowledge-base/fatal-io-error-an-error-occurred/)

The run gets to 0% and then stops, so it does not appear to actually start solving.

The model is a fairly detailed welded RHS chassis made up of multiple bodies. I’m using bonded contacts between the structural members, a fixed support at the rear of the chassis, and a remote force at the coupling point. The remote force uses a table to run several independent static load directions.

I’m not sure whether the problem is coming from:

- the number of contacts,
- a bad or disconnected body,
- the remote-force definition,
- the mesh,
- or something else in the structural setup.

I’m still learning SimScale, so I may be missing something fairly basic.

Could someone please have a look and advise **what I should check first when the job prepares successfully but then immediately fails with this generic Fatal IO / “An error occurred” message?**

If useful, I can share the project and screenshots of the mesh, contacts, boundary conditions and solver settings.

Thanks in advance for any help.

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**Author:** ![RicardoParis](https://www.simscale.com/forum/user_avatar/www.simscale.com/ricardoparis/32/30222_2.png) [@RicardoParis](https://www.simscale.com/forum/u/RicardoParis)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2026, 4:05pm UTC](https://www.simscale.com/forum/t/an-error-occurred-after-job-preparation-fatal-io-error/101272/3 "2026-08-11T16:05:09Z")

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Hi,

My colleagues are looking into improving this behavior, but for now defining the remote force BC without a table should allow the simulation to run.

On a side note, keep in mind that all CAD models and results in projects from community users (like yours) can be viewed/downloaded by anyone in the community.

Cheers