Structural Software Comparison
Structural Software Comparison
(OP)
I work for a engineering company that does relatively light calcs and would like to find software that fits our engineering needs without breaking the budget. We mainly work with simply supported beams/columns and in some cases 3 or 4 support continuous beams and small frames. We work mainly with cold formed steel and hot rolled steel. Most of the shapes we analyze cannot be found in AISI or AISC shape database therefore we would like to find software that not only can build a shape but can also input that shape as a beam/column or as a member in a frame.
Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Right now the leading contenders are Enercalc and RISA. We have a copy of RISA 3D and found that it is useful for complex structures but calc presentation is time consuming to filter through.
-Engineer Soto
Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Right now the leading contenders are Enercalc and RISA. We have a copy of RISA 3D and found that it is useful for complex structures but calc presentation is time consuming to filter through.
-Engineer Soto






RE: Structural Software Comparison
Have used Algor, STAAD, and STAAD-Pro...
You'll get a variety of opinions here...most of them very valid for a variety of reasons...much of which is personal preference.
RE: Structural Software Comparison
RE: Structural Software Comparison
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
Motto: KISS
Motivation: Don't ask
RE: Structural Software Comparison
RE: Structural Software Comparison
BA
RE: Structural Software Comparison
RE: Structural Software Comparison
For large quantities of similar beams in a structure, I have also had success with using spreadsheets...just be very careful in your forumlations - garbage in, garbage out.
RE: Structural Software Comparison
EIT
RE: Structural Software Comparison
RE: Structural Software Comparison
If you visit the website (www.iesweb.com/downloads/index.htm) you can download a 30-day trial that is not "locked down" as some other vendors I have tried.
JWB
RE: Structural Software Comparison
Try this: To reduce output, you can highlight only the relevant members, joints, etc. and hit the "exclude" button on the left.