Structural Sofwares
Structural Sofwares
(OP)
What are the structural softwares you are using and what are their advantages?
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RE: Structural Sofwares
RE: Structural Sofwares
RE: Structural Sofwares
RE: Structural Sofwares
I imagine some folks will say something along the line of, "For residential projects I use software A because of the following reasons..... But, for commercial projects (or bridge projects, or concrete projects or such) then I use software B for the following reason...."
I will leave it at that because I don't want to bias the discussion towards any one particular software or another.
RE: Structural Sofwares
I use RISA 3D for all complicated steel framing problems! I also use tnxTower married with RISA3D when I have to create structures that tnxTower cannot.
Happy?
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
RE: Structural Sofwares
Mike McCann
MMC Engineering
RE: Structural Sofwares
RE: Structural Sofwares
RE: Structural Sofwares
Same here, with the addition of Strand7 for frame or FE analysis, combined with the Strand7 API and Excel to generate/modify models and read/analyse results.
Advantages: The combination will do just about anything (including dynamic, 3D, non-linear etc), and doing the design work in Excel means you know what is going on.
Disadvantages: The API has a steep learning curve (but copying and pasting to/from the Strand7 editor is also quite effective and very easy).
Doug Jenkins
Interactive Design Services
http://newtonexcelbach.wordpress.com/
RE: Structural Sofwares
I would recommend Inventor Professional as you get a bag of apportunities using this software like FEA analysis, Frame analysis, endless design accelerations as per natioanal standards plus you do take benefit of saving you time. Additionally Solidworks and Staad pro are valuable softwares for Structural Engineers.
Good luck.
RE: Structural Sofwares
I also use CFS and AISIwin for cold formed steel design and occasionally BC-CAlc for I-joist or column design (these run on the PC side of my Mac)
If it gets more complicated than that or I can't do it by hand, I don't' take the job.
RE: Structural Sofwares
Tedds for Word is good if you want nice looking calcs that are easy to follow. It is not the most powerful program but it does let you create your own calcs. It is like a less powerful mathcad and in a way replaces excel calcs or makes them easier to follow. I know IDS will jump on here and tell me how I'm wrong and I probably am, its just that excel/spreadsheet calcs can be difficult to follow. But then again if that really isn't your priority then it's hard to argue with excel.
EIT
www.HowToEngineer.com
RE: Structural Sofwares
Excel for all basic tabular calculations. Programmed by myself or handed down from other engineers where I know exactly what the limitations are of the spreadsheet. No enercalc for me.. all excel.
I use Profis for Appendix D calcs.
RamSteel for composite beam design with Ram Frame is a good way to go for a steel structure.
ETABS for concrete structures.
Risa 3-D is Ok, but I prefer either Ram or Etabs.
ETABS with SAFE is a good work flow, similar to Risa-3D to Risa foundation. I like the computers and structures software because I think it uses the best algorithms for dynamic results. And it is great for concrete design.. not so much for composite design.. With that I stick with RamSteel, RamFrame, Ramfoundation software.
It really depends on the types of structures you're designing. I feel certain softwares handle certain building types best. I have been lucky to be exposed to many different softwares.. I currently use Risa 3D/Risa Floor/ Risa Foundation. It works OK, but sometimes I miss my Ram..
I don't like how Risa Floor calculates girder deflections and cantilevers..And i dont like how it handles self weight camber, and mass. More control with camber and mass using Ram.
RE: Structural Sofwares
On another note, I tried Tedds some but left the company that was using this software. It appears to be very powerful but does have some setup time and understanding of how it works and flows. but from what I can see it could really be set up to save time and stream line calcs if someone had the time to really get into it.
RE: Structural Sofwares
at my design office, we are using Cross Section Analysis & Design, as an independent, external tool suitable for:
- Moment Curvature Analysis of arbitrary cross secrtions
- Interaction diagrams (Axial force vs Moment or Moment X vs Moment Y
- Automatic reinforcemenet design
- Check of a provided reinforcement pattern
- Calculation of sectional properties of arbitrary cross sections
- Cracked concrete analysis
- Calculation of neutral axies location, and representation of stress contours and strain diagrams under given nromal force and biaxial bending
- Support of the following reinforced concrete codes: AASHTO, UBC, AS 3600, IS 456, ACI 318, BS 8110, CSA A233, EC2, NZS 3101, CP 65
We find this package extremely useful and easy-to-use.It has helped us a lot in the design phase of structural elements, after having obtained the corresponding internakl forces from an analysis program.
Moreover, when performing non-linear analyses (material non linearity, like push-over), we use to create moment curvature diagrams in this software, export their coordinates in a text file and easily import that in SAP.
Apart from this, we need many times to check the adequacy of some irregular or complex cross sections using allowable stress design (retrofitted concrete section, timber sections, masonry, composite, steel etc), whcih is a time-demanding task. This software helped us a lot in such cases as well.
If anyone has any other experience from this software, please feel free to share, as it feels that it is too good to be tru to me :)
RE: Structural Sofwares
RE: Structural Sofwares
Cheers
Greg Locock
New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376: Eng-Tips.com Forum Policies http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?
RE: Structural Sofwares
RE: Structural Sofwares
RE: Structural Sofwares
Ram Concept for mat foundations. I hate it, but it's all I have. (Was there ever a more user unfriendly software than this?)
RE: Structural Sofwares
RE: Structural Sofwares
I'll have to look it up.
"We shape our buildings, thereafter they shape us." -WSC
RE: Structural Sofwares
RAM SS is good for managing large projects and doing it quickly and easily. RAM Frame can be a little black-boxy though and troublesome with complicated geometry. (Arg! A frame member supporting on another gravity member!?! Blast!)
"We shape our buildings, thereafter they shape us." -WSC
RE: Structural Sofwares
but I personally prefer Concept over Elements for mat design.
If you want to take if offline, or start another forum thread that's fine. http://communities.bentley.com/products/structural...
RE: Structural Sofwares
Regards,
JK7070
RE: Structural Sofwares
RE: Structural Sofwares
kyut - search the forum - there are numerous threads on this topic. Or be more specific on type of work you do so you can get specific answers.
RE: Structural Sofwares
I disagree. There are softwares out there that only require you to just push the button, nothing else.
Analysis and Design of arbitrary cross sections
Reinforcement design to all major codes
Moment Curvature analysis
http://www.engissol.com/cross-section-analysis-des...
RE: Structural Sofwares