Frame analysis software
Frame analysis software
(OP)
Can anyone recommend frame analysis software for analyzing small plane frames, say up to 24 members? Any free downloadable software for that?
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RE: Frame analysis software
http://newtonexcelbach.wordpress.com/2012/09/21/da...
Doug Jenkins
Interactive Design Services
http://newtonexcelbach.wordpress.com/
RE: Frame analysis software
RE: Frame analysis software
RE: Frame analysis software
Try it with a simple example and if you have any problems let me know.
Doug Jenkins
Interactive Design Services
http://newtonexcelbach.wordpress.com/
RE: Frame analysis software
RE: Frame analysis software
RE: Frame analysis software
It costs a surprising amount of time / effort / $$$ for software developer to deal with all the little issues unrelated to analysis or design. Installs, Windows permissions, operating systems, loading of various libraries, compatibility issues... et cetera.
Not railing against free software, just pointing out that free software isn't completely free. You end spending more of your time and energy working with it than you would for paid software. For some computer savvy folks that's the way they like it. For less computer savvy folks, it may not be worth the effort.
Note:
I work for RISA Technologies (a company that sells this type of frame analysis software). You can download a free demo version of RISA-2D from our website (www.risa.com) if you like. The demo version limits itself to a maximum of 20 members or joints. Anything larger than that and the ability to save the file is disabled. Therefore, it may not be suited for the type of model you describe. Keep in mind, of course, that it's not meant for production engineering, but merely as a trial version to demonstrate what the program can do.
RE: Frame analysis software
RE: Frame analysis software
RE: Frame analysis software
RE: Frame analysis software
RE: Frame analysis software
Which file? Which version of Excel are you using?
For a 2D analysis you just need to open a copy of Frame4.xlsb, or Frame4.xls if you are using an Excel version before 2007, and enable macros, there is nothing else you need to install. A 32 bit OS should not be a problem.
Josh - I appreciate you being up front about working for Risa, but I don't appreciate you recommending ajk1 to give up before he has even started.
Doug Jenkins
Interactive Design Services
http://newtonexcelbach.wordpress.com/
RE: Frame analysis software
I didn't recommend giving up! And, I'm not making any comments about that software in particular.
Rather, I'm just suggesting that "free" software will, in general, expect more out of the user. You can't expect the developer to update / revise their install packages every time a new version of Windows is released. He/she is not getting paid for any of that. So, what's their motivation for dealing with all those pesky little compatibility issues that pop up?
It's crazy how much time and energy we spend at RISA dealing with these types of issues so our users don't have to. It would be impractical for anyone to put that kind of effort for free / shareware software....
RE: Frame analysis software
I'm not a sales engineer, so they don't normally let me give out quotes.
But, if you download the demo you should get an automatic e-mail from our sales group. If you respond to them, I'm sure they'll give you a proper quote. My belief is that it should be around $1500 for a fully licensed version.
RE: Frame analysis software
Getting back to the previous discussion. Let's say you are a computer savvy guy and it takes you an extra 1/2 hour or so a month to fiddle with a free program than it would if you used a commercial program. This might not matter to you if you're the type of person who LIKES to learn more about computers by dealing with these kinds of things yourself.
But, for those users who are not all that computer savvy or for those who value those extra hours very highly, the free software may quickly become the more expensive option.
Stated another way, the effect of a software on your everyday productivity is as important (or more so) than the initial cost of the program. At least when you consider your time / productivity in the long term cost / benefit analysis.
RE: Frame analysis software
Doug Jenkins
Interactive Design Services
http://newtonexcelbach.wordpress.com/
RE: Frame analysis software
My understanding is that the free Risa is good for only 30 days. Right?
RE: Frame analysis software
The point is to make it useful enough for a robust trial, but to make it impractical to use for a long period of time for production engineering work.
RE: Frame analysis software
RE: Frame analysis software
RE: Frame analysis software
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zip_(file_format)
If you have a reasonably new version of Windows you should be able to open a zip file without any other software. It looks like a normal folder, but because the files are compressed you need to copy them to another (non-zip) folder first. To try the 2D frame program just copy Frame4.xlsb (or Frame4.xls if you are running Excel 2003 or earlier) to another folder. You should then be able to open it and enable macros. Once macros are enabled you just enter the data for your frame on the two input sheets then click the recalculate button on the Output sheet.
If your version of Windows doesn't let you see the files inside the zip file, or won't let you copy them to another folder, you will need an unzip program. I use Total Commander which is a file manager with built in zip and unzip functions (free with nag screen). There are also many other free programs that will do the job.
It would be helpful if you gave us more details:
What version of Windows and Excel?
Are you able to see the files inside the zip file, or have you been trying to run the zip file?
Doug Jenkins
Interactive Design Services
http://newtonexcelbach.wordpress.com/
RE: Frame analysis software
I wrote a windows exe app that does 2D frame analysis and has graphical input and output. The main limitation for you, I suspect, is that you can't select pre-loaded steel profiles. I've attached the User's manual to this post for you to check out. If you're interested, you're welcome to it.
As for medium duty commercial packages, I like both RISA and Visual Analysis. They're both quick and powerful.
KootK
The greatest trick that bond stress ever pulled was convincing the world it didn't exist.
RE: Frame analysis software
RE: Frame analysis software
RE: Frame analysis software
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We don't show you how to create joint loads in this model. But, it is the button right next to the distributed loads icon shown in the video.
RE: Frame analysis software
http://cuylaerts.net/
Michael.
"Science adjusts its views based on what's observed. Faith is the denial of observation so that belief can be preserved." ~ Tim Minchin
RE: Frame analysis software
RE: Frame analysis software
RE: Frame analysis software
I have released the moment connection at both ends for all beams, so the I value has no effect on the results, but a non zero value is required so I have entered 1 for all beams. If a moment connection is required then the correct I value (in inch^4 units)should be entered, and the moment releases deleted.
Doug Jenkins
Interactive Design Services
http://newtonexcelbach.wordpress.com/
RE: Frame analysis software
I have spent several hours trying to learn RISA but although I got as far as drawing the model (quite easy) and putting in the support types and members, I can't get it to solve, or to show the applied loads on the diagram. There are just too many unknowns about the RISA program for me to rely on it without becoming much more familiar with it. The problem with it is that it does much more than I am interested in at this time. All I want is the reactions and member forces. When I used to do this stuff 40 years ago, it was much simpler, although the software did not carry out the design then.