Be aware that A4EI is as user friendly as a parking attendant. For example, you must enter the adhesive plastic shear stress, elastic shear strain limit and shear modulus to four decimal places because the first thing is that it checks that the values are compatible and gives an error message if they are not. So, why insist on getting all three data values and then calculating for any error? Why not just enter two and calculate the third? Enter shear stress, elastic shear strain limit and calculate shear modulus, not ask the user to do that and then play data nazi by doing exactly that calculation and insisting the correct data is entered.
The data also has to be entered in a specific FORTRAN format. I was so frustrated with it that I initiated the development of a pre and post processor with a commercial company so I could enter the data using a windows based user interface. It runs A4EI in the background and outputs the results in the standard Hart-Smith format but also provides the results graphically for shear strain, shear stress etc. with overlap position. It also adds steps, tapers etc. automatically rather than having to do it by hand. Quite a powerful little bit of software. Not sure if it is possible to still get the software but if there is interest I will track down the owner of the package.
I am also aware that the USN has a pre-post processor they use at North Island.
As an aside, the limitation with this forum in not being able to contact people outside the forum for purposes like this is very frustrating. I once added my address in xslkjnxkihdh dot com format (this is not a real address) and was severely chastised by email at that address by the forum manager. There really needs to be some form of making contact outside the forum by private message.
Regards
Blakmax
