Cold-formed steel software

[UcfSE]

I am looking at recommending new software for my company for use with light-gauge metal studs. The software we currently use is no longer available and we need to update to the 2001 NASPEC. What do you guys use or recommend?

What I have currently will analyze beams and wall studs as continuous beams and will check axial, flexure, shear, combined stresses as well as web crippling and deflection. What is good about it is the output is thorough and easy to follow. We often will do specialty engineering as the metal stud engineer and need good calculations for submittal. I am looking for something similar to this but updated.

I have downloaded the LGBeamer demo but it is so limited it is hard for me to really evaluate it. Does anyone have an opinion on this one? I have looked at RSG software also, but have not had success with installing their demo yet. I also have RISA 2D but that doesn't really give me the output I want and doesn't check web crippling.

 

[archeng59]

I use LGBEAMER and like it.

 

[haynewp]

http://www.rsgsoftware.com/

 

[UcfSE]

Thank you, archeng59 and haynewp. I appreciate you taking the time to respond to my thread.

 

[epr]

I have found the "Steel Smart System" to be a great cold-formed steel package. I also have the RSG software, but it was not as powerful, or versatile. It can perform the designs that you mention, as well as shear walls, curtain walls, trusses, etc., and provides a multitude of CAD details for your structural drawings. Try this link:

http://www.steelnetwork.com