Seeking Program for Effective Section Prop Cold Formed Steel ANSI 2

[GUNDAM1]

I am looking for a program that can accurately calculate section properties for Cold formed Steel with ANSI effective width method. I have tried AutoCAD, Solidworks, ShapeDesigner, ProE, ShapeBuilder and alot of more. However, none of those software has the capability to do so. Can some professionals help me out? I will appreciate from head to toe.

 

[ron9876]

Check out the Steel Smart program.

 

[neffers]

I think this may have what you are looking for...

http://www.devcosoftware.com/aisiwin.html

Neffers

 

[neffers]

this may also be another option...

http://www.rsgsoftware.com/

Neffers

 

[jimstructures]

Try IES Shapebuilder V 5

at

http://www.iesweb.com/products/shapebuilder/

 

[GUNDAM1]

Thanks for all those suggestions. I have just tried the demo version of those programs. The IES Shapebuilder cannot calculate the effective section properties. The AISIWIN can only calculate standardized shapes which is no use to me. I am looking at the CFS right now. But due to the limitation of the demo, I cannot verify it capabilities. Does anyone have ever used that CFS program?

Please look that the image I supplied. All I need is a tool to calculate the effective Ixx, Sxx in positive bending (top in compression) and negative bending (bottom in compression).

 

[iv63]

Try AutoCAD's command MASSPROP (Draw profile first then convert it to REGION). Here is an example:

Command: MASSPROP

Select objects: 1 found

Select objects:
---------------- REGIONS ----------------

Area: 6.7068
Perimeter: 10.7650
Bounding box: X: 3.6835 -- 7.1069
Y: 2.6424 -- 4.6015
Centroid: X: 5.3952
Y: 3.6219
Moments of inertia: X: 90.1286
Y: 201.7705
Product of inertia: XY: 131.0579
Radii of gyration: X: 3.6658
Y: 5.4849
Principal moments and X-Y directions about centroid:
I: 2.1451 along [1.0000 0.0000]
J: 6.5501 along [0.0000 1.0000]
Regards,
iv

 

[ajh1]

CFS should do everything you want. We used it for years. We use it for both our Z and C sections as well as panel sections like yours. You are right, the demo won't give you this section as it is limited to something like 7 flat surfaces, enough for a Z or C to test it out, but not enough to properly model a panel cross-section.

 

[GUNDAM1]

ajh1
Thanks for the reply. I am planning to get the CFS. I just contacted them. Seems like they are going to release a new version of CFS to allow the import of DXF file which is very beneficial to me.

 

[rowingengineer]

if the section is complex why not change over to the direct strength method.

ANY FOOL CAN DESIGN A STRUCTURE. IT TAKES AN ENGINEER TO DESIGN A CONNECTION.”