Software for Progressive Collapse analysis per UFC 4-023-03

[jwr08]

Does anyone have experience with good software for non-linear Progressive Collapse analysis? I'm interested in both non-linear static and non-linear dynamic.

We have spoken with a representative from Extreme Loading for Structures (ELS) and ETABS. Any opinions on either of those two? Or is there another software program we should be considering?

Thanks.

 

[JoshPlumSE]

What type of structure are you analyzing? Are you using it for Blast Loading, or Seismic or something else?

 

[CCox]

I recommend a program called Ruaumoko 3D. It was written by Athol Carr from NZ. Very robust program and very versatile. It really put to shame SAP2000, at least back in 2005. It got the moniker CRAP2000 from me. It has multiple hysteresis curves you can select for your yielding members. At the time, it was very cost effective to purchase. I used it in grad school to model RC bridges for seismic retrofit. I ran static pushover analyses and non linear time history analyses through my models. I was also able to investigate soil structure interaction.

The drawbacks are the lack of a GUI. It is a text base input file. Also, the post processing was somewhat crude. I had to create separate routines in perl to process the data and create relevant plots.

 

[IDS]

CCox - do you have a link for Ruaumoko 3D software? I found a couple of manuals, and plenty of references in other documents, but I couldn't find a web site or contact information.

Doug Jenkins
Interactive Design Services

http://newtonexcelbach.wordpress.com/

 

[CCox]

I did some quick research online. Odd, but I couldn't find a way to get a version of it. Whether free or purchased. There is an online forum you can probably join that might have some information for you.

 

[Agent666]

You could contact the author directly, he is/was a professor at university of Canterbury in Christchurch NZ. So can't imagine it would be too hard to dig up some contact details.