CAST Strut and Tie Program (University of Illinois) 2

[dlawrence529]

Hi,

I've read about the CAST (Computer Aided Strut and Tie) program from University of Illinois. I can't find the download for this program anywhere. Does anyone know if it is still available? The only download I have found is from a website in Thailand. Ideally, I'd like to find a more reputable source.

Dale

 

[rn14]

Dan Kuchma moved from University of Illinois to Tufts. You could try emailing him. I tried a few months ago with no luck.

http://engineering.tufts.edu/cee/people/kuchma/

 

[dik]

link:

http://engineeringsoftwares.blogspot.ca/2007/02/cast-strut-tie.html

 

[dlawrence529]

Thanks rn14. I'll try to reach out to him.

Thanks dik. That is the link that takes you to tumcivil.com for the download. I'd like to avoid this site unless someone has experience with it.

 

[dik]

no experience with the site...Dik

 

[mike20793]

I have it, but I can't remember where I downloaded it. It's been a couple years since I have even used it.

 

[dik]

I've installed the file on a laptop in a sandbox and no adverse add ons... Copy of zip file attached. The program is about 10 years old, but seems to function OK. Subdirectory of installed directory has examples and these can be fairly complex. Haven't checked the program out, but, seems like a good analysis program.

Dik

 

[TehMightyEngineer]

Very nice, I got it working on a Windows 10 machine. Only issue is the help file seems to be missing. I've puzzled out most of the features and got a S&T model running but some inputs I don't know what to do with. Anyone got a working help file or tutorial running around?

Professional Engineer (ME, NH, MA) Structural Engineer (IL)
American Concrete Industries

https://www.facebook.com/AmericanConcrete/

 

[dik]

Added: Works on Win7 and Win8.1.

No help file, but there are numerous tutorials on the web... also some *.pdf files.

Dik

 

[dik]

This was one of the files... see page 46 and on. Some of the 'buttons' are explained.

Dik

 

[TehMightyEngineer]

Yeah, I found that one just this morning. Best one I've found so far and has gotten me most of the way there. I'll keep searching for more.

Professional Engineer (ME, NH, MA) Structural Engineer (IL)
American Concrete Industries

https://www.facebook.com/AmericanConcrete/

 

[dik]

TME... thanks, post a link if you encounter any good ones... or a help file. In Win7, there was an error message regarding the help file, and it may be necessary to update something... loath to due to Microsoft spyware...

Dik

 

[TehMightyEngineer]

I have the same issue with the help file in Windows 10. I might see if I can open the help file on my old Windows XP machine.

Professional Engineer (ME, NH, MA) Structural Engineer (IL)
American Concrete Industries

https://www.facebook.com/AmericanConcrete/

 

[dlawrence529]

I was able to access the University of Illinois CAST page using the Wayback Machine. It has some FAQ and other helpful info

https://web.archive.org/web/20070707094813/http://www.cee.uiuc.edu:80/kuchma/strut_and_tie/

 

[dik]

Some CAST *.pdf files from your link.

Dik

 

[justhumm]

I loaded CAST onto my Windows 7 machine and it seemed to be running without a hitch, except for the HELP file, as noted above, but that was an easy fix. For anything later than Windows XP, you need to download a microsoft help file reader.

[URL unfurl="true"]https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=91[/url]

Any ideas on why the development of the program was discontinued? Or if there are any similar programs under development?...seams like a useful tool for sanity checks.

 

[MacGruber22]

If having problems set up a virtual machine with the free Oracle VMware. Very easy to do - tutorials on youtube. All you need is a key for whatever version of windows you need to run. Win XP key's are littered all over the internet since their support has gone away from MS.



-Mac

 

[dlawrence529]

I'm not sure why it was discontinued. The professor that created it moved to another school. Maybe the rights to the program belong to his previous school?

Fachwerk seems to be the other free program. I started playing around with it but didn't get too far

http://fachwerk.sourceforge.net/index_en.html

 

[justhumm]

I just happened to come across this software. Haven't looked into it at all, but might be worth keeping in mind...

"AStrutTie is a strut-tie model analysis/design software for concrete members with disturbed stress region(s). It enables users to design corbel (bracket), abutment/pier footing, bridge pier coping (pier cap), frame corner, anchorage zone, simply supported/continuous deep beam, beam-column joint, PSC box, etc. The software supports U.S (ACI 318, AASHTO LRFD) and Europe (EuroCode 2) codes and specifications."

[URL unfurl="true"]http://astruttie.aroad.co.kr/[/url]

 

[TehMightyEngineer]

Looks fairly user friendly; I may have to look into getting a copy as that might be very useful for speeding up and optimizing some of my precast designs.

Professional Engineer (ME, NH, MA) Structural Engineer (IL)
American Concrete Industries

https://www.facebook.com/AmericanConcrete/