cold formed steel

[bjb]

Can anyone recommend a good computer programs for the design of cold formed steel structures and masonry structures?

 

[ERV]

Check out this site for a wealth of information on cold formed steel:

http://www.steel.org/construction/design/index.html

 

[CSEllc]

Try the light gage structural engineers assocaition, LGSEA. The have a program for metal studs.

You can also download a program from

http://www.clarksteel.com

The program is called AISIWIN. DEVCO software also has several programs available.

The NCMA has several programs available for masonry design. I have evaluated several programs over the years and found, Unfortunately, most masonry design programs are not very good. Most of the programs are rather cumbersome.

Most engineers don't "design" masonry, they use what has worked for them in the past.

I design masonry using the ASD method. I find that I can design a reinforced masonry wall quicker by hand than with a some of the programs I have evaluated.

 

[jheidt2543]

You might also try the Masonry Designer's Guide, 3rd Edition, by The Masonry Society.

 

[CSEllc]

For what it is worth, my personal opinion about the best masonry book is Reinforced Masonry Design by Schnieder and Dickey. MAny of the PE test questions when I took my PE exam (1989) were right out of the book. Drysdale, Hamid and Bakers book is not bad but I don;t think i comapres to the other.

Regarding the j/k method, there are chrts and tables available with the various j and k coefficients calculated. I agree if you need to calculate the j and k everytime using the equations it is a nightmare but the tables are quick, and easy.