Composite Beam Design and Analysis Program 1

[msquared48]

Can anyone recommend a good, user friendly program that will do both Analysis and Design for composite steel beams with metal deck and concrete infill, or solid slab with no metal deck, shored and unshored construction?

Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)

 

[manstrom]

RAM SBeam is what I have been using for years.

Cheap. Easy to use. Produces easy to replicate results.

I just designed a steel podium with it.

 

[msquared48]

Does it use AISC and ACI specs with ASD?

Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)

 

[KootK]

Second vote for RAMSBeam. Your requirements read like the input screen.

The greatest trick that bond stress ever pulled was convincing the world it didn't exist.

 

[msquared48]

I took a brief look at the site and saw nothing regarding composite design, but I will check further and download the free version to peruse more. Thanks.

Oh, by the way, how is the technical support with Bentley if you need any?

Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)

 

[spats]

Another vote for RAM SBeam.

 

[KootK]

It's as good as any of the other vendors IMO. There is one thing I don't like in the version that I use: there are no snow loads. You have to lump snow in with live and fudge it. It might be different in more recent versions. Be sure to design some roof beams with your demo.

The greatest trick that bond stress ever pulled was convincing the world it didn't exist.

 

[steellion]

Enercalc can design individual composite steel beams.

 

[Archie264]

Another positive experience with Ram Beam here.

 

[bookowski]

Etabs can do it as well including all of your requirements, also handles all the other standard composite beam stuff - user stud layouts, vibration check etc. Not the most user friendly interface though.

 

[KootK]

Question for you Mike: when do deckless composite slabs occur for you in practice? I've never had the pleasure. I've filed that in the category of stuff that I'd like to do but probably will never get to, like compression only masonry cathedral design.

The greatest trick that bond stress ever pulled was convincing the world it didn't exist.

 

[JoshPlumSE]

We talking about a concrete floor and a different composite steel floor, or are we mixing and matching within one floor? Or, are we talking about a single beam program? My impression is that Enercalc and SBeam (as opposed to RAM Steel or RISAFloor) are single beam programs.

If we're talking about entire floor systems, then RISAFloor (with the ES/ Elevated Slab) function should work as well. As always, you can download the demo from our website:

http://www.risa.com/forms/demo_request.html

 

[msquared48]

KootK:

I do a lot of analysis with existing structures, and will probably run into that someday. I know it was done in the past. One of my SE problems for the test 33 years ago was exactly that... Have not seen it since though.

This is a single beam analysis situation, not a total system, at least not yet. May need it eventually though.

Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)

 

[Brad805]

Koot, Canam has a deckless composite system called Hambro. We have used this system quite a lot over the years. I attached a link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpCnhFWdRkY

 

[wannabeSE]

msqaured48,
Let me know if you find one that will analyze composite beams with a cover plate on the bottom flange. A couple times I have calculated the capacity by hand to justify new loads on an existing beam. These building also have flat slabs; some beams with a cover plate and some without. Someday, I will finish a spreadsheet I started.

I have tried TEDDS, Enercalc, and RAM Beam. Each of them have there strengths and weakness with no clear winner. So, I won't make a recommendation (plus I have a strong personal distaste for one -- this is my problem, not the software's).

 

[msquared48]

wannabeSE:

The AISC 7th Edition - the blue book - does have some tables that might help you - with cover plates on the bottom and full depth slabs of varying thicknesses. A program is another matter.

Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)