Could Pro/Mechanica analyze the structures like bridge?

[ccwpeter]

I need some tools to do FEA for the structure of my design. It consists of beams and trusses and look like bridges or towers.
I want to suggest my boss to buy Pro/Mechanica but smoeone said Pro/Mechanica is not suitable for those kinds of structures.
Please give me advises about Pro/Mechanica on my application.

Peter

 

[darcyo]

Peter,
Pro/M is well suited for truss simulations. Pro/M uses high order beam elements whose shape functions more accurately predict strains than linear elements of many simple FEA packages. To be honest however, the accuracy of all top-competing FEA packages are quite similar, as the FE solvers use such high-order elements, whether they be beam elements, CST elements, transitional emements, or solid elements. The interface is pretty good with Pro/M. a truss for example is drawn using datum curves. cross-sectional and material properties are then applied to each member. i have actually found the accuracy of my beam element model to be within 6% of a real-life simulation (which was actually of a simple warren-style welded truss).
hope this helps.
darcyo.