Essential Structural Engineering Software?

[handoflion]

Hi all,

I've been asked to review my firm's current engineering software and recommend any potential new software for purchase.

We are based in Sydney, Australia and mainly work on higher end residential and the odd low-rise multi-res amongst other odds and ends. We currently run SPACEGASS (without plates;add in RC/steel design components), Strand7, RAPT and SLABS.

I've only ever worked with these programs so don't really have a grasp of what else is out there that is useful for analysis/design within the Australian codes.

Any suggestions/tips/advice that anyone has on this topic would be greatly appreciated.

Robbie

 

[IRstuff]

I suggest you do a search for "structural" and "software." This sort of question pops up at least once a year.

TTFN
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Of course I can. I can do anything. I can do absolutely anything. I'm an expert!
There is a homework forum hosted by engineering.com:

http://www.engineering.com/AskForum/aff/32.aspx

 

[bd96]

Wallap and/or LPile have always come in handy for foundation design.

Just out of curiosity, how does SPACEGASS compare to Strand7? I've used Strand7 quite a bit, but never SPACEGASS.

 

[Ingenuity]

Here is a FAQ on the subject...

Structural Engineering Software FAQ


“…structural engineering isn’t rocket science. Evidently, it is considerably more difficult.”
Norbert J. Delatte, Jr., PhD, PE. 2009. Re Harbour Cay Condominium Collapse, March 27, 1981.

 

[Archie264]

Remember to include what Engineering News-Record called the most useful structural engineering software package ever developed: Excel.

(Or words to that effect.)

 

[ooox]

Beyond what you've listed, we've started to use Inducta RC Building for our column rundowns and lateral design. Early days still, however, we're getting similar results when compared to other design software and spreadsheets. The other ones which spring to mind are RAM Concept, Limcon and TEDDs.

 

[Trenno]

Do you have in-house spreadsheets for everyday repetitive calcs? Something like Tedds or Structural Toolkit (Australian based) would cover these nicely.

Hyne design 7 is great for the timber stuff (free).

Another aspect you could look at is the workflow itself. For example, have you ever tried to make Revit and Spacegass talk to each other?

I've also heard good things about Autodesk Robot, however I believe the Australian flavour isn't quite to taste just yet.

 

[Guastavino]

Not sure if RISA has Australian codes but I own the whole suite. It's easy to use, accurate, and relatively transparent. If you need "Fancy" analysis like non-linear, etc. RISA is not your program.

As for run of the mill, I use TEDDs and MS Excel.

Also, TEDDs is about to drop it's "Light" package and only offer TEDDs for Word. TEDDS for word is about $4,000. Tedds "light" is about $1800. After the end of this month, it's my understanding that all TEDDs light customers are getting free upgrades to TEDDS for word. The company that bought TEDDS (Trimble) directed this. I'm not sure it's available to everyone but I found this out from my local TEKLA sales rep and it's why I recently purchased TEDDs.

 

[mes7a]

Most software just give you the rebars ratios for certain factored demands. I'm looking for one where you can input the exact rebars inside the beams and columns and the software will give you the seismic analysis. Which software has this capability?

 

[JedClampett]

You had me until seismic capacity. Do you mean structural capacity? If that's the case TEDDS (yay) or Enercalc (not yay) can do it.

 

[jayrod12]

RISA will allow you to enter your own reinforcing layout.

 

[Brad805]

With SPACEGASS and Strand7 it would seem you have the basic frame analysis tools covered. Do you use any BIM software? If so, that tends to reduce the options if one wants to improve the workflow process.

Instead of such a general question I suggest your supervisor suggest what design aspects are taking longer than they like so you can streamline the process. Sit down with some key designers and have a roundtable where you go over the typical mundane tasks you do day in day out to see what would lead to the greatest reduction in wasted time.

TEDDS without the word add on seems very restrictive unless you only need the typical tools you see in the demo. If you have any pre-existing spreadsheets it is easy to improve the function of these using TEDDS with word. I have plans to create a more automated general notes page with TEDDS one day. None of us like that page (or pages nowadays)