How to choose for my firm? Staad Pro Vs Lusas Vs Risa3D etc Help

[pacman49]

Hi there, I am trying to find personal opinions, good links or conference papers on how one would go about choosing a particular finite element packages (say Staad Pro over Risa3D) in relation to multi storey building design and analysis in using concrete or steel. How does each version of FEA rate in comparison to the other and how would I justify choosing one package over another for say a structural engineering firm that specialises in multi storey building design.

Any help much appreciated. I have quite a good knowledge on Staad Pro V8i but have no first hand experience with any other similar software packages that may be better suited on the market.

Suggestions relative to cost, suitability and usability ???

 

[Qshake]

You'll have to make this decision yourself; others can make suggestions but until you've actually tried the software the prefernces offered by others won't be helpful.

Now the presumption is that most software does everything correct and accurately reports the information. So with that mind consider:

1. Write down exactly how you analyze a building now including all computer and hand calculation steps.
2. Make note, in the process of 1 above, where you'd make improvements or would like to use different analysis techniques.
3. Use the list and notes from 1 and 2 to discuss with software vendors. Have the vendors set up examples to highlight or explain how they'd address your needs.
4. If you're currently using STAAD, take a model file and have the other vendors run a similar model in their software.
5. Don't just fall for the "here's a model I developed and would like to show you" or the "let's build a model". The latter usually translates to "let me show what I know from memory" and they show you canned model they've run a few thousand times.
6. If the vendor doesn't want to do the things above their probably not worth buying from.

At several thousand for a single license these programs aren't something to purchase based on preferences or ready made models with bells and whistles.

Good Luck.


Regards,
Qshake

Eng-Tips Forums:Real Solutions for Real Problems Really Quick.

 

[pacman49]

Thank you very much for taking the time to reply in great detail, I will take your advice on board and look into each point you suggested.
With regard to the 3 programs mentioned in the title do you have any first hand experiences personally using the software and what seems to be the general consensus as to which is the best all rounder and what advantages do they have over each other than the usual run of the mill processes they can perform. Reason I ask is they seem to be the main 3 options that keep being suggested at present.

Thanks

 

[Qshake]

I have past experience in STAAD and little in LUSAS and none with RISA3D.

However, I'm not in the building market but engineering for heavy infrastructure projects such as major bridges, locks, dams, etc. I do find the approach noted above as very helpful no matter what market your in and I've used it successfully.

If you want more building structural engineers to response I suggest you post in the structural engineering other techinical topics forum, which is very popular.

This forum is more for FEA programs and topics such as NASTRANs, ABAQUS, COSMOS, etc and meshing, element usage, solvers, etc.



Regards,
Qshake

Eng-Tips Forums:Real Solutions for Real Problems Really Quick.

 

[rb1957]

even if others have experience with all three s/ware, i doubt that experience will translate well to your application.

start with what you know ...
the work you intend to do ... civil, mechanical, ... ??
the experience you have ... what s/ware are you using ? what features do you think ? what do you want to change ?

then try to solve a typical problem of yours with all three s/ware, see how it goes. make sure you do the work, and not a representative from the s/ware companies ... they'll know a lot of short cuts that you won't know for a long time.

 

[JoshPlumSE]

Evaluating software can be really tricky.... An experienced user or salesman can make just about anything look easy. But, the real question is whether you and your colleagues will be able to do what you need to do for your projects.

If you have time, then I would suggest obtaining a demo copy of the program and working with it for a little while. Identify which features you are most likely to be using at your firm and make sure that those features meet your needs. Some companies will make it easy to get a demo version, some make it more difficult. But, ultimately if they're serious about getting your business then you should be able to get an evaluation copy of some kind.

The firm I used to work for did that type of evaluation back in the mid-1990's. We were picking between STAAD, RISA, SAP and GTStrudl. It didn't take long for us to determine which ones met our needs and which ones did not. It didn't take us long to figure out which programs were easy to learn and easy to use and which ones were not.

Disclaimer: I actually work for RISA. I'm not sure that anything I wrote here shows it, but, I'm not what you'd call an unbiased observer.

 

[loki3000]

http://www.eng-tips.com/threadminder.cfm?pid=507

 

[eckdj]

There have definitely been some useful suggestions provided to your initial post. Ultimately as mentioned, you will need to evaluate which solution fits your specific situation.

The one problem I have found with demo versions of software is that I typically got so involved with how to use the program that I never got an opportunity to understand the full capabilities of the program. I do agree that a typical canned demo, can make any program look impressive and easy to use. I agree with trying to see a demo using the same structure in the different packages to gain an understanding of how you would be using the program.

Also, most of my experience has been in the design of building structures and I have used mainly the RAM Structural System for these designs and it had definitely helped my firms produce designs much faster and more accurately than our previous methods. You may want to explore these programs as well.

 

[mjcmsu]

Depending on how complicated your models are, but I would recommend looking at Visual Analysis by IES. The software is specifically setup for production building framing design and very easy to use.

 

[pacman49]

I am aware am of the major software packages over in the UK, but I am beginning to find out there are possible better less known programs on these shores which may be more useful. Is there anybody with a definitive list of software packages to design and analyse multi-storey buildings with a check list of features of what certain packages may have over others and what similarities they have?

 

[transmissiontowers]

Just to throw another name into the hat, GTStrudl is used for multi-story buildings, bridges, and various 2D and 3D frames. I go to the annual User's Group meetings and have seen several presentations for building analysis. It can handle both concrete and steel design.

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