I have been trawling the web in sea 2

[Ginger]

I have been trawling the web in search of a suitable beam element analysis software package, allbeit with limited success. I have come across the usual suspects such as STAAD, ANSYS etc. These are marketed as all-seeing all-doing suites with a price tag to match.

I am looking for a beam element package which will allow me to model circular, eliptical or other curved shaped structures (in 2D or 3D) which are supported on springs and will allow me to add/remove/manipulate point loads and UDL's onto the tunnel structure. I use PLAXIS to model the ground response but geotechnical FEA packages seem to concentrate more on the ground than on the structure (naturally). PLease could you experts out there give me some pointers?

Thank you

Regards
Andy Machon

 

[Bannu]

You can comfortably use the RISA-3D in your case. I have been using the same for a year and found really good for small to medium FEM idealisations.

You can model different curved shapes with spring supports very easily through a wizard. More to say about it is it's GUI which is really great.

You can do the same with sap2000 but costlier than the Risa-3D.

Bannu

 

[DRDearth]

You might try out a limited node (Demo) version of MSC/Nastran. They have a comprehensive 3-D Beam element apporach. One can Render the Beam cross section even for non-standard, custom cross section shapes. Nastran will also allow for not only Base Excitation but explicite (node locations) for input excitation.
David R. Dearth, P.E.
Applied Analysis & Technology
E-mail "AppliedAT@aol.com"