Slab on grade software

[ntattose]

I have some really messy slab on grade projects coming up. Lots of heavy line and point loads with the slab changing thickness. I am considering trying spMats. Has anyone else used this software? I have FEA programs, but I am hoping to find a better alterative. Thanks.

 

[dik]

I haven't done it lately, but I used to use a PCA program called Airport, I think. This was an airport pavement program from three decades back... used it often for rack loading, etc.

-----*****-----
So strange to see the singularity approaching while the entire planet is rapidly turning into a hellscape. -John Coates

-Dik

 

[ads0221]

SPMats is probably your best bet. MAT3D let’s you create irregular shapes not but it’s harder to differentiate different slab thicknesses all over the place.

 

[milkshakelake]

I use SAFE. It has pros and cons compared to spMats but I think it's better overall. I used to use spMats but I didn't feel that it's as refined and flexible as SAFE. Though SAFE costs more, so there's that. spMats has a lower learning curve. Both allow irregular shapes.

I don't remember if spMats allows dwg import, but SAFE does. That makes it easy to make irregular shapes.

spMats is better about meshing and errors. The latest version of SAFE has a general (triangular) meshing feature which alleviates this, but it's not perfect.