Steel Design Software

[ntpe]

I am looking for a good steel beam program. I would like something that will size multispan beams while considering various unbraced lengths at the top and bottom flange. Any suggestions?

 

[SacreBleu]

Enercalc has a module that does continuous steel beams. I am working on an Exxcel spreadsheet that does cantilevered beams, but do not have a method for analyzing continuous beams (may be practical to do this by stiffness matrix, but I don't have the knowledge yet to do this).
Risa and RamSteel are other possibilities. StruCalc may do this, but I am not familiar with it.

 

[mrMikee]

ntpe,

I don't know of any special purpose beam programs but you might find something by searching these forums. There have been some good spreadsheet sites mentioned in the spreadsheet area that would be worth a look.

Also try:
thread404-128331

http://www.freebyte.com/cad/

As SacreBleu mentions the analysis/design programs will do this but at a price. For example RISA $2000, Sap2000 $2000 and up, Multiframe3D $995, Multiframe2D $595, and many more. Be careful with the less expensive analysis programs, most do not do code checking which is what you seem to be looking for regarding unbraced lengths etc.

Sorry I don't have specific recommendations.

Regards,
-Mike

 

[SacreBleu]

mrMikee,
I looked at Multiframe's website, but they do not make it clear what their pricing is. The code-checking is a separate program - is that included in $595 cost of Multiframe2D?

For "analysis only" of 2D frames, Enercalc has a free download of their FastFrame program. It is quite sophisticated for freeware.

 

[mrMikee]

SacreBleu,

The "Multiframe Starter Bundle" which is 2D and the "Multiframe 3D Bundle" include the analysis, code checking, and section editor programs, and are priced at $595 and $995 respectively. The analysis only programs can be purchased separately at $295 and $595.

I have had the 3D package for about a month now and am impressed with its overall functionality and intuitive way of laying down the geometry. I haven't made up my mind yet about the code checking part, it seems ok but I have no experience with anything else to compare it to, and wouldn't want to influemce anyone with premature or bad information.

I think that the extent to which the analysis programs have picked up on the code checking part has had an impact on the availability of special purpose beam and truss design programs, which is probably what ntpe is looking for.

-Mike

 

[geoffdale]

I have strucalc. Very affordable, and very good. You can download the demo on their website. It takes into account Lu on top and bottom flanges. It also has a sizer and check analsyis portion.
Good luck.

 

[fleisher]

Look at the new STAAD.beam from REI. I just got an emailer...

http://www.reiworld.com/Product/beam/beam.asp.

Both analysis and design and has options for web openings, composite design (with shear stud layout) and floor vibration checks.

 

[SacreBleu]

fleisher,
I just glanced at REI's STAAD.beam website. It mentions only ASD code check. Would that put it at a serious disadvantge for composite beams?

 

[burtonli]

You can download a SAP 2000 demo

 

[WillisV]

I second Ramsteel - good general purpose program for small buildings with composite/noncomposite steel beam design. Ramsbeam is an extremely useful cheaper option too but its limited to single spans with cantilevers.

 

[DRC1]

I like IES products. Check out

http://www.iesweb.com

 

[Stress02]

RAM has some nice stand alone programs for a couple hundred bucks each. They just upgraded the beam/composite beam program.

 

[14159]

Ramsbeam can't be beat for simple span beams, composite or noncomposite with cantilevers.

If you're also in the market for something a little more general purpose, then RISA and SAP are both great. SAP is more technically correct and much more powerful but some think it's a bit more difficult to learn. I think it's more expensive also. The last time I checked, RISA was $1200 (a few years back) and SAP was $2000 (a very recent quote) for their base version. RISA used to have a 2D version that might be cheaper and should still take care of your continuous beams.

Although I have no proof that they're all bad, I would not design any actual building members with some Brand X program that I downloaded for cheap/free from the Internet. I would feel the need to spend so many hours checking it that I would be better off buying SAP at $2k.

If I was really worked up over price, I'd write the continuous beam stuff in Mathcad or Excel using the 3 and 4-span moment, shear, and deflection values from the AISC Manual. This could be done at home over a weekend. That would be close enough for 99% of continuous beams I've done. Then buy Ramsbeam for simple-span noncomposite and composite beams.

Another thing to think about: The 2005 AISC Spec has been released and is significantly different from the 3rd Edition LRFD Spec and in a different world than the 89 ASD (Allowable Stress Dinosaur) Spec. If you write your own, you can increase the service life by using the new Spec. If you buy something based on the obsolete stuff, then you're probably going to have to buy something else soon.

14159

 

[dik]

Sacrebleu... for your spreadsheet... you might want to look at doing an old fashioned moment distribution...
Dik

 

[14159]

"Sacrebleu... for your spreadsheet... you might want to look at doing an old fashioned moment distribution...
Dik"

That brings up another idea. Does anybody have a continuous beam matrix displacement solution programmed into Mathcad? It seems like that would be child's play and would look cool too

14159

 

[mrMikee]

14159,

I've wanted to do this (matrix beam program) for a long time, but haven't gotten around to it yet. I would use "Matrix Methods of Structural Analysis" by Chu-Kia Wang for a reference, a simple but effective approach to learning matrix methods. Besides, I would use Mathematica which is used my me and maybe two others guys in structures.

Regards,
-Mike

 

[SacreBleu]

14159, mrMikee

The advantage of matrix methods is that you can accurately compute moment and deflections for beams with complex loads. The original Enercalc ran on Lotus 123 and I believe that its beam analyzers used matrix methods. I never really got into matrix mathematics since I graduated from college.