STEEL LATTICE COMMUNICATION TOWERS

[Ayando]

Any Idea on the best software for analyzing steel lattice communication towers from 30 to 120 meters high?

 

[PSEPK]

You may find a wealth of information regarding latticed towers and related software, merely through a keyword search of previous posts.

A good structural engineer is often a blessing for others.

 

[Ayando]

Thanks Senior Engineer. I will do that now.

 

[JoshPlumSE]

The only one I've used is TnxTower (which I used back when it was called RISATower). Since I work for RISA, I am probably a bit biased.

There are other programs out there. PLS Tower I believe is the next most common one that I've heard about. Though, my belief is that it is more geared towards transmission towers / power lines. Though I could be wrong about that.

STAAD even had a tower program at one point. Though it is a very recent entry into this marketplace and I'm skeptical. Not sure that anyone is really using their tower program.

 

[Ayando]

Thanks Josh. My company is planning to invest in a software and we are looking at the best value for money. I have made some enquiries about Tnxtower-only disadvantage is that it is compliant with the USA and Canada Codes.Even though I hear its the best on the market now. I have heard about PLS Tower too. Have you heard out MSTower-its a Bentley Software?

 

[JoshPlumSE]

I had not heard of them... that probably only means that they're not well known in the North American market (which is the only market where I have good knowledge). It seems odd that Bentley would have both STAAD(x)Tower and MSTower. Probably means MSTower was original a separate program that was recently acquired by Bentley.

A quick web search suggests to me that MSTower is mostly an Australian company.... So, if those are the codes you're looking for that might be a good option for you.

If you're looking at the European market there might be some other options. DE Tower, perhaps? I have never used their program, but a friend of my works for them over in the UK and they're the only Tower I've heard of that does the EuroCode.

 

[Ingenuity]

As Josh stated, MSTower is (was?) Australian-based, by MicroStran (MS) before they sold their sole to Bentley only a few years back.

MS is very popular in Austrlaia, and their speciality program MSTower was probably popular too, amongst the consultants that specialized in such.

 

[transmissiontowers]

I use PLS Tower to analyze and design transmission towers and a few free standing triangular telecom towers. It has the ability to generate the TIA loads based on wind speed. I believe you can purchase only the Tower Module from PLS.

GTStrudl also has a module for doing telecom towers, but I have not heard if they are actively marketing it since being bought by Intergraph. I do know the price of the software is going up but they are including more of the solvers and other modules that were previously an extra cost license.

_____________________________________
I have been called "A storehouse of worthless information" many times.

 

[djrexy]

Ayando,

There's several dedicated software that deals with towers depending on the industry.

SAFI - General, covers towers poles
PLS Tower - transmission towers.
STAAD(X).Tower or MStower by Bentley,
TNX (former Risa) Tower - telecommunication towers
TSTower - Canadian software with integrated connections and foundation analysis.

Some other non-dedicated or non-US software's are capable of modeling and analyzing towers as well but I'm not familiarized with them.

DJ,
5+ruc+r@1 3ngin3(ER)