Structural Analysis Software Search 1

[epr]

There are many good and complex programs out there that are geared toward design. I use a number of them in this office.

However, much of my work is after-the-fact, whether it be an older structure, or after it is constructed, and I need to analyze the condition.

Almost all of the available software has input and output limited by code criteria, and will not allow me to perform an analysis if it falls outside these criteria. Some will only allow design mode, but not an analysis mode.

Does anyone have, or know of any structural analyses software that will allow the stresses, etc., to be computed and output, even if it doesn't work? One such program is StruCalc, but this does not handle concrete analyses, certain steel components, footings with overturning, etc.

I am after software for a variety of materials, not just steel and concrete.

Anyone have any information for me?

 

[apetr26542]

I use Risa 3d, I believe there website is

http://www.risatech.com.

It allows the user to be very specific and you can define your own material properties or you can use the ones provided, steel, concrete, aluminum, wood. It will analyze simple beams, 2d frames, 3d frames and even finite element.

 

[fleisher]

We use STAAD primarily for analysis and smaller tools like Enercalc for design. STAAD is pretty much the standard tool in the industry for multi-material design. It can do footings as well, but i have never tried the timber stuff.

 

[trac]

Anyone who is using RISA like me, must be amazed by how easy it is to build/modify/manipulate structural models not only for beam element structures but also for basic plate element structures. As I would like to analyse more sophisticated brick element models e.g. lifting lugs structural steel joint nodes etc (as opposed to really sophisticated brick models), I have been investigating MIDAS, STRAND7 and ROBOT 17 software. Any recommendations with respect to how quick it is to a build and modify a relatively simple brick model e.g. a structural steel joint node. I am aware that for beam elements STRAND7 does not have code checking capabilities or that none of them have stiffened plate code checking.

 

[PriteshMistry]

I use GSA is is a package that Arup use and it is available from

http://www.oasys-software.com

. You can define your own materials to analyse and generally I found it very simple to use as a first time user and it didnt break the bank as it only cost £500 quid. When I was looking I tried it as it was a free download from there web site with 30 days free use and I figured if I didn't pick up how to use it by then, then I would look at something else. They also do other software too....

 

[jhardy1]

trac,

You are right that there is no code checker for beam elements in Strand7. I am told that one is under development, but I wouldn't hold your breath waiting. I use a different frame analysis and design package for routine design of steel and concrete frames, but it is a dog to use compared with Strand7, so I won't name it here. If / when Strand7 implements its code checker module, I will switch over in a flash.

For doing code checking of plate / shell and brick elements, I typically export a table of element results from Strand7 into Excel, then "massage" the results to check local element stresses against code limits. You can also import the resulting stress factors / safety factors back into Strand7, and produce Contour Plots of reserve factors over the whole model, for example.

Strand7 also has an optional API toolkit, with which you can write your own applications to automatically analyse and interrogate any sort of model you can dream up. Someone may even have developed a code checker API application by now - I haven't checked.

I think Strand7 has one of the most intuitive user interfaces of any FEA package I have come across, whether you are talking about beam, plate / shell, or solid elements. It has very powerful built in meshing, subdividing and refinement tools, and there is also an optional CAD import and auto-mesh facility which will import IGES and SAT files, which you can export from pretty well any 3D CAD package. You can check out the capabilities using the free download, but be aware that the CAD import facility is not included in the base package price; it is a modestly priced "extra".