In this article, Brankaspedia shares the 4 Best Free Structural Engineering Software For Windows. This software is basically used to analyze a physical structure in terms of stability, strength, etc with respect to the loads assigned to it. For this purpose, this structural analysis software lets you define nodes, joints, members, sections, elements, materials, nodal constraints, restraints, and other parameters.
Also, you need to define conditions like fixation, force, moment, uniform load, temperature effect, nodes and settlements, nodes and angles, etc. to build a credible structure. After that, you need to set lots of different types like distributive, point, etc.
Now on to the main structural analysis section, it provides different calculations on static analysis (non-variable load), eigenvalue analysis, static pushover analysis, static adaptive pushover analysis, static time-history analysis, dynamic time-history analysis, response spectrum analysis, incremental dynamic analysis and more. Reports of results can be easily retrieved for interpretation. The report basically consists of joint reactions, joint deflections, story drift, member forces, member stresses, member torsion, suggested design, plate stresses, material takeoff, solid stresses, solid principals, connection results and other results.
One of the software that we will mention below is a bridge structure analysis software that can be used to make railway or highway type bridges and analyze the bridge structure made for credibility. Here are 4 Best Free Structural Engineering Software For Windows:
1. APM Structure3D
APM Structure3D is a free structural engineering software for Windows. It provides front, top, left, and custom views to create and see through your structure. At first, you need to draw nodes, rods, solids, circles, arcs, supports, elastic links, spring supports, hinges, etc. Then, you can assign loads to your structure and define other parameters by going to the Load menu, such as force on nodes, moments on nodes, displacement of nodes, temperature of nodes, linear acceleration, angular acceleration, dynamic load graph, etc. Other options include properties (section, rod info, element type, material) and tools (node alignment, check connections, connect nodes, etc.).
Structural analysis is performed using the Calculation menu. You can perform static, nonlinear, buckling, P-delta analysis, eigenfrequency, depressed eigenfrequency, and heat analysis calculations. This analysis can be performed for various load cases. Results can be retrieved from the Result menu. There is a Code Combination option to add a combination by specifying case parameters including case load name, case type, safety factor, duration proportion and additional coefficients.
It lets you import and export DXF, DAT, BDF, etc. files. APM Structure3D is a good structural analysis software with a variety of good analysis tools.
[Download APM Structure3D].
2. MASTAN2
MASTAN2 is a very simple structural analysis software for Windows. To design a structure, it lets you define nodes, elements, and frames. You can also move, renumber, duplicate, or delete nodes and elements. You get 2D planes with tools like dynamic rotate, dynamic zoom, dynamic pan, etc, to make precise adjustments. Apart from that, you have to define sections, materials, and conditions (fixities, forces, moments, uniform loads, temperature effects, nodes and settlements, nodes and angles).
After defining and creating a structure, you can perform structural analysis on 1/2 order elasticity, 1st order / 2nd order inelastic, elastic critical load, inelastic critical load, and natural period. Results are displayed in the form of diagrams (bent shape, axial force, torque, moment, etc.), node displacement, knot reaction, element force, plastic deformation, MSAPlot, etc.
You can generate analysis reports with general info, geometry, properties, reactions, conditions, displacements, and results of elements. Although you cannot save such a complete report, you can copy the text of the report. It also lets you print the designed structure as a PDF or TIFF file. [Download MASTAN2].
3. SeismoStruct
SeismoStruct is a free structural engineering software for Windows. Although it is a paid Software and comes in a 30 day trial version, students can obtain an academic license to use it for free.
It basically consists of three main working modules including Pre-Processor, Processor and Post-Processor. The following is a description of each of these modules.
Pre-Processor
Settings preferences: This includes customization units to be used for input and calculation purposes, project settings such as solver type (skyline or frontal method), eigensolver (Lanczos, Jacobi with Ritz transform, automatic), iteration scheme and strategy, damping type, etc.
Create a Structure: To do so, you can define material properties (material type, average compressive strength, stiffness, etc.), section properties (material and dimensions, reinforcement, characteristics), element class (beam elements, links, mass and dumping element types), structural nodes, element connectivity, node constraints, and restraints. Now, apply the elements and nodal loads to your structure by specifying the direction, type, and value. You get a 3D view to design and navigate through your model.
Choose a type of analysis: It provides lists including static analysis (non-variable load), eigenvalue analysis, static pushover analysis, static static pushover analysis, static time-history analysis, dynamic time-history analysis, response spectrum analysis, and additional dynamic analysis.
Processor
Run Structural Analysis: Click the run button to perform real-time plots, real-time drawings of defect shapes, or simply analysis of important information. This process may take some time, so you have to be patient. The analysis log is seen at the bottom. You can save these log files by enabling the respective features.
Post Processor
View Detailed Structure Analysis Reports: According to the type of analysis and simulation mode selected, it will display the reports in this module. These reports are categorized as step output, defect shape viewer, action effect diagram, global response parameter, element action effect, and stress and strain output.
Other features of this structural engineering software include creating analysis movies (AVI), inbuilt calculator, SeismoBatch (batch executing saved projects), and more.
It is one of the best structural analysis software for aspiring civil engineers to analyze physical structures. In addition, the software provides several video tutorials that you can watch if you have difficulty using this software.
[Download SeismoStruct].
4. LimitState RING
LimitState RING is another free structural engineering software for bridge design. The free version of this software is actually a demo version which is limited by features. You cannot save/print analysis reports in this demo version of LimitState RING.
LimitState RING is actually a bridge structure analysis software. You can perform structural analysis of railway and highway type bridges. Let’s see how to do a bridge structure analysis using this freeware.
1. Bridge structure design:
To create a new project, you need to add project details (bridge type, effective bridge width, location, map reference, etc.), geometry (left strut, span, right strut, etc.), partial factors (track load, axle load, etc.), dynamics, etc.), materials (rocks, backfill, tracks, load dispersion details, passive zone parameters, etc.), and loads (add load containers, vehicle database, position, dynamic factors, etc.). You can edit the bridge properties from the right pane at any time. It provides a 3D view and tools to navigate through your structure design, like zoom, pan, select, rectangle, etc.
Now, you can perform a structural analysis of the bridge with respect to the load you set in the above step. You can move the load and place it on the desired position on the bridge.
2. Conducting structural analysis on the bridge:
Open the Analysis menu and click the Solve button. The software now calculates the load factor causing the bridge to collapse and displays it on the designed structure.
Detailed analysis reports can be viewed from Analysis > Report. This report consists of general bridge information, information blocks (position, area, support, filling force, etc.), contacts (position, point, loss, shear, moment, status, etc.), etc.
Other common features of LimitState RING:
- It lets you choose the rendering mode as usual, wireframe, low resolution, or low resolution wireframe.
- You can lock the structure design to avoid unwanted modifications.
- It provides an option to save the bridge structure as an image in PNG, JPG, TIF, etc. format.
- You can export the project geometry in DXF format.
Several sample projects are provided for you to use. [Download LimitState RING].
Those are the 4 Best Free Structural Engineering Software For Windows. Hopefully the software mentioned above can be useful for those who need it. Finally, thank you t
