In this article, we discuss software to design the best frame structure for Windows. If you are an engineer or a student, you can take advantage of this software to learn how to make truss structures.
Truss or truss design software serves to create a truss structure and calculate various related parameters. Using the resulting data from this software, the student or engineer can analyze the possible behavior of truss rolls.
First, to create a truss, you can draw a truss in various shapes of V-Truss, A-Truss, N-Truss, Pratt, Pratt Lattice, Warren Plus, etc. You can customize Dimensions, Top Chord, Bottom Chord, Reinforcement, Beam Structure, Restraints, etc.
This truss design software provides other elements needed to create rolls, such as nodes, members, supports (hinge, rollers, etc.), styles, etc. You can assign different types of loads (permanent, imposed, wind, slow, etc.) to your structure.
When you finish creating the truss, run the analysis to see various results including deflection, reaction on the supports, axial force, shear force, moment, X translation, Y translation, and Z Rotation for start and end vertices, etc.
Overall, this truss analysis software is very easy to use and is highly recommended for aspiring civil engineers to solve truss problems. Here are 3 software to design the best frame structure for windows.
1. Trusses+
Trusses+ is a free framework design and analysis software for Windows. The main interface of the software is divided into sections for adding project details, wireframe drawing, wireframe analysis, etc. Mainly, there are Structure, Load, and Analysis tabs on the interface where you will find various options while using it. Let’s take a look at the tab features and tools that Trusses+ provides.
Structure Tabs: Geometry: Select the desired frame shape such as V-Truss, A-Truss, N-Truss, Pratt, Pratt Lattice, Warren Plus, etc. Apart from that, you can specify the number of panels, length, height, and depth. You can also customize Up Chord, Bottom Chord, Bracing, Structural Beams, Restraints, etc.
Load Tabs: In this tab, you can set loads (permanent, worn, wind, slow) with values for your structure. It also provides a wide Bay field which you can adjust.
Analysis Tabs: For analysis purposes, you can set analysis options including partial safety factor and deflection limit from the left panel of the interface. It provides analysis reports in two types of views: Summary and Load. The former provides summarized reports, while the latter provides reports for specific load cases. It basically calculates internal strength and performs member design verification.
You can see results on Deflection (maximum displacement for each point), Reaction on supports (maximum reaction for each support), Axial force (maximum axial force for each beam), SLS Verification (maximum displacement for each SLS combination), and ULS Verification (criteria value as well as the appropriate combination for the specified member).
It provides Optimize button to perform Simple or Advanced section optimization. You can press the Verify button to verify the effect of the changes. Using the Reports option, you can fetch three types of reports: Synthesis (final verification ratio), Intermediate (data, axial envelope style for each member, structure member ratio table), and Detail report (analytic equation with middle value).
Trusses+ is a great frame design freeware. You can customize the units of length (mm, cm, m) and force (N, kN) used in your structure. It also supports multiple windows for you to work on multiple projects at once.
For created structures, you can enable view node, beam, member, and section names and draw permanent, imposed, wind, and snow loads. You can download Trusses+ from here.
2. TRUSS4
TRUSS4 is another truss design software for Windows. The full version of this software is paid, but you can use the demo version for free. The demo version comes with many feature limitations, for example: You can’t save your work, it doesn’t allow you to create a truss structure with more than 30 members, 20 joints, 2 supports, etc. However, this free version comes with many desirable tools for drawing and analyzing skeletal structures. The whole procedure is divided into two main steps:
1. Create a frame design
To design a truss structure, follow the steps below:
Go to File > New and click on the Truss Generator option. You will see various truss shapes like double sided, left hip angle, support truss, gable ladder, roof truss, purlins and fasteners, flat, etc. Select the desired shape to start with the truss structure.
Now, in a new window, you can define various parameters for your truss structure. These parameters include dimensions (span, height, left node, space height, space width, peak distance, right node, etc.), edge supports (support type, shift, width), and inner supports (position, support type, width) . Other parameters are bottom chord, bottom left and bottom right (perpendicular, vertical, intersection, parallel, etc.), detail type, roof height, without overhang, left edge, right edge, top left, top right, etc. Next, you have to select the web generator and specify the stubbing (left/right stub, detail type).
From the Data Entry menu, you can define the topology (joints, members), frames (details, nail plates, members), loads (joints, members), and structure (cutting cuttings, non-structural joints, non-structural joints). To add load containers, you can define load type (self weight, roof, full snow load, wind, imposed load, etc.), type (permanent, long term variable, instant variable, accidental, etc.), load factor , etc.
2. Results of Skeletal Analysis
From the Analysis menu, you will find various tools for different analysis and evaluation purposes. These tools include Installation (assembly of structures with pieces), Auto Design (automatic design of structures, wood sections, and nail plates), Price Calculations (calculation of the price of a given structure), Quotations (general geometric properties and price information), etc. It provides four types of analysis reports:
Structural Analysis: These results include reports on deformation, internal strength, reaction, etc.
Check Members: This displays the results with a table containing the member, share, maximum utilization, and the decisive combination. It basically tells whether the member is satisfied or not.
Connection Check: It displays a table with the connection type, nail plate size, cross section and wall plate location, and whether the joint is satisfied or not.
Linear Stability: Here, you can see the overall analysis report and the eigenvalues for the individual combinations. It also shows the analyzed structure by buckling shape with respect to the selected combination.
Other handy tools provided by this software include Distance Meter, Restore auto mode, etc.
It lets you import structures in DXF format and export them in various CAD formats. You can export the documentation in XLS, TXT, etc format. Also, analysis reports can be printed (as PDF) as well. You can download TRUSS4 from here.
3. 2D Truss Analysis
2D Truss Analysis is another free truss structure design and analysis software. Like other software on this list, it also lets you design the frame and calculate the internal strength and joint pressure of the members.
To design a truss structure, you can draw frame elements, insert element loads (horizontal, vertical), add nodal loads (horizontal, vertical, or moment), provide support (horizontal/vertical roller, hinge, fixed, etc.), and assign spring support (horizontal/vertical translational spring, rotational spring). This can be done in the Models tab.
There are two more tabs present in the main interface named Deformed and Axial. The former shows a Deformed shape, while the latter shows an Axial force diagram.
After creating the truss structure, you can go to the Calculate menu and click the Run Analysis option. In the right pane of the interface, you can see the Results. These results include:
Nodes: For each node, the calculated values for X translation, Y translation, Z Rotation, X/Y/Z Reaction, and X/Y/Z Reaction Spring are displayed.
Frame Elements: Calculations for frame elements are shown here, including Axial forces, Shear forces, moments, X translations, Y translations, and Z Rotations for the start and end vertices.
Internal Strength and Pressure across Members: Values for internal strength and pressure for each member are displayed.
In the free version of 2D Truss Analysis, you cannot perform dynamic analysis which contains graphical analysis of the designed structure. Also, you cannot save your work and modify materials, property parts, etc. You can download 2D Truss Analysis from here.
Those are the 3 software to design the best frame structure for Windows. Hope it is useful and thanks for visiting.
