structural engineer tools

huangyhg

structural engineer tools
calculator: tedds by csc (works within ms word 2000, 97, nt)
struct. analysis:  multiframe4d by formation design (very easy modeling capability, graphic interface for modeling and loads, very easy to select and combine load cases, automatic generation of dead loads, includes non-linear and time-history analysis)
cad drafting: visual cadd 4.0 (very fast and easy to use - learning curve is about 2 weeks) - a little history on visual cadd:  the dos version was generic cadd which company was purchased by autodesk  ~1992.  autodesk (developers of autocad) promised to support and develop the product to run under windows for much wider distribution (at the time generic cadd had over 200,000 users).  this simply didn't happen -- autodesk ended up killing the software and no longer distributes generic cadd (said conversion to windows was not possible).  the developers of generic cadd left autodesk ~1995 and resurfaced with the product name visual cadd.   the product runs under windows and runs circles around autocad in learning curve, ease of use, and flat-out drawing speed.   the product is only 2d at this time, but expect to see a 3d version sometime soon.   this is an extremely user-friendly product whose popularity should grow as the word spreads.
have other products, but these are my favorites.
hp48sx calculator
risa-2d and risa-3d structural analysis/design software
ram software....both are very good: risa especially.
autocadd v. 14 (but not in love with it.)  has anyone ever heard of triforma?  one of our clients is looking into it, leaving autocadd, and wants us to join them.
funny you should mention the generic cadd as i cut my teeth in the computer aided drafting on this simple package.  in fact, it was a one disk wonder which i purchased at a office supply store.
the learning curve was extremely low and that's taking into account the fact that there was so little documentation for the program.
now, i am proficient in a number of cadd programs.
towerengineer,
what is the learning curve like on tedds and do you get value for money?
thanks
d.w
that's mine (visitor)17 feb 01 15:12
calculators : hp41cv, hp48gx and hp49g each one with it's own specific routines.
analysis soft: for steel structures analysis i use multiframe4d, steeldesign and sectionmaker it is probably the easiest to learn soft, for steel detailing i use some routines i wrote in vba called trelicad that gives-me more flexibility. for concrete structures i use cypecad, armafácil e armablocos.
cad: autocad r14, i can draw the entire estructure in acad14 2d or 3d and export *.dxf and import in multiframe4d for assigning the sections, load cases and for checking the estructure.
thanks for the answers.
best regards