Posted: 11/11/2011 8:03:39 AM EDT
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Any of you who use a simple beam program please point me in the direction of decent software for calculating deflection and reactions at supports please. It doesn't have to be freeware but under $500 or so. We were using Beam 2D but that company went under. I downloaded a trial version of Beam Pro, but cannot compare it to my previous results as it is limited to 5.75' in beam length. The program I was using allowed me to put in more than two supports along the span of the beam and output reactions at those inner supports. This program adds spans with independent loads, I don't understand the need for that, as far as separation of the loading goes. It doesn't appear to do what I want it to do but I am more experienced with rotating equipment and pressure vessels, so I may be missing something. Thanks for any help.
Screen shot of input data. 
Results page, page 3 shows reactions. http://www.beams.com/beamexp2.htm Thank you to all those that have served my country as well. |
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http://www.dtware.com/
DT Beam? Looks like it has better support input and is only $50. |
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Odd units for area and moment of inertia. Otherwise, it looks OK. I like drawing V-M diagrams by hand!
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Odd units for area and moment of inertia. Otherwise, it looks OK. I like drawing V-M diagrams by hand! Ditto. I have always relied on the beam diagrams in the steel manual for a "quick calc". |
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Quoted: Quoted: Odd units for area and moment of inertia. Otherwise, it looks OK. I like drawing V-M diagrams by hand! Ditto. I have always relied on the beam diagrams in the steel manual for a "quick calc". Ninth Edition FTMFW!!! |
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Quoted:
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Odd units for area and moment of inertia. Otherwise, it looks OK. I like drawing V-M diagrams by hand! Ditto. I have always relied on the beam diagrams in the steel manual for a "quick calc". Ninth Edition FTMFW!!! I don't have an AISC manual but I have been using Roarks Stress Strain as well as my PE manual for beams and plates. I don't find it very fun to get reactions by hand, deflection and stress is easy for the most part. I am comparing SolidWorks FEA data to simple programs because my boss has no faith in SW. I monkey with the supports/fixtures in SW until I get similar answers as the beam programs are putting out and he is happy. Loads and area of inertia all being the same of course. We typically use metric for everything so AOI is in mm^4 which I get from selecting that face in the axis involved on SW and it's section props. Units for density are odd as well. N/mm^3, wtf? Not sure how to convert kg/mm^3 to that. |
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Quoted: I don't have an AISC manual but I have been using Roarks Stress Strain as well as my PE manual for beams and plates. I don't find it very fun to get reactions by hand, deflection and stress is easy for the most part. I am comparing SolidWorks FEA data to simple programs because my boss has no faith in SW. I monkey with the supports/fixtures in SW until I get similar answers as the beam programs are putting out and he is happy. Loads and area of inertia all being the same of course. We typically use metric for everything so AOI is in mm^4 which I get from selecting that face in the axis involved on SW and it's section props. Hmm... |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
I don't have an AISC manual but I have been using Roarks Stress Strain as well as my PE manual for beams and plates. I don't find it very fun to get reactions by hand, deflection and stress is easy for the most part. I am comparing SolidWorks FEA data to simple programs because my boss has no faith in SW. I monkey with the supports/fixtures in SW until I get similar answers as the beam programs are putting out and he is happy. Loads and area of inertia all being the same of course. We typically use metric for everything so AOI is in mm^4 which I get from selecting that face in the axis involved on SW and it's section props. Hmm... Oh lord. What I mean is if I draw a bolt and secure the radial profile as the support, SW freaks out. BUT if I draw a bushing, secure that to the bolt and use the end/outer face of the bushing as the support it allows some flexure and the results are much more accurate. Our item is secured by the end of a bolt but it is allowed to move along a wall/channel. |
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we use visual analysis at work. it will do what you want, and they have a free downloads/trials but it is probably overkill for what you're trying to do.
their whole suite is pretty decent, especially for the $$$, but their shape builder app sucks big time. cool concept, lousy execution. 
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