Basic 2D Frame Software 1

[XR250]

Finally hired an employee and unfortunately he stuck in the PC world! (I'm on Mac if you did not already know that).
He needs a basic 2D frame program as he is not interested in using my Mac software :>
Basically just need something cheap to model trusses, portal frames etc. Does not need to generate loads.

What are y'all using?

 

[Celt83]

Enercalc has an OK frame module, has some really wonky inputs but it also comes at a reasonable cost.

Free option is MASTAN2 has a decent learning curve but can do some advanced stability analysis: [URL unfurl="true"]http://www.mastan2.com[/url]

Open Source Structural Applications:

https://github.com/buddyd16/Structural-Engineering

 

[dauwerda]

RISA-2D

https://risa.com/secure/?type=Products

 

[XR250]

Enercalc may be the way to go. $99 per month for 2 seats gives alot of modules that could be handy for me as well. I mean I am using 20 year old retaining wall and frame software - what is not to like?

Thanks

 

[KootK]

X2 for RISA 2D. $600/yr and the best part, in my opinion, is that you can share that license with whomever you want, wherever they are so long as only one person is in it at a time.

 

[Huevo]

I use both Enercalc and Risa regularly. If I could only have one, I would pick Risa and it wouldn't be close.

 

[vmirat]

MASTAN2. It's free.

 

[Agent666]

Mastan2 is free and definitely has its place for stability analyses, but you couldn't pay me to use it full time as a general purpose programme for 2D analyses as this was never the intentions of the developers. The interface is just too clunky for everyday use and from memory the options for outputting outputs like printouts for calculations is very limited. You'll not be particularly efficient.

Used Spacegass, Microstran & SAP2000 in the past that fit into this space (though extends to 3D). If I had a choice and money was limitless I'd get SAP2000, otherwise I'd use spacegass over and above Microstran every time due to it being a superior programme rhat is actively updated and well its just cheaper and better value.

The employee will likely have some preferences based on previous experiences that might result them being more efficient (initially at least).

 

[XR250]

Thanks for everyone's help. We are going to evaluate Enercalc and go from there.

 

[HouseBoy]

I use Visual Analysis and find it very intuitive.

Curious if anyone else uses it.

 

[StrucDesignPE]

We use Visual Analysis as well. I find it easy to use for simple 2d frames and trusses. I can sketch a frame, add loads, and have what I need in just a few minutes.

 

[Guest262653]

I would add to the list the following software:
- Framework (2D, 3D, nolinear or eigen) - Link
- LISA (full blown FEM software, free to use up to 1300 nodes) - Link

 

[robyengIT]

and "FTOOL" also

 

[ESPcomposites]

The 1D Elements software may work for you as well -

https://www.structuralfea.com/software/software.html

Brian

http://www.structuralfea.com