General Features:

• AutoCAD interface provides virtually limitless flexibility and control for modeling, editing and viewing results.
• Fully Integrated steel member and spread footing design (see details below).
• To-scale graphic rendering of structural shapes make visualization and verification of the model simple and intuitive - great for presentations too!
• Quick Modeler – a modeling toolkit for automatically generating standard geometry including 3D rectangular multi-story buildings, continuous beams and frames, trusses, bar joists, domes, barrel vaults, space frames and towers.
• Color Coding enables users to visually indicate element cross section, material, type or stress ratio (steel stress ratios only, see below) with a single click.

• Inactivity - members, nodes and loads can be “turned off” without deleting them.
• Fully editable Microsoft Word reports include graphics of the model imported directly from AutoCAD.
• A built in section property calculator saves results directly into the section database making them available to the integrated steel design utility. The utility can also compute section properties of non-prismatic sections.
• Two-way compatibility with STRAAD Finite Element Analysis allows users to bring old models forward into the Frame Analysis and Design interface and back.

Element Types:

• Prismatic and Non-Prismatic (tapered) frame
• Truss and tension-only
• Hooks, gaps and slots (contact elements)
• Cables

• Non-linear truss element—a truss element that has an elastic, perfectly plastic stress-strain curve, with rupturing

Boundary Conditions:

• Rigid supports, rigid offsets, master/slave relations
• Support stiffness
• Release or connection stiffness

• Supports can have their own local coordinate systems, allowing for inclined supports and other special support conditions

Loading Conditions:

• Static Forces: concentrated, uniform/linear, triangular and self weight
• Displacement: Support Settlement and initial elongation loads

• Environmental: Temperature, cable wind loads per EIA-222-F and Cable ice loads

Analysis Methods:

• Static linear and P-delta
• Frequency/Modal

• Stiffening/weakening effects due to axial loads.
• Large deformation.

This is the most detailed steel design software available. That is not an exaggeration - it’s a fact. No other program or even textbook provides the level of detail available from Frame Analysis and Design. The comprehensive “hand calculation” reports are so detailed that they can be used to learn the new 13th Edition code!

Technical Specifications:

• References the latest AISC 13th Edition as well as legacy ASD 9th and LRFD 2nd Editions.
• Members can be checked for a specific size or optimized (designed).
• Supported sections include I-shapes, channels, angles, double angles, tubes (HSS), pipes, tees, solid circular bars and rectangular bars.
• Updated section database (13th Edition) includes new HSS shapes as well as legacy TS shapes.
• Members can be checked/designed for Live and Total load deflections.
• Designs can be constrained to meet geometric criteria such as depth limitations.
• Members can be colored according their code check status; a five-color spectrum visually indicates their stress level.
• Versatile spread sheet environment expedites input and simplifies output review. These spreadsheets are compatible with Microsoft Excel and entries can be copied and pasted between the two applications.

• Editable Microsoft word reports.
• Two-way communication between Steel Design and the analysis model allows for quick design-analysis cycles.
• Procedure Reports step through the AISC code checking process, including the equation used, computed values and code reference. This is an invaluable resource for engineers for verifying / documenting steel code check calculations.
• Output includes: allowable stresses/ultimate strengths, critical stresses/section forces, deflections and deflection ratios, ratios for each stress/force component, locations of critical sections, optimal shape recommendations and detailed computation procedures.

The industry's best spread footing design capabilities integrated directly into Frame Analysis and Design - designing footings can't be made easier! Every practical footing design consideration is covered (uplift, bi-axial bending, size restrictions, bar selection, temp. steel, sliding...everything!). The spreadsheet interface enables you to design thousands of footings in as much time as it takes to get your morning coffee.

Check out the technical specification listed below, you won't find a better way to design footings:

Technical Specifications:

• Footings are designed or checked using ACI 318-2008 code.
• Footings are designed to resist uplift and sliding forces as well as biaxial column moments and compressive forces.
• Footings can be designed right inside of the AutoCAD model. Spreadsheet format allows you to design one or one hundred footings with just a few clicks.
• Supports can be grouped to find single footing design that will work for all of the columns - simplifying construction!
• The controlling column and load combination is listed for each design criteria (footing dimensions, thickness, pressure, top steel, bottom steel)--this is important information for identifying "problem columns" and program verification.
• Footing Layout command draws a 3D representation of the footing-great for checking clearances and spotting trouble areas.
• Spread footing reports can be generated in summary or detailed mode. Summary reports consist of a single table with a row for each footing while detailed reports list all of the details of the footing and its design.

• Loads are automatically read from the analysis results and factored for ACI 2008 combinations or user-defined load combinations.
• Reinforcement design includes multiple bar size options and corresponding spacing. Minimum steel for temperature and shrink is determined and the user is warned if the footing becomes over-reinforced. When development is inadequate the program warns the user that anchorage must be provided.
• Column bearing is checked and the required area of dowel steel reported. If a baseplate is present, the bearing failure surface is adjusted accordingly.
• Dimension restrictions can be entered to control the design of the footing when space limitations are present. User defined increment factors assure that the program does not design footings of impractical size--no 46.5" x 27.33" footings!
• Spread footing reports have been completely reformatted for Microsoft Word; tables, icons, shading and coloring are used to illustrate key data and improve readability.
• Flexible unit controls allow for US or metric designs