Aluminum Design

Design or check aluminum members for axial loads, biaxial bending and deflections.

Module Description

Aluminum Design provides the ability to design or check aluminum members built from standard shapes. It evaluates bi‑axial bending, axial loads, shear, and deflections, with members designed one span at a time (multi‑span members can be handled by inputting end moments).

The software includes an onboard copy of Digital Canal’s finite element engine, STRAAD. Loads entered into Aluminum Design are processed by STRAAD to generate shear, moment, and deflection diagrams. These forces are then used to check or design the member using the Aluminum Design Manual 2015, which now provides both LRFD and ASD methods. Aluminum Design 4 is fully compliant with both.

Technical Specifications

  • Design structural aluminum members subject to axial loads and/or biaxial moments.
  • Calculations are performed in accordance with AA-2015.
  • Supported shapes include I-beams, channels, angles, pipes, tubes, zees.
  • Check a specific size (Check Mode) or have the program optimize the size (Design Mode).
  • Deflection design and dimension control.
  • Members can be made of 6005A-T6, 6061-T6, 6063-T5 or 6063-T6 alloys.
  • User-defined tension area reduction ratio.
  • Automatic allowable stress for welded sections.
  • Load inputs include concentrated and linear loads in all three directions (axial, weak axis, strong axis) as well as end moments about both axes.
  • Aluminum Design can be bought separately—you don’t need to buy a “structural system” or “engineering library” to design an aluminum beam or column.
  • Reports are in Microsoft Word format (RTF) giving you unequalled compatibility with other software.
  • Flexible unit controls allow for design on various US systems.
  • Dynamic graphic window illustrates inputs as they are entered.