‘Analysis 3D’ Supporting Structural Engineering Firms

Analysis 3D software is a robust software application, that provides a straightforward approach to structural steel truss and frame analysis. Top structural design firms are adopting this simple structural analysis program for quick downloading, modeling, and evaluating a building structure. Several engineering companies in DC are implementing this user-friendly software program to undertake sophisticated analysis of 2D and 3D steel trusses and frames and optimize member design.

Let’s check out  the different functions performed by Analysis3D  for supporting structural engineering firms:

• Basic yet Special Functions

Residential structural engineers in DC choose this software platform to blend newly loaded data with an old structural model. As a result of which, the structural consultants are able to remodel new structural elements on old structural models with a ‘Combine Function’.  Furthermore, in case you have an existing DXF file and want to use that for analysis, ‘import’ functions could be used for importing a DXF file to Analysis 3D software.  This could be an ideal solution for 4D structural engineers and design-build teams, as architects, construction planners, and project managers send drawings in AutoCAD DXF files. Using import functionality, structural design firms implement quick structural analysis, without remodeling of structures onto the software. Structural steel detailers use the ‘Export’ functions for exporting the current model into a DXF file, for easily manipulating structures on AutoCAD, creating structural drawings, or sending models to project stakeholders in a DXF file. This helps to make efficient digital information sharing and project collaboration.

• Structural Data in Tabular Form & Interactive Model

Structural steel detailers work with structural data, including joint coordinates directly in an organized table. Residential structural engineers name and edit joint numbers and coordinates in the table. ‘COPY’ functions facilitate conveniently repeating joints over a specified distance and direction. To add new joints to the model interactively, double-click the location you want, adding new joint coordinates. You could also double-click existing joints to alter or eliminate existing joints. Once the joint information has been entered, engineering companies in DC model structural members in another table. Structural detailing members are added by entering joint numbers, section size, material properties, hinge conditions, and rotation angles. Professionals of structural services are able to customize member rotations based on rotational angles around the local x-axis. In case of any confusion about the local coordinate system of selected structural members, Analysis3D shows the local coordinate system of members, while clicking on it. While modeling a member, structural engineers could specify support conditions, by clicking on images. Analysis3D guides you rightly on the design journey!

• Preset & Customized Cross Sections & Material Properties

Analysis3D software application encompasses a complete library of normally used structural steel cross sections. All preset cross sections, coming with cross-sectional properties, include cross-sectional parts, width, and heights of sections, thicknesses of flanges, inertia, etc. Structural consultants update the library by customizing cross-sections and entering cross-sectional properties. Or else, they could set their preset cross sections for design. Analysis3D has preset cross-sectional properties as well as a library of preset material properties. Structural detailing enables you to choose material from the library with preset properties, like modulus of elasticity, shear modulus, linear expansion coefficient, etc. Structural steel detailers can also add their material properties for structural design.

• Structural Load Combinations

Different types of loads can be included by professionals of structural services such as point loads, distributed loads, moments, symmetrical trapezoidal, or non-symmetrical trapezoidal, etc.  In Analysis3D, one load combination can be created with a maximum of 9 load cases, including temperature loads in your design. Temperature loads are created due to the changes in surrounding temperature, causing thermal stresses on structural members.

• Report Friendly Structural Analysis

Analysis 3D displays information about the model for presentations, reports, and submissions. Under drawing options, commercial and residential structural engineer DC gets the option to show joint or member numbers on the model, in order that the numbers can be used for cross-referencing with analysis. Drawing options of the software application help to display forces, joint displacements, and stresses on the model.

• Calculation & Analysis Function

While clicking on the ‘Calculate’ button, the building structure is analyzed for stability. In case the structure is not stable, an error message popups, and the calculation is stopped. If there is structural stability, calculation commences. Whenever the calculation gets completed, structural engineering firms are able to make the right analysis. The structural analysis results include joint displacement, member forces, and stresses, buckling, reactions at support, etc.

• Optimization of Structural Steel Member

Analysis3D consists of a “Member Design” function, optimizing the structural design by showing the smallest sections, and supporting the load in your model. As a result, the optimization function facilitates reducing costs and enhancing safety in structural design. In case a member fails to support structural design conditions, structural consultants use Analysis3D for resisting force and moment values. In case a member is over-designed, the software application proposes a cross-section, having the minimum area to resist forces and moments. After selecting the proposed section, one could re-analyze and re-calculate the structural model. Some iterations are essential as the structural loads would be redistributed and structural steel members need to be re-optimized for new load distribution.

It is evident that Analysis 3D is a powerful and convenient software application for the structural analysis of steel trusses and frames. Analysis 3D is different from complex structural analysis software, owing to the improved user-friendly interface, straightforwardness, concise functions, and fast analysis of speed. If you want to implement Analysis 3D in your work process, contact Tejjy Inc. – one of the top BIM Structural Engineering Firms in the USA at 202-465-4830 or info@tejjy.com.