Structural

COMPUneering has created a modular family of structural engineering problem solvers. FRAME mac, BEAM mac 2 and BEAM mac. They are all very sophisticated, yet easy to use programs created especieally for the Macintosh family of computers. You can choose the program that will meet your specific application or need.

FRAME mac has been used for designing a wide variety of projects, from the highest concrete structure in Europe, to parts for medical equipment and space stations.

FRAME mac can analyze any 2-D frame or truss, or any beam. (Version 1.12 )

BEAM mac 2 can analyze any beam. (Version 2.12)

BEAM mac can analyze any simple beam. (Version 1.12)

Comments From Users

"I find that FRAME mac is an excellent program. It performs analysis of complex structures like many higher-priced programs. And it has the graphic and menu-driven features Mac owners expect. In fact, it works equal to STAAD III™, on our IBM PC/AT™, at one-fifth the price. And its graphic capabilities make it extremely useful in presentations."

"Structural analysis before BEAM mac 2 and FRAME mac was a burden that only I could handle. Today I can teach a technician to do analysis for my review... We would purchase a Macintosh if your software was the only available... Your customer support should put the others to shame. Keep up the good work."

"Without a doubt, FRAME mac is the finest frame analysis program yet produced for microcomputers. It is fast and efficient. It does away with the cumbersome chore of keyboard entries of coordinates and connectivities: one needs only to 'click in' nodes and members" the software does the rest. FRAME mac is such a beautiful piece of work that it deserves to be spread far and wide."

You design the structure

Any number of nodes and prismatic elements are allowed, and are only limited by available RAM (up to three elements with BEAM mac).

With a minimum of 512K of RAM, you can analyze a structure of about 100 nodes and 200 elements; with 1 MB RAM, you can analyze a structure with twice as many nodes and elements.

Each node may represent a rigid or hinged connection (no hinges in BEAM mac).

Each element may be pinned or rigidly connected at each end.

Apply any load any where

Any number of static loads may be applied on each element and each node.

Multiple loads can be added at once in a variety of ways.

A node may be loadded with concentrated forces and with applied moments.

An element may be loaded with concentrated forces, applied moments, and distributed loads anywhere along its length.

Distributed loads may be uniform or trapezoidal, and may be sloped as desired. Concentrated forces may be sloped as desired.

Loads "stick" to their nodes or elements whenever you change the structure.

You assign each load to one of 25 possible groups.

Load groups may be applied in varying combinations.

Each load group can be multiplied by a factor, and another factor can be used for all loads at once.

Input of data is as fast as a click or two

Building or changing a structure and its loads is easy. Anything you have added can be changed or removed at any time.

You may add a node, element, or load by clicking on the appropriate tool and then clicking where you want it to appear.

To change the structure, you can just click or drag.

For exact values, just type the information in.

Efficient method of analysis

A linear elastic analysis is done on the structure by the stiffness matrix method. The matrix is created and calculated as the upper half of a symmetrical band matrix in order to save RAM and time. The modified Cholesky method is used to solve the matrix.

Mesh generation is a snap

In one step you can create a rectangular mesh of nodes and elements starting anywhere, ending anywhere, and with any interval in each direction.

This mesh is used to create a multi-storied, multi-bayed structure.

Node renumbering made quick and easy

You can have the program renumber the nodes at any time, any number of times. Choose from eight possible orders for renumbering.

Useful section data on disk

Tables containing section data for standard steel wide-flange beams and some other sections are supplied, in the form of standard text files on disk.

You can change or add to this table, or make your own tables.

Sections of any shape and any material may be included in the tables.

You can open and scroll through any of the tables while using the program. The program can then automatically read all the characteristics from the table; all you do is type the name of the desired section.

"What-if" design questions answered quickly

The program is completely interactive; it's easy to make "what-if" changes. Simply select any number of nodes or elements, and change them as a group. You can have it display various values such as reactions, maximum stresses, and more.

The units of measure are your choice

FRAME mac is used worldwide. You can change units at any time, choosing from a combination of English, metric, and SI units.

All numbers are always accompanied by your choice of units; everything is automatically and instantly converted when you change units.

You can also tell the program whether a table of section characteristics is in English or SI units.

Percise calculations with flexible format

All matrix calculations are done to 19 decimal digit percision.

All numbers are displayed in your choice of decimal formats (decimal or scientific notation), with any number or digits appearing.

The windows have the answers

There are seven main windows: three of diagrams, three of text, and one of the currently open section table.

You can scroll through any of these windows

You can resize any window (except the section table window).

You can expand or shrink resizeable windows with one click in the zoom box.

There are numerous options of what can be displayed in most windows, such as:

Diagram windows

There is one window for the whole structure, one for elements, and one for any one node. You can make each diagram any size you want, up to about 48" high by 96" wide, then croll through it.

Element window

You can have any number or contiguous, colinear elements displayed in the element window.

The loading, axial, shear, moment, and deflection of diagrams can be shown.

Additional labels can be displayed, showing node and element information, support reactions, and forces moments applied by connecting elements.

Click anywhere in the internal force diagrams, and the forces, stresses, deformations and more at that point will be displayed.

Structure window

This window contains the sructure diagram. The tool palette can be used along with the mouse to create and load a structure.

There is a choice of methods of changing part or all of the structure.

The scale can be changed at any time with a click of the mouse.

The structure can be displayed before and/or after deformation.

On a color monitor, color is used to differentiate between the two states.

Next to each node you can have any combination of the following items displayed: node number, coordinates, deformations, and support reactions.

Node & element loads, along with values, can be displayed.

Any one of the following can be displayed:

Node window

Any node in the structure can be displayed in detail in this window.

All forces and moments will be displayed, as well as support reactions and forces and moments applied on the node by each of the elements connected to it.

Input & output text windows

All the input information (node and element characteristics, loads, load factors, and more) can be repeated in the input text window.

A variety of output information can be displayed in the other two text windows (in the main output text window you can see output for only the nodes and elements that appear in the element diagram).

Hard copy printouts as you need them

You can print anything (except the section tables) at any time.

Export to other programs

You can save the contents of any of the text windows as a standard text file.

You can save any of the diagrams as a standard PICT file.

You can save most input and output information in spreadsheet-readable format (tab delineated), so that it can be used by programs such as Microsoft Excel™.

Create reports and documentation

You can create design documentation, reports, applications for permits, etc. combining the graphics and texts that are created by the program. To do this at any time, you need only copy the desired diagram or text to the Clipboard, then paste into most other applications or into the Scrapbook.

System requirements and compatibility

Any Macintosh or Mac OS made in the past ten or fifteen years, though it requires Classic mode under Mac OS X.

What reviewers say about FRAME mac

Macworld Magazine - October '87

"The analysis is fast, even on a plain vanilla Mac."

"FRAME mac is a well-proven productivity tool... The program out-performs MS-DOS packages that cost more than twice as much. Any engineer could easily learn and make use of this program."

The CAD/CAM Journal for the Macintosh Professional - March/April '87

"...FRAME mac is easy to learn as well as user friendly."

"FRAME mac has many impressive functions that allow an engineer to do structural analsis with optimum efficiency."

"FRAME mac was obviously written with the practicing engineer in a working environment in mind. Its best overall attributes are flexibility, ease of use, and speed. I found that I could input a structure at least 50% faster and more accurately with FRAME mac than on a PC. Modifying input data was also much easier and faster using this program."

"For the mechanical engineer, FRAME mac means a great improvement over the way analysis was performed in the past. It removes hours of manual and tedious clculations and eliminates the need to build complex scale models. By using the Macintosh with FRAME mac, a faster, more accurate reading can be obtained, in turn speeding up the total design process."

"...FRAME mac proves to be an excellent tool for mechanical engineering."

Demos available

A demonstration package is available. Please call 905-738-4601 for information.

Price and money-back guarantee

The prices are:

FRAMEmac US$595.

BEAMmac 2 US$345

BEAMmac US$145

Shipping is extra; call for details.