TECH NOTES

Published by Western Wood Products Association, 522 S.W. Fifth Ave., Suite 500 Portland, OR 97204 503/224-3930

Report No. 8 June 2001

Timber Engineering Software

Timber engineering software can speed the analysis and design of wood frame structures. But which one will
suit your particular needs?

This Tech Note contains a list of timber engineering software compiled by Western Wood Products Association.
The information is to assist designers and engineers in researching products that meet their needs and budgets.
For more information on specific software, contact the manufacturer directly. Prices listed are from 2000.

Before purchasing software, buyers should consider the following features: material type selections, load type
selections, designs for members or systems, compliance with applicable codes and standards, compliance with
NDS 91 or NDS 97, documentation, printout options, Metric and US units, CAD interface, system hardware
and software requirements, technical support on installation and applications, maintenance and updates.

Commercial engineering software products should be used as tools, not substitutes for engineering judgment of
design professionals. Users of these programs are still responsible for verifying the suitability and applicability
of outputs and results. A listing in this Tech Note does not constitute an endorsement of the product by Western
Wood Products Association.

Company Software Description/Price

AC Software, Inc. BeamChek (Windows) Calculates beams, joists, rafters and columns, including
www.beamchek.com simple span beams with or without overhang at one
acsoftware@beamchek.com end, subjected to multiple, complex types of loading.
800-676-2929 Database includes solid sawn lumber, glulams,
structural composite lumber and steel. The program is
appropriate for residential and some light commercial
design. Price: $75 and up
Archforms, LTD. MaxBeam MaxBeam sizes beams, joists, rafters, headers, girders,
www.archforms.com MaxQuake support posts, beam hangers and post hardware for
software@archforms.com light frame buildings. MaxQuake evaluates wind and
earthquake loads and determines all the construction
requirements for light frame buildings less than 60 feet
tall and three stories or less. Price: $249 and up.
ARCHON Engineering WinWood (Windows) Provides reactions, moments and stresses on wood
www.archoneng.com beams and trusses. Also a complete database for code
archsale@ktis.net checking, glulam members, general wood, plywood,
573-443-2171 fasteners and more. (US units only). Price: $40
CSC Limited TEDDS Platform for creating any structural/civil engineering
www.cscna.com calculation. Includes library of calculations for steel,
sales@cscna.com concrete and lumber designs. Price: Call for price.
770-541-4690
Cascade Consulting Associates StruCalc (Windows) This program includes 10 design modules for sizing
www.strucalc.com and verifying footing, uniformly loaded floor beam,
strucalc@strucalc.com roof beam, combination roof and floor beam, multi-
800-279-1353 loaded beam, multi-span floor beam, multi-span roof
beam, floor joist, roof rafter, and column. Price: $295
Company Software Description/Price
Eagle Point Software Frame Analysis & This program is a CAD-based structural analysis and
www.eaglepoint.com Design design of structures constructed of timber, steel, concrete,
sales@eaglepoint.com aluminum and user-created properties material. Price:
800-678-6565 $1,995
Eagle Point Software Timber Design Series The Timber Beam/Column Design Series is a tool for
www.eaglepoint.com (Windows) design and specification of wood products utilizing
sales@eaglepoint.com generic LVL, PSL, Wood I Joists, glulam beams,
800-678-6565 structural dimension lumber and heavy timber.
Price: $395
ENERCALC Engineering Software Structural Engineering This software consists of 44 programs for beams,
www.enercalc.com Library columns, walls, foundations, diaphragms, frame analysis
mail@enercalc.com and design of steel, concrete, timber and masonry per
800-424-2252 1997 UBC, 1997 NDS, AISC, ACI Codes in US, SI &
Metric Units. Price: $945 and up
Integrated Engineering Software VisualAnalysis VisualAnalysis is a general-purpose program for
www.iesweb.com VisualDesign civil/structural analysis. VisualDesign, an add-on for
info@iesweb.com (Windows) VisualAnalysis, performs designs for steel, concrete,
800-707-0816 wood and cold-formed steel structures.
Price: $395 and up
Keymark Enterprises KeyBuild for Wood Allows a single user to input an entire structure, design
www.keymark.com the framing members and components, generate a full set
info@keymark.com of output including cut sheets, materials lists and layout
303-443-8033 plots, and design for lateral forces.
Price: Call for price
The Luxwood Corporation Post Frame Building Specifically for post-frame building design. The purpose
Terry.davis@mks.net Design (20-20 Lumber of this program is to achieve a design and materials costs
705-725-1966 Package) for a post-frame building. Price: $2,695
Purdue Research Foundation PPSA4 PPSA4 is a finite element-based system primarily
www.fnr.purdue.edu/woodresearch intended for analysis of indeterminate wood frame
/ppsa4/ppsa.html structures such as trusses. Designed per NDS and Truss
mhunt@fnr.purdue.edu Plate Institute interpretation of critical stresses within
765-494-3615 truss panel spans. Price: $150 and up
Research Engineers International STAAD/PRO Includes model generation, static and dynamic analysis,
www.reiworld.com and steel (AISC), concrete (ACI), timber (AITC) and
info@ca.reiusa.com aluminum (ASD) design. Timber Beam and Column
800-FOR-RESE Design per NDS 1997. Price: $1,195
RISA Technologies RISA-2D General purpose programs for linear elastic stiffness
www.risatech.com RISA-3D analysis and design. Includes (except RISA-2D Basic
sales@risatech.com (Windows) Edition) dynamic analysis and AASHTO moving load
800-332-7472 analysis. Network version available.
Price: $295 and up
Western Wood CAB Designs wood columns and beams of lumber and timber.
Products Association A Windows-based program with built-in library of design
www.wwpa.org values for visually graded and MSR lumber and timbers.
info@wwpa.org The CAB program is included in the Western Woods Use
503-224-3930 Book a compilation of Western lumber design aids for
architects and engineers. Price: $49.95 for the book
WoodWorks Software WoodWorks Design This program allows sizing, based on NDS in United
www.woodworks-software.com Office States and CSA O86 Wood Design Standard in Canada,
support@woodworks-software.com of structural members such as joists, studs, beams, and
800-844-1275 columns for different load conditions. It includes three
modules: (1) Sizer; (2) Shearwalls; and (3) Connections.
Price: $595 and up

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