Evaluation of software for analysis and design of reinforced concrete structures

A study to verify the accuracy of two structural analysis and concrete design programs and to evaluate their functionality was conducted. The evaluation was based on a comparison of results obtained from the two programs for several structures including a four span continuous beam, a two story 3-D frame, a seven story 3-D frame, and a fourteen story 3-D frame. In the verification of the accuracy of analysis results, factors such as support reactions, nodal displacements, and element end forces were compared. The evaluation of concrete design capabilities was based on comparing the reinforcement recommended by the two programs for beams and columns. Factors considered in the evaluation of functionality included ease of use, ease of learning, quality of output, documentation, quality of support, potential for user errors, and program flexibility.