My (large) experience with calculation software
I began to use Mastersap in 1994, when during my experience in Alcatel Siette, we started to make automatic calculation of steel structure especially for energy distribution, with an automatic software with finite elements. I was also hired for this purpose.
We choose Mastersap for its capability to show 3D structure in the space easily to understand the right orientation of the profiles and their own shape.
I went on to use MasterSap even in the following years and during my years in Biesse I achieved great confidence in the use for both beams and shell elements,for both single and two-dimensional elements; great confidence also for the calculation of the reinforcement from the analysis of colored maps of stresses.
So it is since 1994 that I normally study my structures with 3D models, but always paying attention at the meaning of the numbers and at behavior of the structure.
I have often collaborated with AMV to improve the software.
In my abroad experience I learned to work with FE software, Etabs and Robot. They are software in English with a different way to proceed, especially for bi dimensional elements and loads, but of course, very similar to Mastersap for the maps of the results. I am happy after all there years on MasterSap to confront with new software and improve my knowledge in this field. Especially for Robot my experiance was limitated only to use the software to check the 3D model done by other for the geometry anf the loads.
In my most recent roles I have learned the deepest use of SAP2000 which I have purchased a license for my design as freelance.
I used SAP2000 for any type of structures also in my time in Tecnimont, where I for the first time I faced STAAD by Bentley and its useful text input file.
The last software I learned only for small structures is MIDAS GEN, but unfortunately the experience stopped before having more in-depth knowledge!
Instead, I know more about the use of the IDEA StatiCa software for the calculating the connections of steel structures; it is a very intuitive program with excellent modeling of the joints and a wide range of results and output control.
