Creating Shapes

• Create built-up sections to find their properties
• Use standard parametric shapes as building blocks
• Use shapes from a large database of steel, wood, cold-formed, aluminum, etc.
• Import polygon shapes from simple text files (.txt)
• Import shapes from CAD DXF/DWG files
• Import shapes from STEP/IGES files
• Mark any part as a hole
• Create shapes with multiple holes or cut-outs
• Create new shapes by copying existing items
• Define the material setting for each part
• Composite sections can be analyzed (i.e. transformed properties are calculated)
• Export Shapes to the Custom Shape Databases for use in ShapeBuilder and other IES products like VisualAnalysis

Analysis

• Numeric integration
• Finite element analysis
• Finite Element model is automatically constructed
• Finite element mesh is easily refined
• Analysis is performed in the background while you work

Simple Properties Calculated

• Geometric (area, moment of inertias, elastic section modulus, etc.)
• Principal (orientation of principal axes, moment of inertias, elastic section modulus, etc.)
• Polar (moment of inertia and radius of gyration)
• Plastic (location of plastic neutral axes and plastic section modulus)

Advanced Properties Calculated

• Normal Stresses (combined flexural and axial)
• Shear Flow and First Moment of Area
• Torsion Properties (shear center, warping constant, torsional moment of inertia, etc.)
• Shear Stresses (St. Venant, flexural, combined, etc.)

Stress Levels Calculated

• Axial force, bending moments, shear forces, and torques can be applied to the shape
• Normal stresses
• St. Venant shear stresses
• Flexural shear stresses
• Combined St. Venant and Flexural shear stresses
• Resultant shear stresses

Reporting

• Quick Full Report includes the results and all the graphics available (can be modified)
• Quick Basic Report includes the results and active graphic view (can be modified)
• Custom reporting to include just the information you need
• Print Preview mode while working with reports
• Paste any graphics into your report
• Customizable page margins, fonts, colors
• Use your own company logo in report page headers
• Print to any printer including PDF
• Export to text clipboard or save to other formats like .xlsx

General

• Simple, standard Windows interface for easy navigation
• Unlimited Undo & Redo commands
• Work in any unit system, perform math on input, use custom unit 'styles'
• Program is self-documenting with tooltips on commands and input parameters
• Numerous preference settings for better defaults
• Free training videos provided for learning efficiency
• Free technical support email with fast, friendly turnaround

Limitations & Assumptions

General

• Uses constructed geometries to perform a numerical approximation for all section properties.
• Slight differences between ShapeBuilder and database values is expected due to tolerances, manufacturer minimum properties, and unpublished geometric details.
• 2D (plane) figure analysis. Length is not considered for the beam or column member.
• Does not perform member design or check design specifications
• Will not analyze cracked concrete sections (please see IES ConcreteSection for this ability)
• Does not produce structural drawings

Advanced Analysis

• Shear stresses and torsion properties are only available for shapes with a single outside boundary and a single material. Normal stresses are available for disconnected shapes.
• Multiple-part touching parts are assumed to be fully connected.
• Calculated stresses are based on elastic material properties (i.e. yielding is not considered).
• Does not calculate Torsional Stresses due to Warping. This requires more information about the full length of the member and the boundary conditions on the member, and the variation of loading along the length of the member. None of which is available in ShapeBuilder. You can use the Warping Normal Function, which is calculated, to help you determine warping stresses.
• Does not calculate stresses due to concentrated loads applied at a specific point or area of the cross section. The applied loads are treated as "body forces", even though they are referenced from a specific point. ShapeBuilder looks at the general stress distribution in the member due to external loads applied, not at localized stresses produced from a point load. The purpose of the specific load application point is to account for eccentricities that would create secondary forces (e.g., an eccentric shear force produces an additional torsion on the cross section).
• Cannot perform a stress analysis from internal pressures or thermal variations in a cross section.
• Orthotropic material behavior is not supported. Isotropic material behavior is assumed and used (the same material properties are used in all directions).
• Visco-Elastic material analysis (creep) is not supported.
• Dynamic loads are not supported.

Reinforced Concrete

• Older versions of ShapeBuilder offered cracked section analysis of reinforced concrete shapes. These features were removed in ShapeBuilder 10.0 and put in ConcreteSection.

Be a Squeaky Wheel

If you need a new feature, please let us know. We are always looking for ways to improve products in ways that you desire. See Support Resources.