CADRE Analytic

CADRE Pro

3D Finite Element Structural Analysis

Windows 7 and Vista (32 & 64 bit), XP, 2000 with Microsoft .Net 2.0 framework

Download Evaluation version

CADRE Pro 6 evaluation (a fully functioning version of CADRE Pro 6.5)

Overview

CADRE Pro is a structural engineering application for Windows with the Microsoft .Net 2.0 framework or later installed.   Windows is delivered with the .Net framework already installed.

A principal emphasis in CADRE Pro is the understanding and predicting the behavior of structures under load. Consequently it is a valuable educational tool as well as a powerful commercial analysis application.  

It allows frame, beam, and plate type structure (or integrated beam and plate structure) to be modeled and solved for loads and stresses or for vibration modes, frequencies, and shock loads.  Advanced analysis features include buckling, beam-column effects and incremental solutions for larger displacements as well as shock and seismic solutions.

CADRE Pro is designed by practicing professional engineers.  It intended to be a general and practical application that will allow the user to tackle a large variety of structural engineering projects from the very large to the very small in a short amount of time.  We believe it is the most versatile and easy-to-use structural analysis applications available today.

CADRE Pro is a structural analysis application, not a CAD application.  The graphical interface is designed to render a structural model in a fashion that closely represents the physical assumptions of the idealized model and the underlying mathematical equations.

Validation and learning

CADRE Pro is provided with over 90 sample models, each provided with a notes page with detailed description of the problem statement, model construction method, and FEA results.  Then, many of the samples are also solved with classical formulas for comparison of results for validation.

CADRE Pro also comes with a tutorial in Help "Getting started" which contains 27 detailed exercises which lead the user through step-by-step construction, loading, solving, and then comparison with classical results.  Most users find learning CADRE Pro to be intuitive, fast, and easy with little need for further training.

Many of the validation samples problems and tutorial exercises are taken from Strength of Materials textbooks, Structural Analysis references (e.g. Roark, "Formulas for stress and strain"), and engineering PE exam study guides. 

The Help file also contains a section of classical static and dynamic formulas for many basic structures such as beams and plates to assist you in validating and building further confidence on your own.

Technical features 3D finite element models for structural loads and stresses Beam load and stress diagrams Thermal loads & pre-loads Stability and buckling Beam-columns (P-delta)  Plate loads and stresses Von Mises, principal, traverse, and planar stresses Ranking and coloring of stresses and loads in both beams and plates Functional coloring schemes Plate bending and in-plane loads and stresses Boundary conditions include springs, elastic foundations, and specified displacements Special structures insertion such as arcs, circles, Bezier, parabolic, pivot joints and others Vibration modes and frequencies (ANIMATED) Vibration animation video clips Vibration with static loading Shock load analysis Seismic spectrum analysis AISC steel and Aluminum Association section property databases European and Australian steel databases Beam elements (tapered, pinned, or flexible pins, eccentric, deep shear). Beam elements (springs, tension only (cables), compression only Plate element (Kirchhoff, in-plane) CAD (DXF) file import and export Geodesic modeling Modeling templates for walls, wire frame meshes, plate meshes, boxes, spheres, cones, cylinders, rings, helical coils, and many more. Special features for setting up and solving elastic foundations Special loading wizards for projected, normal, dead weight, and hydrostatic load distributions. Solve and save results from mutiple load sets with a single command

Water tower with hydrostatic loads

Static structural analyses Finite element types include standard fixed constant section beams tapered beams pinned beams (including partial fixity) tension-only beams spring elements deep (shear) beams triangular in-plane stress plates triangular (Kirchhoff) plates (with bending) compression-only beams eccentric beam elements (offset beam)  line element (marker) With these finite elements many structures such as trusses, houses, bridges, guyed towers and mechanical devices, can be modeled.  CADRE Pro is particularly useful for modeling combinations of beams and plates to form stiffened sheet/stringer structures and box beams.

Oil tank with slope adjusted snow loads

 

Special beam finite elements         Amphitheater steel structure with roof cable mesh

Pinned beams can be defined with a variable degree of pin restraint from free to fully restrained providing an easy means of specifying end fixity.   A tapered beam can be initially defined with just the end properties and then divided into segments maintaining the continuity of the taper.   One way elements (tension only and compression only can be used to represent cable supports or beams on one-way reaction points.

Eccentric beam finite element Eccentric beam elements allow offset end loads that facilitates the solving of structures like the lifting crane at the right. This element is also very useful for modeling plate panels with integrated beam stiffeners. The Help module includes several detailed sample exercises with the eccentric beam element.

Simple crane with eccentric axial load

Panel with stiffeners represented by eccentric beams

Beam section properties

• There are many methods of deriving and inputting beam element stiffness properties:
• Simply type the information directly into the element library from published standards
• Importing from another CADRE finite element model
• Using the Basic Shapes wizard in CADRE Pro feature to derive properties of basic geometric shapes (round and rectangular bars and tubes, "L", "T", "Z" and "I-beam" shapes) in any system of units desired.
• Importing from the extensive database of AISC steel, Aluminum Association, and Wood data bases as well as European and Australian standards provided with the application.
• Using CADRE Analytic's application CADRE Profiler to derive custom section properties.

Plate finite elements Plane stress 2D triangular plate element that is especially designed to be integrated into 3D frame structures or stand alone for 2D plane stress solutions. DKT triangular (Kirchhoff plate) element that accepts out-of-plane loads (bending) as well as in plane loads and provides both planar and traverse stress.

Built-up box beam with integrated beams and plates

Loading the finite element model

Discrete loads can be applied to selected nodes directly on the screen by selecting and pointing with the mouse.   

Distributed loads can be applied to elements in a gravity, normal, or projected method to represent dead weight,  pressure (e.g. wind), or projected pressure (e.g. snow)

Load sets can be derived saved, merged, and recombined (with load factors) in any desired fashion.

Thermal loads and initial rigging loads

CADRE Pro can solve for temperature expansion and contraction effects and for the effects of initial tensile or compressive loads in members to account for rigging conditions.

The graphical interface and 3D modeling

The graphical interface allows the magnifying, moving, and rotating the 3D finite element model about three axes either in precise measured degrees or dynamically by on-screen controls.  The model can be examined in perspective or isometric views.  For dynamic analyses, the model is displaced in the form of the vibration mode shapes and can be animated for a visual vibration effect.  Any element or node can be selected on the screen for a quick display of all its properties and calculated information such as displacement, internal loads, and stresses.

Parts of the model can be hidden by a variety of conditions or made semitransparent to simplify the access and visibility of other parts of the model.

Model construction and description

The models can be constructed directly on the screen or in CAD programs and/or imported through the DXF import feature.   Models can be initiated using a variety of templates and then finished by editing on the screen with the extensive modeling utilities that allow expanding, replicating, inserting structural components, and merging with other models. 

Modeling templates and model generators This Quick modeler is a utility that allows the creation of several types of basic models and meshes. This utility can make beams or surfaces in any orientation with any desired meshing so that shear, torsion and bending moment diagrams or stress diagrams along the beam can be determined. The utility can make meshed models of plates, surfaces, and wire frames, including planar disks, rectangles, cylindrical, conical, spherical, torus, or box type structures. Other utilities allow the cutting of holes and insertion of special structures such as Bézier curves, scissor connections, parabolas, arcs, and circles. CADRE Pro contains a complete geodesic generator for making true geodesic spherical and dome type models and special low profile domes (see tank cover in the the oil tank picture above).

Pipeline choke plate diaphragm under pressure load

Displaying and evaluating output results

CADRE Pro provides several features for examining the results of calculations.  The main output are the model graphics, the displacements and internal loads or stresses in the elements and the reactions at the boundary conditions. The internal loads and stresses can be ranked in any chosen fashion in order to find the most critical members.  The normal, principal, Von Mises, and traverse stresses are provided for both beams and plates.  The data can be displayed on the screen, plotted, sent to a printer, copied to the clipboard, sent to a text file, or transferred to a spread sheet for additional refinement.

Load or stress diagrams can be created to display any of the 6 degrees of loading in a beam element or any of the stresses for a beam section or plate surface. Displacement diagrams of any selected line of nodes can be presented (e.g. a displacement plot across a joisted floor under pressure) .

Stress maps

 CADRE Pro provides a continuous rainbow palate for ranking and displaying output stresses, loads, and displacement.

Circuit board with assembly loads and reactions

Dynamic finite element analyses

Vibration analyses are conducted on restrained or completely free structures. Structures are solved for vibration frequencies and mode shapes which are displayed and animated on the screen. Animated modes can be converted to movie files for presentation in other applications. Vibration analyses can be conducted with an applied static loading (including temperature effects) on the structure in order to account the effects of axial compression and tension on vibrating members.

Click here > 14th mode of a rectangular flat plate Stop

Modal displacement can be illustrated with color mapping like the simply supported rectangular diaphragm to the right which is vibrating in the 14th symmetric mode.   Modal participation factors and as well as generalized and effective mass data are provided in output.

14th mode of a vibrating rectangular diaphragm

Shock and seismic analyses

Shock and Seismic loads are calculated using a response spectrum and the natural modes of the vibrating structure.   The program provides for construction of UBC and IBC seismic spectrums and has a general spectrum editor for custom spectrums for any type of shock analysis (e.g. equipment shock mounting).  

Mode 1         Mode 2        Mode 3 Stop

You can include as many modes as desired for developing the static seismic loads, stresses, and displacements.  The combination process can be either the CQC (complete quadratic combination) or the SRSS (square root of sum of squares) methods.   The seismic loads can be factored and superimposed on other static loading conditions such as wind, snow, and dead or live weight.  Features are provided to allow shock and seismic analysis by many different methodologies.

Forced periodic response analysis

To handle the affects of vibrating equipment mounted on structures, the dynamic analysis feature allows a periodic force to be applied at any selected node so that structural analysis can be performed with the resulting displacement envelope. 

Help and documentation

The context sensitive help system provides instruction in the finite element method, help for using CADRE Pro and help in getting started with 27 step-by-step practice exercises.  An extensive User Manual is also provided in an electronic searchable format but also formatted in convenient paper sizes for printed output.

Capability

CADRE Pro is virtually unlimited in nodes or elements.  Limits result from the allocation of memory by your computer and operating system. 

Administration

Up to 3 installations included in the standard license for CADRE Pro.   Software licenses are perpetual (no maintenance or subscriptions).

Support for installation and operation is free and provided by real people by telephone or email.   The best way to resolve support issues is to send us your problem model file as an email attachment so we can look at it while discussing it with you.

Download CADRE Pro 6 evaluation

Requirements

Minimum

• 500 MB of RAM
• Windows 7 and Vista (32 & 64 bit), XP, 2000 with Microsoft .Net 2.0 framework
• 2 button mouse
• Hard disk with 20 megabytes of free space

Recommended

• Windows XP, Vista, or Windows 7 with 1GB or more of RAM
• 4GB is optimal for large projects

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