CP&A owns an extensive library of crane design software and is continually adding to this library. These programs are available for purchase to manufacturers and engineering firms that design cranes or conduct peer reviews of designs prepared by others.Structural software is sold as a complete package including hardware, training, two years of updates, and two years of technical assistance.
The software is Microsoft Windows compatible and runs on laptop or desktop PC's. The finite element module is SAP2000, from Computers and Associates, Inc. of California, which is one of the most efficient and powerful structural design FEA software packages available for PC applications.
CP&A's software automatically performs calculations for thin plate buckling and fatigue checks conforming to all the commonly used design specifications such as JIS, FEM and BS.
CP&A's software automatically calculates design stresses and reports the governing load case for user defined loads and load combinations. It has virtually unlimited model size and load conditions.
Extensive graphics and redundant calculation forms are used to verify that input data is correct.
Example module demonstrates several features:
- Recent update that will be sent free to licensees
- Typical User Manual format showing instructional clarity and engineering backup
- User input identified by yellow blocks
- In many cases, output from one module can be used as input for another module
- User defined fatigue criteria (Note that JIS yield stress block disappears for BS5400 that does not take yield stress in account)
Example member properties show the engineer's screen while he is making his computer calculations. Data file is automatically fed to SAP2000 module.
Mechanical calculations can be tedious, time consuming, and subject to mathematical error. All of our mechanical calculations are done by Excel spreadsheets or by Mathcad calculation sheets. Through automation of the mechanical design process, we can quickly and accurately determine the hoist, trolley, boom and gantry mechanics for the container cranes or level luffing cranes we design.
