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The key limitation of this demo version is that printing is disabled - virtually everything else is identical to the full version.

Click here to download the demo (approx 1.8MB)

The full version of ProSteel comes with a 90 page manual (available separately from Lulu.com, £5.99+P&P). If you are downloading the demo you may find it helpful to print this page out. In conjunction with the on-line help it should be enough to give you all the information you need to get started. Box shot for illustration only

Installation

Clicking on the link or button above will either run the installation program immediately or will let you download it to your computer from where you can run it. The filename is PS5DemoSetup.exe.

Once you have installed the program, start it (Start Menu, Programs, SDA Applications, ProSteel 5). Click on 'OK' to clear the disclaimer screen. The display should look something like the one shown below.

A ProSteel project consists of one or more 'items'. An 'item' is a beam, stanchion (steel column), connection , text page or OLE page. You can add items to your project by using the toolbar buttons or from the Project menu. You can edit items by double clicking on the window, clicking on the pen icon on the toolbar, selecting 'Edit' from the menu or by pressing Alt+E - one of these should suit your preferred way of working.

Starting a new project

To start a new project, select File, New. The Project details dialog will be displayed; this lets you enter data in four fields as with our other programs. You can also choose whether windows of any particular type are minimized when you 'close' them or whether they are closed. The latter makes for a clearer desktop on larger projects; the former saves time when dealing with something like a through room beam, as you don't have to keep reopening windows. Once you have entered the required information (you can go back and change it later if necessary) you will be prompted for a file name under which your work will be saved.

Beam design

To add a beam to your project, click on the Add Beam icon or select the Project, Add Beam option. The beam edit dialog, shown next, will be displayed.

The ProSteel 5 beam edit dialog is arranged as a four page notebook. Clicking on the 'Apply' button commits any changes that you make without closing the dialog, and you see the updated calculations in the corresponding window. 'Undo' restores the data to what it was before you started editing or last pressed 'Apply'.

On the first page you enter something to identify the beam, the span, the beam type, whether you want to print one or both diagrams (ignored in the demo version) and you then enter the loads on the beam in the table below.

The column headed 'T' defines the load type: 'U' for a load which is uniformly distributed between the beam reactions; 'R' for a part UDL - you enter the loading and start and end postions (measured in metres from R1); 'V' for a variable or triangular load - you enter the start load and position and end load and position (each in kN/m run and m. from R1); and, lastly, 'P' for a point load, entered in kN, position in m. from R1. In the second column enter, 'D' or 'L' for dead or live. In the 'Desc' column enter something to identify the load and then enter the loads and positions as appropriate. When you have entered the loads click on 'Apply'. The calculation window will be updated.

Click on the Steel tab and you will see a display like the one below. Make any changes, then 'Apply' again. The required size will be shown on the button immediately under 'Consider' (see below) - you can click on the button to manually choose an alternative section, if you don't want the one that the program has selected. Then click on the 'Bearings' tab and change the bearing details as necessary. Click once more on 'Apply' then close the dialog and you're done.

The other two pages of the dialog let you enter bearing details and check openings in the beam web.

Stanchion design and checking

If you've grasped how beam design is tackled, you will have no problems with stanchions - the concepts are identical.

ProSteel's stanchion design dialog has three pages, one each for loads, steel design parameters and base plate sizing. If you choose the cap connection or beam reactions options, ProSteel automatically calculates the moment resulting from the applied load.

Connections

You will only be able to add connections to your project once you have added at least one beam and one stanchion or two beams. The connection edit dialog is split across two pages; the first (shown here) lets you select which members are connected, the second details of the connector, bolt size and bolt spacing.

Uninstall

Uninstall via Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs.

Ordering the full version

The full version of ProSteel 5 lets you print out your calculations and, of course, the on-screen windows do not have the 'Demo' stamp across them. It comes with a printed manual and the price includes updates issued during the next 12 months.

Price list

• Single user copy £149.00 + VAT (£175.08)

• Additional user licence and manual £74.00 + VAT (£86.95)

• Unlimited user site licence £449.00 + VAT (£527.58)

• Existing registered users of earlier versions of ProSteel - see chart on ProSteel product information page

All prices include P&P and updates issued during the 12 months from date of purchase.

You can order ProSteel 5 from this website (immediate download; manual sent by post: click here for more details) or by mail. Purchase orders are accepted from quoted plc's, recognised educational establishments and the public sector.

SuperBeam and EuroBeam are registered trademarks of Survey Design Associates Limited. ProSteel is a trademark of Survey Design Associates Limited

© Survey Design Associates Ltd, Kestrel House, 111 Heath Road, Twickenham, Middx. TW1 4AF, U.K.
Tel: +44 (0)20-8744 2002   Fax: +44 (0)20-8891 0866.

Top Last revised 21 June 2008