For over two decades SteelSmart® System has been the light steel framing industry’s leading analysis and design software for cold-formed steel.
With each passing year codes and standards evolve, unique design challenges are presented, and new products are developed. Every one of these changes presents new goals, and sometimes even challenges, for the Applied Science International (ASI) software design team. Yet, with each software build and release ASI consistently surpasses the industry’s expectations; thus continuing to provide SSS users with the most comprehensive cold-formed steel design and analysis tool on the market to protect liability, solve design dilemmas, easily estimate construction materials, and effortlessly specify quality light steel framing members and connectors manufactured by The Steel Network. Inc.
SteelSmart® System’s Design Capabilities
Basic SSS Modules:
SteelSmart® System provides the user with seven basic design modules. These modules allow the user to complete a design for each individual assembly of the wall, floor, and roof of a load-bearing or secondary framed cold-formed steel project. Individual modules are as follows –
- Curtainwall: This module designs components for a wide variety of common curtain wall conditions such as bypass, infill, spandrel, parapet, and openings.
- Load Bearing Wall: This module optimizes the design of a load bearing cold-formed steel low or mid-rise structure; users can select from standard SSMA shapes, JamStud®, or the exceptional SigmaStud® sections.
- X-braced Shear Wall: This module incorporates the innovative StiffWall® x-braced shear wall system into the project design as an alternative shear wall assembly.
- Moment- Resisting Short Wall: This module designs interior partition walls, parapet walls, and strip window framing, while offering the inventive solution, MidWallTM, a tested alternative to partial wall assemblies.
- Roof Framing: This module designs roof rafters and joists with ease, precision, and speed.
- Roof Truss: This module allows the user to select from a variety of common truss templates or edit a general case truss to design members, connections, fasteners, and lateral bracing components.
- Floor Framing: This module improves the floor design by providing framing choices between TSN’s PrimeJoist® sections or standard SSMA sections.
These seven design modules of SteelSmart® System integrate functionality and accessibility for optimal cold-formed steel design, detailing, and construction.
Advanced Design Modules:
Beyond the seven basic design modules of SteelSmart® System (SSS), the software also offers advanced plug-ins that take SSS’s capabilities to the next level.
- The Layout and Connection Details Generator: The Layout and Connection Details Generator plots the framing layout of the wall and adds the connection design data (clip designation, number of fasteners, embedment, and screw pattern) to the typical connection detail. The drawing also includes framing members’ cross-sections and shapes. The drawing can be exported in AutoCAD® DXF format allowing the drawings to be easily transferred into other drafting software. SSS provides detailed drawings for each of the seven basic modules and components highlighted above.
- The Lateral Load Generator/Distributor: The Lateral Load Generator/Distributor tool uses the dimensions and load specification for a building and calculates the total lateral wind and seismic loads according to ASCE 7 Standard “Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other Structures”. The following design codes for development of lateral forces and snow loads are now included in the Load Generator:
- IBC 2018 and ASCE 7-16
- IBC 2015 and ASCE 7-10
- IBC 2012 and ASCE 7-10
- IBC 2009 and ASCE 7-05
- IBC 2006 and ASCE 7-05
The lateral forces are distributed between floor levels, and the shear walls at that floor level. The method of distribution considers either rigid or flexible floor diaphragms, while considering torsional effects when rigid diaphragms are selected. Output can be exported directly into the X-Brace Shear Wall design module or into an Excel spreadsheet.
Registration and Free Trial
Register on ASI’s customer portal to start the registration process. After the registration is complete, be sure to sign up for a free 30-day trial of SteelSmart® System. TSN and ASI offer widely discounted annual licenses on SSS, making this an extremely affordable cold-formed steel framing design and analysis software program. For questions or to gain more information, contact ASI’s technical support team at support@steelsmartsystem.com