What is spColumn?

spColumn

spColumn is a handy software tool for structural engineers who want to dive into analyzing and comparing designs with multiple columns. If you’re working on projects that involve columns, this software can really streamline your process.

Features of spColumn

This program offers a variety of shapes for columns, including those irregularly shaped ones and reinforced concrete options. You can easily export your projects in several formats like Factored or Nominal Interaction Diagrams and even 3D Failure Surfaces. Plus, it allows you to export column sections as AutoCAD drawings (.dxf format) or save graphical reports as images (.emf format).

User Interface

The interface of spColumn might look simple at first glance, but don’t let that fool you! It’s well-organized, making it easy to enter data, view models, and make changes on the fly. When you kick off a new project, you can fill in all sorts of info like the project name, column type, engineer details, measurement units, and design codes (like ACI 318-11). You also get to choose between investigation or design runs.

Design Flexibility

What’s cool is that you can tweak material properties for both concrete and reinforcing steel columns. Want to create rectangular or circular shapes? Go for it! You can even make shapes with different sides or equalize spacing as needed. The flexibility allows you to confine columns too—think tied or spiral configurations—and rotate sections however you like.

Customization Options

You have the option to include nominal diagrams in your designs and control what load point labels or splice lines are shown. Plus, modifying startup settings like data directories and measurement units is a breeze!

Performance & Stability

In our tests, spColumn performed well without any stability issues—it didn’t hang up or crash at all! It’s also not too demanding on your computer's CPU and memory. However, it's worth noting that the tool hasn’t seen updates in a while which shows in its interface.

Conclusion

Despite being a bit dated in terms of looks, spColumn packs some powerful features for designing and examining structural projects with multiple columns. If you're looking for reliable software that gets the job done without fussing over flashy graphics, this could be just what you need!

How Download Works

Go to the Softpas website, press the 'Downloads' button, and pick the app you want to download and install—easy and fast!