MASTAN2 is an interactive structural analysis computer program for determining reactions, internal forces, bending moment diagrams, buckling loads, etc. in two/three dimensional statically determinant/indeterminate structures. It is free. It is amazing. It won’t compete with most of the commercial programs for large scale production, but it has by far the easiest learning curve of anything out there. And once you see how it works, moving up to RISA or any other commercial program is very easy.
Go to http://www.mastan2.com/ and click on Download on the left side of the screen to download the MASTAN2 structural analysis program onto your computer, and bring your computer to class with you next time we meet.
There are two programs available at this address. You will find them listed under “Getting Started”. I recommend installation using Method 2/Version 2, where you don’t need access to MATLAB on your computer, even if you have MATLAB on your computer. We have had some problems trying to connect it to MATLAB, and unless you intend to program additional capabilities using MATLAB (not likely in 345) you have no need for it.
The program includes an excellent user’s manual. We will discuss that and the use of MASTAN in our next class. Please look over the user’s manual so you will have some idea about what we are doing.
Please email me back if you need any help getting started with this.
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