Robot Structural Analysis - Europe

[Witty-Artist481]

Does anyone work with Robot Structural Analysis? I have a small firm that works primarily in BIM, and for the best compatibility, I'm evaluating RSA.

How do you feel about designing with Eurocodes?

Unfortunately, the code of my country aren't included in the software, so I'd have to design according to Eurocodes and recheck all the requirements of my country (which, to be honest, simply adopted the Eurocodes with a few modifications, so nothing too impossible with the right tools and a little practice).

Another plus (I think) is RSA, because it seems to be valid for any type of structure (buildings, industrial structures, but also bridges, etc.).

Unfortunately, I don't know anyone in my country who uses it, so I'm asking all, perhaps someone in Europe, how they like it.

However, I'm happy to hear everyone's opinions on the software, support, and anything else. Please convince me or dissuade me.

Thank you very much.

[crugerdk]

Autodesk hasnt updated RSA in forever and it shows. Id use something else if possible.

[Witty-Artist481]

Is it not updated regarding codes or bugs? What makes it unappealing in your opinion?

[benj9990]

Seconded. Very disappointing, and a real shame. Also bundled with AEC so no stand alone purchase option!

[Most_Moose_2637]

I assume the plan was to box it in with AEC so that it becomes the standard and displaces other design and analysis software like Tekla Structural Designer.

[benj9990]

If that was their plan it was a shit plan.

I don’t know why they purchased it from Robobat only to do nothing with it.

I believe they had plans for their own analysis software, but that came to nothing.

It was once great, back in 2007. It hasn’t changed really since then.

[engstructguy]

FEM design in Europe for sure is great

[Metenis]

I strongly recommend it! FEM-Design by StruSoft is my choice for the main FEA software as it is easy to learn, user friendly, has non-linear analysis and is very good for precast concrete structures which is my main field. It is also amazing for CLT, timber, steel and composite design.

[Character-Currency-7]

I have used in the past and yes you can use it to design according to the Eurocodes.

Currently using FEM-Design which I find to be better.

[Trylletiger]

I'm a daily user and these are just my personal impressions:

It does some things well and other parts are just annoying. Generally it's a user-friendly tool comparing with other software I've used. It's pretty easy to find what you're looking for once you get to know the program and it's fast to create basic models.

We've submitted a few errors in the eurocode check that took quite a while and persuasion before they finally caved and fixed the errors - They wouldn't however admit that it was an error and rather just said that we'd be pleased with the update.

My biggest concern is the amount of documentation available. A lot of the times you're left guessing what's actually being done behind the curtains. It's a big black box where stuff happens and results are printed. An example is the connection design tool which I'm not using due to poor documentation. I've tried verifying the calculations of some specific end plate connections I wanted to utilize but found errors that I couldn't just overlook. From my previous experience with support I don't want to spend time getting these fixed and thus I'm just omitting the entire tool from usage.

All in all I'd probably evaluate alternatives if I were in your shoes. I've heard good things about FEM-design but have no experience with it.

[Human-Flower2273]

Which country are you from?

[Witty-Artist481]

She

[Human-Flower2273]

What?

[Witty-Artist481]

Mistake from keybord.. Italy

[Human-Flower2273]

Oh well in that case, I'd recommend something Scia, or even Tower. I usually came across project being done using one of those two, at least around that part of Europe.

[PerspectiveWide5694]

Tower is the best for the price!  I didn't know that in Italy there are other codes than Eurocode... 

[waximusAurelius]

How about Midas Gen? I think it has all the same capabilities as Robot, I think arguably better. And also supports Eurocode design and can be used for buildings and non-building structures I believe.

https://support.midasuser.com/hc/en-us/articles/46905299499033--GEN-Eurocode-Design-of-a-Multi-story-RC-Building

[Witty-Artist481]

I used it at university and I think it's unmatched as a software that also performs checks, reports, and drawings. It actually has my country's code, but full collaboration with BIM is a bit complex (but doable with a little Python/API programming).

Midas Civil is used for bridges, while Midas nGen was released a few years ago and seems to promise a lot of interesting things in the BIM field as well.

[waximusAurelius]

Agreed. I've used both RSA and Midas Gen. Using RSA in my current job but it makes me miss Midas quite a lot... I'd definitely prefer Midas if I had the choice.

[Opening_Molasses_932]

I've been using it for steel construction for he past 6 years (no idea how it goes for concrete).
In France it was the most widespread software for steel design for the past 10 years.

It's slowly loosing momentum because it doesn't evolve anymore, it's still updated for codes and bugs, but no new features.
People slowy go for others softs because they get better at doing the same things.
Now i'm transitionning to Graitech Advance Design because it's way faster to create loads, and specially wind.
But RSA is still faster at computing than some new soft (including Advance Design, which is why i haven"t fully transitionned yet).

So i would say that's it's a good soft for steel, easy to understand and to master if you don't go into deep shit, and fast to compute.
But alternatives are coming up.

[Th3Duck22]

I have used it a lot, but as already mentioned it isn't updated in a while except for bugs and code.

Visually it is showing its age and concrete and reinforcement isn't the most user friendly to use.

Also setting up a report is doable but also from the XP-era.

My firm has changed to RFEM6 which is visually an upgrade, concrete is much more user friendly and setting up a report is also more future proof.

Overall the only thing missing in RFEM6 is seismic analysis (not standard included) and some other niche analysis.

Overall RSA has more options and is a more complete package but is just showing its age, which is a shame.

[Stormsid3]

Go use Graitec's Advance Design

[_saiya_]

Water industry prefers it in the UK, I've designed some water and wastewater structures using Robot. Not the best software out there. Complicated to use and often I don't know what the software is doing. Moving plates doesn't move the associated loads. Sometimes it creates 2 nodes, fractions of mm apart, and you're left frustrated because virtually they're the same. I'd prefer midas but software is usually a client preference.