Style
- Throughout
MDSolids,
the user is offered graphical or intuitive choices for all of the required
data or units. In drawing shear force and bending moment diagrams, for example,
the user can click on a picture of an arrow pointed down and enter the magnitude
of the load to define a downward vertical point load rather than having to
remember to enter a negative number for the load.
- In most cases,
four common units (two US and two SI) are provided for each variable. For
example, stress can be computed in psi, ksi, kPa, or MPa. The user is free
to mix the units in any way desired. For example, a beam cross-section could
be defined in millimeters, a beam length in inches, a moment diagram in kN-m,
and the resulting bending stress could be shown in psi.
- All of these
choices for forces and units are made by simply clicking the appropriate buttons
on the displayed forms. The mechanics of materials concepts are difficult
enough without adding confusion about software sign conventions and unit systems.
- The software
is written in Visual Basic to run in the Windows environment. The software
runs in Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, and all prior versions of Windows.