LUCID\iron (formerly LUCID/Steel)

LUCID\iron is a powerful piece of software designed to help you analyze, create, edit and solve structural engineering models and projects on your computer.

Designed more as an educational tool for students, the application comes with a strong engine and with many features that make it great for other structural engineering purposes outside the academic world.

To take advantage of what LUCID\iron has to offer, you first need to install Qt. Subsequent to its installation, the app features a typical and surprise-free installation process.

The main window of LUCID\iron is not intimidating as is the case with most apps of this sort, as it features a clean and well-organized layout.

Most of the work in LUCID\iron is made possible thanks to its toolbar that provides you with access to all features and an interactive display that makes it possible for you to rotate and enlarge models.

Probably the first thing you need to know about this tool is that it makes it possible for you to simulate and analyze structural engineering models using a set of interesting methods. With the help of this comprehensive simulation tool, you can import, view, edit and post-process simple models.

The tool enables you to perform calculations for standard formulae and section properties, linear static and finite element analysis, and laminate stiffness matrices. Another advantage is the fact that LUCID\iron comes with full-support for NASTRAN files, which are the industry's standard nowadays.

As expected, you can interact with and test your engineering models with the help of its built-in simulator.

With a fair bit of structural engineering knowledge, working with the app should not be difficult, but if you do encounter problems, you should take a look at the hefty documentation that is provided within the app.

The tool comes with sample files that are really helpful when trying to figure out the main functions, especially if you are a novice user.

LUCID\iron is a streamlined and competent simulation tool for structural engineering. Thanks to a simple interface and a restrained set of features, the utility is aimed at all categories of users.