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PROKON Structural Analysis and Design is a
suite Suite may refer to: Arts and entertainment *Suite (music), a set of musical pieces considered as one composition ** Suite (Bach), a list of suites composed by J. S. Bach ** Suite (Cassadó), a mid-1920s composition by Gaspar Cassadó ** ''Suite' ...
of
commercial software Commercial software, or seldom payware, is a computer software that is produced for sale or that serves commercial purposes. Commercial software can be proprietary software or free and open-source software. Background and challenge While s ...
for structural analysis and design. PROKON software is produced by South African company Prokon Software Consultant (Pty) Ltd. The company was founded by Karl Eschberger and Jacques Pienaar in 1989.


Name

The Prokon company and PROKON software name is an acronym for the
Afrikaans Afrikaans (, ) is a West Germanic language that evolved in the Dutch Cape Colony from the Dutch vernacular of Holland proper (i.e., the Hollandic dialect) used by Dutch, French, and German settlers and their enslaved people. Afrikaans g ...
phrase "PROgrammatuur KONsultante" (programming consultants).


Overview

PROKON software comprises over 40 modules in the following categories: * Analysis: Three-dimensional frame and
finite element analysis The finite element method (FEM) is a popular method for numerically solving differential equations arising in engineering and mathematical modeling. Typical problem areas of interest include the traditional fields of structural analysis, heat t ...
. * Steel: Structural steel member and connection design. * Concrete: Reinforced concrete and
prestressed concrete Prestressed concrete is a form of concrete used in construction. It is substantially "prestressed" (Compression (physics), compressed) during production, in a manner that strengthens it against tensile forces which will exist when in service. Post ...
member design. * Composite: Composite steel and concrete member design. * Detailing:
Rebar Rebar (short for reinforcing bar), known when massed as reinforcing steel or reinforcement steel, is a steel bar used as a tension device in reinforced concrete and reinforced masonry structures to strengthen and aid the concrete under tension. ...
detailing and bending schedule generation. * Timber: Wood frame and truss design. * Masonry: Unreinforced masonry member design. * General: Section properties calculation and other building analysis utilities. * Geotechnical:
Slope stability Slope stability analysis is a static or dynamic, analytical or empirical method to evaluate the stability of earth and rock-fill dams, embankments, excavated slopes, and natural slopes in soil and rock. Slope stability refers to the condition of i ...
and
bearing capacity In geotechnical engineering, bearing capacity is the capacity of soil to support the loads applied to the ground. The bearing capacity of soil is the maximum average contact pressure between the foundation and the soil which should not produce s ...
analysis. * Building Information Modelling (BIM): Prodesk link between
Autodesk Revit Autodesk Revit is a building information modelling software tool for architects, landscape architects, structural engineers, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) engineers, designers and contractors. The original software was developed by ...
and PROKON modules. * Network analysis: Pronet
EPANET EPANET (Environmental Protection Agency Network Evaluation Tool) is a public domain, water distribution system modeling software package developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Water Supply and Water Resources Divisi ...
engine for
AutoCAD Civil 3D AutoCAD is a commercial computer-aided design (CAD) and drafting software application. Developed and marketed by Autodesk, AutoCAD was first released in December 1982 as a desktop app running on microcomputers with internal graphics controllers. ...
. The software includes full support for British, European and South African design codes, with some modules also supporting North American, Australian, New Zealand, Russian and selected Asian design codes. PROKON appears on the Hong Kong Building Department list of pre-accepted computer programs for use in Hong Kong. PROKON software offers multi-lingual design output: all modules are available in English and some offer support for German, Afrikaans and Russian.


Workflow

PROKON uses a workflow that output data between analysis, design and detailing modules. It supports data exchange formats with third-party software:
DXF AutoCAD DXF (Drawing Interchange Format, or Drawing Exchange Format) is a CAD data file format developed by Autodesk for enabling data interoperability between AutoCAD and other programs. DXF was introduced in December 1982 as part of AutoCAD ...
and DWG drawings, and CIS/2 CIMsteel three-dimensional structural models. The Prodesk module enables data exchange between
Autodesk Revit Autodesk Revit is a building information modelling software tool for architects, landscape architects, structural engineers, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) engineers, designers and contractors. The original software was developed by ...
and PROKON.


Use

PROKON is used widely in South Africa and available worldwide through a partner program.


Similar Software

* Staad.Pro * S-FRAME * SAP 2000 and ETABS * List of structural engineering software


References

{{reflist Structural analysis