The soil-structure interaction analysis capability was added to my program. It was then that I added the graphical user interface since there were other users within the company. Until that time, the program did not have its name. Initially I called my program by the acronym FCE with many ideas in my mind, one which was “For Civil Engineers” since finite element analysis using beam elements are mainly used by civil engineers, in contrast with mechanical and aerospace engineers who are mostly using solids and plate elements. Eventually, I decided that “FrameCE” is more appropriate. Now, you know what CE means. In 2006, I settled in Australia and worked as a structural engineer. It was then that I added the Australian standard steel sections in the section library. In 2009, having familiarized the Australian design standards, I added the steel design module based on AS4100. However, I had to remove the soil-structure interaction analysis capability of FrameCE because this is not really useful in Australia where earthquake is not a  big concern.

One notable project wherein I used FrameCE was when I designed the steel structures of the Royal Children’s Hospital where I was assigned as on-site structural design engineer.  FrameCE has been used primarily by myself and by a few satisfied Australian engineers.    

FrameCE is one of a kind for the following reason. Only one person is involved in its entire development which includes the finite element analysis, the graphical user interface and the steel design modules. FrameCE doesn’t have salespersons or its employees to answer queries, only the program author will answer software related queries. This makes easier for the clients to enquire since they will be talking to the person who knows entirely how the program works.

As a matter of trivia, FrameCE has evolved a lot from the constructive comments of its users. So any comment to improve the program is always welcome.  

The accuracy of FrameCE has been validated by myself and all its users. I also compared its results with other popular structural analysis programs. A free version is now available for download. The free version has all the analysis and design capabilities of the full version. However saving a project is disabled and all the printouts contain a watermark 'free version'. What you can do with the full version is similar to what you can do with the free version except for saving a project.  

Key Features
2D/3D Structural Modeling: Supports both two-dimensional and three-dimensional frame modeling with full control over geometry, material, and support conditions.

Linear Static Analysis: Analyzes forces, displacements, and moments under static loads.
Load Types: Allows input of multiple load types, including point loads, distributed loads, and moment loads.
Steel and Concrete Design: Offers code-based design checks (e.g., AISC for steel, ACI for concrete), allowing members to be checked and sized according to design standards.
Graphical Interface: Intuitive GUI for modeling structures, applying loads, and visualizing results.
Deflection and Moment Diagrams: Provides visual outputs of shear, moment, and deflection diagrams for structural members.
Educational Use: Popular in universities for teaching the fundamentals of structural analysis and design due to its clarity and simplicity.

Home Page - https://www.framece.com/about-framece.html