What is the best structural analysis software?

STAAD PRO

For different type of analysis different type of analysis softwares available.

type of analysis and best softwares are listed below

1.static analysis-SAP/STAAD PRO

2.dynamic analysis-ANSYS/GT STRUDL/ABACUS

3.OFF SHORE structures-SACS/SAFE

This is a tricky question without a real answer for several reasons, but the main one is that an structural problem never have only a single solution, but zillions of solutions that comply with three basic requests for a valid solution

>>the structure will not fail( probably) and will be stable.

>>The structure will convive well with the rest of the elements attached to it, and with human well being.

>> if an accident happens( fire, etc..), the structure is going to resist time enough for giving us some chance of supervivencia or the damages will be acceptable.

Any solution that can guarantee these three  conditions is a valid solution. And,just  for getting the security that these three conditions are reached together, we have Country Codes.

The best solution for the developer( the cheapest structure that met the country codes, maybe is not the best solution for the calculist( the one who take less effort or time), and of course, the matter is also different for the contractor( the one that maximize their profit).

Software packages are today "black boxes", where we do  not know what is happening inside, and the only things that  we can judge are if are "friendy user", if the deliveries can be used inmediately or needs a further postprocessing,or if cover the particular problem we are facing, the country codes in our location, etc...

Staad, Etabs or Sap, etc., etc., are widely used, but are not the best choice in Europe because needs a further post processing for fully meeting country code or Eurocodes, for instance.

Whatever you use, be sure you know well what are you doing, because  the delivery always looks nice today. 

I think for the ordinary linear analysis ETABS is very good for building structures , SAP is good for other common structures eg.water tanks ,,

For dynamic analysis I believe ANSYS is very good , also ETABS is very useful for Wind Load+Earthquakes analysis for ordinary building .

For Telecomm. & Transmission towers I think RISA TOWER & PLS TOWER are the most common in this field .

we do structural analysis to know behavior of structure right?

my opinion, there isn't such a perfect software to predict behavior of all kind of structures, but every software has its advantages and disadvantages , Sap2000 from CSI is very nice in user interface and easy to use when it comes to liner fields and few in nonlinearity specially, in liner elements ,in buckling analysis i saw its precision,its good in static pushover prediction for behavior of structure, in tension and compression only elements using hook and gap elements it acts too okay but in shell elements, when it comes to judgment about nolinearity behavior of structure its sounds like thats better to use more powerful programs for analysis like Abaqs Perform3D or ZeousNL ,Seismostruct or Autodesk Algor (specially in structural fields) , frankly what makes sap that famous is its ability to code check and design plus FEA analysis with clear outputs, Etabs from CSI either has some advantage and disadvantage over Sap2000 , its useful in multi-story building analysis and design, when it comes to shear wall design Etabs have clear advantage over Sap2000 , both of sap and Etabs using imbedded SD and pushover analysis case using hings simulation are useful in rehabilitation fields also BUT better to use Perform3d or ZeousNL or Seismostruct for more accurate prediction of behavior using fiber SD ability imbedded  inside those programs , other things that makes a software useful as Mr Francisco said in their comment is knowing how software is doing its analysis and design , the way for know how it works is its DOCUMENTATION , and verification , CSI’s products are well documented, other software i saw in market is Robot structural analysis that is powerful one ,very close to sap in capability,4th software i like to mention is Stadpro widely used in eastern asia

the final thing I like to say is “Software is only a tool and final judgment is based on your hand calculation and verification “

staadpro