Ftool — The Complete Guide: Fast 2D Frame Analysis for Students and Engineers

Ftool (Frame Tool) was developed at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio) as a tool for teaching statics and structural analysis. It is a small and very fast program: you draw a 2D beam or frame, set supports and loads, and immediately see moment, shear and axial force diagrams. No mesh, no complicated settings.

Ftool

PUC-Rio, Tecgraf

2D frame and beam analysis — fast to enter, aimed at learning and order-of-magnitude checks.

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What Ftool does

2D model — continuous beams, frames, trusses and arches, with rigid or pinned connections.
Loads — point forces, distributed loads (uniform and varying), moments, temperature changes and support settlements.
Results — N, V and M diagrams, deformed shape, reactions and displacements.
Influence lines and moving loads — for bridges and crane runways.
Instant update — every change in geometry or load updates the results immediately, which is what makes it an excellent learning tool.

Who it suits

Students in statics, structural analysis and concrete courses who want to check a hand solution. Lecturers demonstrating in class. And engineers who need a quick order-of-magnitude check of a simple beam or frame.

What's missing — and worth knowing

Ftool is 2D and linear only. It has no code-based design, automatic load combinations or section checks. The software is free and intended primarily for learning — read the terms of use on the official site before using it on a commercial project. It runs on Windows.

How to start

1. Draw the beam and column axes. 2. Set material and section (they matter for displacements). 3. Set supports. 4. Add loads by load case. 5. Choose the diagram you need and read values at the critical points.

The next step

For 3D frame analysis — Frame3DD. For nonlinear and earthquake analysis — OpenSees. For details and solid parts — PrePoMax. And for a Hebrew-language 2D frame analysis tool — STRUCTSOFT.