I thought about using clearcalcs to do a CFS stud the other day… I opened the calculator and don’t see anywhere to put in a lateral load from wind… is that something that’ll be added? I mean, even interior walls are supposed to get 5psf interior wind added to them…
While I’m on the subject, is there a reason you can’t switch material from CFS Column to some other material? I might be interested in switching to Hot-rolled shapes for a particular column check.
And finally, there appears to be no way to check a parapet on a CFS stud… can that functionality be added at some point?
Regarding the CFS Column (US) module, you’re correct, it currently only supports concentric axial loads, so there’s no option for inputting lateral or moment loads at this time. Because of this limitation, switching materials from CFS to something like hot-rolled shapes isn’t supported either.
As for parapet checks, you’re right again. The module doesn’t allow moving the support location to create a cantilevered stud for parapet use. All these features are available in our Australian module, but adapting them to the US version would require a significant overhaul to meet the US code’s requirements for axial force plus bending demands.
I’ll file a feature request for these capabilities and keep you updated. While I can’t promise a quick turnaround given our current priorities, we definitely appreciate your feedback!