depends on what you want to do.
a professor of ancone who is considered a bit the guru of software for structural calculation in Italy said... "for masonry, in case to obtain a poisitive calculation solution you are forced to resort to nonlinear calculation systems, in case of sisma, better start running!"
said this, a discreet price-quality ratio seems to me to have "edilus ca-mur" of the acca software.
we say that for a dignified analysis is suitable (I used it in thesis), also for the consolidation of very large structures a little out of standard.
personally, for a prior analysis of a masonry building, just to give me an idea of the conditions and weaknesses, I need a sismur 4.0 program of epc books (you find it in professional and university libraries). the structural calculation is exclusively linear, but the text is very clear, even on the methods of calculation adopted (i.e. money only for that!) and therefore always verifiable by hand in case of doubts; Moreover it can import drawings in dxf and comes out with a calculation validation report (adding in version 3.0).
the program is attached to the book "calcle of masonry buildings in the seismic zone" and costs a 120€, but contrary to the programs that usually come out in library (maledetta hoepli!) this is complete and not "light" or limited in the number of objects that can calculate.
sismur is updated at ntc/2008 and at cir. n.617/2009
regardless of budget, I would say it's still a great purchase.
I used, and I still use today, sismicad. I am very pleased with the analysis and modelling that can carry out, including the excellent pushover.
Actually, I'd like to go over 3dmacro because I know who designed the software and I know they're really at the highest scientific level.
