PANDORA'S BOX is micro-computer software that can provide an unlimited number and wide variety of two-dimensional truss, beam, and frame problems; different types of structures are available within each category. The user establishes limits for the range of number of nodes, boundary conditions, loads, element lengths, and material properties. Also s/he selects condition parameters to control the type of loading, statical indeterminacy, and cross-sectional properties. The user has output options including hardcopy, screen display or disk storage. PANDORA'S BOX produces problem solution files with the appropriate sequence of commands that produces a solution when imported to a matrix interpretive program. Faculty using PANDORA'S BOX select the types of exercise problems, and the program responds with a graphics display of the structure, the problem data, plus the solution. With slight modifications, the program could be used by students as a prolific source of exercise problems, and subroutines could be added to accumulate and store student performance.

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