Simulation
From SpaceElevatorWiki.com
Simulation and Engineering Software
Physics Models
Dynamics, basic principles relationships, materials properties,...
http://keithcu.com/wiki/index.php/Codebase_Analysis#Physics_Engines
We will be using a physics engine, but with a rather small number of 5,000 lb boxes :-) We need to figure how one can help here.
Spreadsheets
Ribbon dimensions, performance trade-offs, overall interactions matrix.
3-D Design Files
Sketchup, Cinema 4-D, others