The Best Structural Design Software and Top 5 Best Software for Structural Analysis and Design
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 มิ.ย. 2024
- This my list of the best structural design software in 2020. Structural analysis software is critical for any structural design and it is important that you have the correct software to perform your analysis efficiently and effectively. This will also not be your standard list, as I will be including my top 5 best software for structural analysis and design that will help you unlock the power of computational analysis.
My Top 5
1. Learn a programming language - Python
colab.research.google.com/
stackoverflow.com/questions/t...
2. Rhino with Grasshopper
www.rhino3d.com/
www.food4rhino.com/
3. Excel
www.microsoft.com/en-us/micro...
4. MathCAD
www.mathcad.com/en
5. SkyCiv
geni.us/SkyCiv
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My name is Brendan and I am a structural engineer with over 15 years of experience based in Australia. I have a wide variety of projects from very small to some of the biggest in the southern hemisphere. I have a passion for good structural design and teaching/mentoring.
This channel is to share my passion for engineering and provide entertaining short clips on:
- tips for young engineers on progressing their careers
- anyone needing a refresher on any design element
- design approaches
- Review past engineering failures to improve structural knowledge
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This is the most detailed video I've seen ever, the way you explain the use of each software and the power that they possess is exceptional. This video is any eye opener as it tells about the latest trend in getting the structural work done. In the end I would like to say thank you for making such an informative video.
Thanks brendan.
Hi Anubhav, Glad you found it informative. Analysis Software has made designing structures easier, hope it helps guide you in the power of computational analysis. Software should only be a tool to help to analyse a structure to understand structural mechanics. You need to ensure that you starting at a simplifed model and build up the compelexity, as with any software grabage in grabage out. Thanks again for your support
Another great video! It has become my routine study session every Wednesday now, keep on with the great stuff and we are all looking forward to the next one ;)
Thanks, hope to keep up the good content. If there is anything you want me to cover let me know.
Great video.
Love how you are into the programs of the new generation and not stuck with the programs of the yester-year.
+1 for engineers to pick up python and automation.
Time is better spent visualising and setting up concepts and solutions not repetitive tasks that a simple script or spread sheet can replace.
Yea I am always looking to increase my design efficiency. They new programs are really starting to leverage computational analysis.
Thanks for the mention Brendan! Great content too, really liked your points on the power of Python and programming in general. +1 for Stack Overflow too, great time saver when learning to code.
Thanks, SkyCiv is a great software. Cloud computing is the furture.
Greeting from Mongolia. I am a structural engineer, loving to watch your TH-cam channel. Thank you for doing it and sharing your knowledge and experience all over the world.
Thank you Brendan for a fantastic video and tutorial. It helps me a lot to understand the principle behind the software and how it works. As a fresh Graduate Structural like me, it takes years for me to understand all of that. I'm currently looking for some tutorials or advice about design timber or steel truss, floor truss. It will be great if you make a video about that in the future. Once again, thank you.
Hi Huu Tran, happy that you found the helpful. I am planning on making a timber design and future of structural engineering, stay tuned. Also, any other suggestions welcome.
Hi Brendan, I am currently graduate structural engineer with about 1 year working experience based in Sydney. I have been using Strand 7, RAPT, Space Gass, Idea Statica for most of my design and I thought your recommendations are very helpful as I have keep my eyes on those other softwares for a while. I have started self-learning some of those softwares and hopefully I can see more of your updates!
Hi Xiji, thanks for watching. It is good to see that you have managed to use several different software for your design. It is always about using the best software for your analysis, no software can do everything; despite what they may advertise. Just be sure you understand the structural mechanics before using any design software, it is really easy to make mistakes and not realise it, it may give you an answer but is it correct. it is also good to hear that you have started your self-learning journey and hope to be helpful in my future updates.
This is a great video! Thank you very much for the detailed information. Automation and programming connected with the software's API is a great workflow. And also not to marry to a specific software but instead, know its benefits and limitations. Also very good to have a middle man software to approximate solutions, like RAPT. Thank you!
Hi Mihdi, thanks for watching and glad that your found it helpful.
Great video! How about ENERCALC or RAM elements for single element designs such as beams, columns, footings etc? They are fairly popular here in the US. Keep up the good work!
Hi QQE, Glad you enjoyed the video
ENERCALC looks like a software we have here called Structural Tool Kit or Tedd. this type of software I prefer to use mathcad as it gives me more control.
haven't tried Ram Elements these integrated design modulus are normally good to assess your design, however, I prefer to extract the data, (Load rundowns , lateral forces ect) and analysis in separate design programs or self written design modulus. this is for two reason trying to get away from the blackbox of design given me more control, and normally tho software like Ram Elements works will integrated in the Bentley Eco system there is better software around to design that element. for example Rapt that focus on the elemental design only. Also, relying on one Ecosystem aka Bentley can make engineers miss mistakes as they become too reliant on the software. garbage in garbage out.
Very informative Brendon, thank you, I noticed you didn't mention staad pro at least for the steel design part specially for industrial buildings. Also what's your recommendation for mid rise timber buildings involving timber wall / floor framing / CLTs?
Hi Taimoor, glad you found it informative. I use Spacegass most and haven't used Stadd Pro extensively; however, they are likely interchangeable. Most of the timber design is through excel and software I have written; there is software from Hyne that I have used, which is good; this is only for Australia tho.
Very nice video, thanks for sharing this Brendan! Who knows, in the 2021 version of this video, Tribby3d might be featured :)
Thanks Tribby3d, I will check it out.
@@BrendanHasty Appreciate it, thanks! Keep up the good work. I'll definitely be following your channel.
Hi Brendan,
Just discovered your videos and I am really enjoying them. Quick question, I am assuming that you would recommend rapt as the go to software for designing post-tensioned slabs for single story family dwellings?
Hi Carson, I would agree I would recommend Rapt it also has several international codes. I also use Rapt to verify Ram models
Hii!! I am also civil engineering student and your videos really help me exploring in this field.
Hi Dinesh, thanks for the support and glad that you found my videos helpful.
Thanks for the info , very helpfull. What about Autodesk Robot structural analysis ?
Thank you Brendan. It’s so informative.
I am just wondering you didn’t mention any software for protection/retention work. If you can share about this as well, that will be great.
Glad you enjoyed it. For detailed retention design it would be wallap. Simple retention design would be MathCAD or toolkit.
Thank you Brendan.
I have just started using SkyCiv and you have mentioned about it. Being a cloud based software, we can use it in our cell phone as well. That’s really useful.
Yea, they just released an app for it. It is quite intuitive.
Thanks a lot , I strongly recommend python , is a tool to rule all the tools that you said , etabs, sap 2000 , grasshopper, excel jajajja you name it . Also, you can transfer your knowledge to other fields , if you are into tech stuff , python is a powerful tool ( see some raspberry pi stuff)
Hi Cesar, agree Python is an amazing tool that can make your life easier. I have a goal to automate away all the mundane and repetitive task this year
Thank you for the helpful information.
I want to ask you about software like ABAQUS or ansys. Are these kind of software used in the industry (like complex structures) or they are just used in research level?
Hi Mohamed, I have used ABAQUS but was for a unique challenging design. I also know it is being used in the UK, but it isn't commonly used. It would be used in forensic engineering.
Hello. Nice video. What is your take on Prokon?
Thank you so much for sharing your treasured experience. I enjoy watching your videos. I am about to finish my degree in civil engineering. I was wondering if you could suggest some advanced online courses about structural design software.
Hi Alsu, thanks for watching and congratulation on your upcoming graduation. When starting out, it is better to focus on structural mechanics, and IstructE had a great beginners course, www.istructe.org/resources/exam-preparation/structural-behaviour-quiz/ I think it can be free when you start out. As for software as a graduate, you will have time to pick it up in your first position and depending on where you are working; they will have different software, so you may end up learning the wrong Suit of programs. If you are thinking something like Grasshopper or Rhino, think parametric thinkparametric.com/ has some good course. let me know if you are looking for specific programs.
Hi Brandon ! stuctural mechanics i will focus,but what about Istruct.
very informative, i think there is another software which is very popular Staad pro, can you make some video example in australian standard with structural software that you used in australia please?
Hi Roy Jack, thanks for stopping by. Staad Pro is very popular, along with the whole Bentley suite. happy to put a video together on a standard design with software examples.
Loved your video..... it would be great if you mentioned the name of the software on the display somewhere in the video.
Hi, thanks for your support. Also, thankyou for the freeback I will add this at into my next video. There isn't the ability to add it to this video otherwise i would.
Many thanks engineer
Hi Qureshi. Thanks for watching.
In the beginning of the video you said these softwares are replacing hand computations are you talking about the softwares listed on the video or the other softwares that are not listed?
Could you please upload some tutorial videos on Construction animation in Sketchup or something? That would be so much helpful and fun to watch.
Hi Thanks for the Suggestion, will need to play around with sketch up and see what i can make.
@@BrendanHasty Thank you so much for consideration.
What was the software you use for designing slabs and the other structural members?? Sorry I didn't get the name right
And another question,why won't you use Etabs to design everything in a concrete structure?? Just curious
Hi Ali, Rapt or for 3D ramconcept. Etabs is great for stability but not for slab design just using it for what it is good for, in Australia most slabs are PT. Also, as etabs is a full 3D model columns can axially shorten this would redistrubt the moments.
Would you be able to go into more depth about your preferred 3D structural analysis software? Possibly a little project of you designing and analyzing a steel and concrete building?
Hi Robert, Thanks for support. this is somthing that is in the works, along with structural modelling tips. Any other sugestions welcome.
Hey Brendan, can we get a video on how to work/work well with a drafter?
Hi Alvin, this maybe a shortest video but can see what I can do. It is a symbiosis both are needed for a successful project.
Great 👍🏻
Thanks for watching Civil, any topic you will find interesting let me know.
@@BrendanHasty thank You Sir,
1) I am a great aspirant to become a Structural Engineer and mostly I watch videos related to Structural Engineering.
2) kindly make playlist of videos on Structural analysis and how can we easily learn different methods of hand calculation analysis and software based analysis.
3) also make a playlist of videos on the fundamental concepts of Structural engineering.
Thank You
Ideastatica is getting better for connections. Inducta RCC for column design too
Hi jack, thanks for letting me know I will need to check it out.
Maybe you can try the new RFEM 6 by Dlubal Software :-)
Hi Dlubal, I will look into it. Any chance for me to licence to try it?
I have a question, how do you export results calcluations from a python script in your report ? i use jupyter notebook but i find it a little bit difficult to get a nice report when exporting in pdf.
do you know a library that facilitate the process when exporting in pdf ?
Hi Senoussi, I kind of cheat. I extract the loads into a CSV file and load it into excel to display the results. I do know of other people who have done this using python. I forgot what library they used. I will let you know when I find out.
Watch this from Russia, thanks for your review
Thanks for watching! from Australia. hope you found it useful.
I'm a civil engineer and I want to learn a programming software but I can't decide between Matlab and Python. I've read a lot of forums about this but I haven't made up my mind yet. I would like to know your opinion. Why do you use Python over Matlab? Do your colleagues use Python too?
Hi Sam, Python is what you should go for. MATLAB is great at displaying calculations and preforming analysis; however, you will be limited in the long run. It would be good in conjunction with python, as they would perform different purposes.
if you are looking for standalone assessment, Matlab would be a great tool. Python helps hand data from multiple sources, and with big data sets would be more efficient. With python you can also automate repetitive tasks so can make you a more efficient. As python is a full programming language you would also not be limited by the software.
@@BrendanHasty Thank you for your prompt reply. I'll give Python a go.
what are the commonly used software for concrete, steel and timber design in Australia ?
Very good information u gave sir tnx for that nd I have one doubt on my higher studies if I plan to pursued ms structural engineering in Canada and working on there itself after I come back to home country that Canadian structural design was helpful in india?plz get me out from this
Hi Dinesh engineering is the same all over the world, you will just need to study up on the specific code in each country
What do you think about cypecad and could you give me your opinion about it
Hi Addou, have not used Cypecad will need to look into it.
Mathcad is fantastic.
Hi Lawrence, agree mathCAD is great for interactive computations.
Just an add for skyciv
Thanks for the support Anash
72 Windload cases for tower caught my attention. Will you please Brief about it.
Hi Mohammad, the 72 cases were from two wind tunnel tests, there was a lot of development occurring in the area, and this had a big impact on the loads applied to the tower. So there was one case in the undeveloped state and one in the post developed state. In addition to this the tower was highly variable, so it was too hard to work out the critical wind cases, so every wind direction needed to be considered 36 * 2 = 72 wind cases.
What will be the best software to design a 100m gateway in aluminum?
Aluminium is a unique material. It would likely need to be designed in a FEA program like Strand7
Prota Software is the best for building analysis, design and drafting you need to get up to date with the best tools in the market, unfortunately doesnt have AS codes but Prota smashes all the ones you mention as i can do a complete building in a week so the best and quickest tool for a 50 storey building doing earthquake, wind, dead and live loading for any complex geometry
Thanks, for the tip. I will look out for it when it gets ported to Australian Standards. Would be good it see it in action, does it provide full calculations?
@@BrendanHasty Yes and is basically an integrated Etabs, SAFE software with design capability and you can see the calculations and check analysis with other packages till you are comfortable with it.
Why is it the best.I always get puzzled at these definitive statements, especially in this field. What makes it so good? And i'm sorry, one week to what you said is not really advisable, that's trusting way too much on a software. I do agree that from what i've seen it looks to be a really good designing tool.
Agree Ooze27, care always need to be taken when using any software using any with out verification isnt advisable. they shouldn't be used as backed boxes, garbage in garbage out. verification should occur everytime you use the software for design.
@@BrendanHasty Indeed, one should use what he/she believes is more confortable and offers more trustworthy results. Around here we call it : pig in sausages out software. Besides for me (located in Europe) many of the US based software are awful in designing reinforced concrete to Eurocode, the exit drawing are just awful. I'm used to use a combination of structural software, excel and autocad for the construction site drawings.
How about Robot autodesk for structural analysis and design .
Hi Tinashe, thank for watching. I haven't used robot yet but typically I found software companies that try to focus on too many things don't do everything well.
What basic or advanced requirements of laptop to run this?
I have a video on computer choice for engineers
İ recommend İdecad Structural Software,all in one structural analysis software
Hi Gogol, thanks for the suggestion this is something i need to check out.
what software civil engineers need to study to get a job in australia ? please explain in comments or make a video.....
Hi Fajar, this will be slightly different for each company, but bu typically Rapt, RamConcept, etabs spacegass. But every company will use different ones, better to get design work to Australian standards even at small companies.
@@BrendanHasty thanks brendan . what BIM software do you use? for planning and structures.
How can freshers get job as a structural Drsign engg?
yu is wery smart, we do only cross metod.
Sir what about Risa3d?
Hi Satyam, I have not used RISA3D much, but it will be something I will look into.
❤❤❤❤👏👏👏👏👍👍👍
thanks Kelenie,
How about AutoCad？
Hi nowadays most drafting is moving towards Revit.
Can you show me one of them, the one in a cloud?
Do you mean Skyciv? I can do a video on that one or Colabs the python programming?
Skyciv. Maybe it’s too hard for me. But I am designing pandemic proof housing. I have a list of new materials for basic calculations
Vinci te callebaute one example, however I have additional design criteria based on new materials and systems
I just want to design a simple incorporation so I can forecast financial impact
Example: translucent concrete, moving daylight using fiber optics, moving daylight and harvesting rainwater using transparent aluminum
thelowline.org/lab/
I have a whole list.
Saving lives by design means changing the way we build. As we can fly missions to Mars, we should delay the trip, and redesign cities to integrate and restore nature. This is the only way to restore people. This is the only way to prevent this pandemic, and subsequent waves, from reaching extinction level event.
@@BrendanHasty I am good at programming but not a structural engineer.
@@BrendanHasty
Proof of concepts, well some of them here
th-cam.com/video/4w7lsydq8ks/w-d-xo.html
@@BrendanHasty basically, is it possible to create a patch database of material parameters to permit structural engineers to effectively adopt these “ new materials and principles” to accommodate pandemic proof modifications
umm im concerned do u have difficulty breathing deeper. i can hear shallow breaths . it not goo u should improve Breathing
bro u r so talented , why don't u find a job in country where str engineers are paid better
Staad
You used a Mac in this video right?
Nope this was a Windows desktop
You are also so out of date referencing Excel and MatchCAD these have been replaced with TEDDS for Word 10 years ago overseas, as you present the calculation that can be easily checked then it integrates with all the MS packages like Excel to do heavy iterations and present in Word which anyone can check. You need to work overseas and really get up to speed with what International engineers are using your software referenced is so out dated....
Hi Rob, I have used Tedds years ago and wasn't too impressed by it. I agree that TEDDS could be a replacement for MathCAD. But now it has been integrated into Tekla it doesn't fit into all work flows, haven't used it since Tekla took it over. As for excel unsure if you watched to the end, excel is crippled with heavy iterations, it becomes very slow, thus you should use Python in these situation. Excel would only be used to prototype workflows that would be ported to python.
@@BrendanHasty No worries thanks for that will check out Python and keep up the Videos good stuff
It's important to approach people's suggestions with an open mind. Tedds, MathCad, Excel are all used in a large consultancy I work in, although Excel appears to get used by 90% of the engineers (I tend to prefer the flexibility of python though). There are other players that have started capturing people's attention for engineering calculations, including programming in Python, web based structural tools such as Clearcalcs and Skyciv, with the latter providing some more fine-grained control if you know how to code.
Australian engineering level is just so low. The process of doing lateral analysis in Etabs while beams in software like rapt is just so ridiculous and unbelievable. I guess they reason behind this is that engineers here are so lack of training in earthquake and moment frames are rarely used... Imagine using this process to do the “normal” buildings in others countries... It is not just time consuming but most importantly, incorrect.
Everyone knows Toolkit is #1 😝
LOL, toolkit has its place. But everything toolkit does, can be done in mathCAD. I can never get licences of Toolkit.
Are you really speaking English?!!!
Australian