Top 5 Best Software for Structural Designing

Structural design is a concept that determines the reliability, strengths, stability, and rigidity of any structure. In architecture and civil engineering, making a mistake when it comes to structural design can lead to a major loss of assets and even life. Moreover, it can limit the functionality of the structure, thus creating a scenario where it’s particularly hard for it to serve its original function. The bulk of mistakes in this field comes from human error, which is why employing a proper tool for the job might drastically increase reliability. Still, with so many structural design software out there, it might be quite hard to make up your mind for just one of them. Here are the top five that you should consider.

STAAD Pro

Speaking of tools for sustainable civil engineering, STAAD Pro is simply second to none. First of all, it covers all aspects of structural engineering, which allows you to complete your project end-to-end, within the bounds of a single tool. Second, it has an incredibly flexible modeling environment both in 2D and 3D. Other than this, it comes with a unique set of quality assurances as well as reports and documentation. One of the reasons for its incredible popularity is the fact that it’s one of the most scalable tools out there. This means that it can be used for both minor and major projects with optimal effectiveness.

The drawbacks of using this tool are also there. For instance, when it comes to concrete structures, while some claim that it gives satisfactory results, it doesn’t show much concern for cost-effectiveness. Also, when it comes to some of the more unorthodox structures, those with curvy boundaries and parabolic beams, chances are that they can’t be both modeled and analyzed efficiently. Lastly, the generation of the report can take a while to sort itself out and even though it does have a detailed analysis system, this detailing is not always included in the report. Overall, the reporting system is often described as tedious by some of its users. 

ETABS

The reason why we put ETABS as a second entry on our list is due to the fact that it’s a tool most commonly compared to its predecessor STAAD Pro. Generally speaking, ETABS is less beginner-friendly, which is why it’s often not recommended for those who are new to the industry. Also, ETABS is fairly expensive, which means that you can spend a fortune just in order to master the tool. Fortunately, in this day and age, there’s a way around this. You see, there are so many tutorials on YouTube that can help you figure out the basics long before you actually invest in the tool. They can even help you get accustomed to the interface and learn of its many options.

Previously, we’ve mentioned the fact that STAAD Pro isn’t the optimal choice for those who are designing structures made of reinforced concrete. This means that by using ETABS to design these structures you stand to get superior cost-effectiveness, which may justify the purchase of a more expensive software license. Same as STAAD, the ETABS also have all the options required for the wind analysis, as well as the analysis of loaded codes. There are, however, even a couple of options that are not necessarily available in STAAD. Overall, it would be fair (even though simplistic) to describe ETABS as a more expensive, more complex alternative to STAAD.

AutoCAD LT

When it comes to quality and reliability of the structural design, going with virtually any tool from Cadgroup is a fail-proof idea. The reason why we chose AutoCAD LT instead of standard AutoCAD is due to the fact that it’s far more cost-effective. Sure, it’s package offering is somewhat limited, yet, it still provides the option for creation of 2D CAD drawings, smart dimensioning that can make all the measurements as you go, as well as the ability to lock the system preference setting in order to prevent unwanted changes. In a scenario where several parties have access to the project, you have the option of revision clouds in order to see all the updates and changes that were recently made. Lastly, as well as one of the most important things is to mention that this tool is compatible with Windows and Mac, as well as that it’s accessible via mobile devices.

Now, it’s vital that we address all those options that you won’t get with AutoCAD LT instead of its more expensive counterpart. Standard AutoCAD gives you built-in programming capabilities. This can allow you to create your own programs for automatic drawings generation. Also, by paying for an AutoCAD license, you’re getting permission to use a tool on multiple machines. With this tool, it’s also a lot simpler to check whether drawings that you receive from others meet your standards. In other words, the answer to the question of which one is better is fairly situational.

RISA-3D

If we had to use one word to explain why the use of RISA-3D is so popular it would definitely be expediency. You see, this is a structural design program that was created to make potential 3D structural models as quickly as possible. As far as the materials go, the tool itself gives optimal results when dealing with steel and wood design. The RISA-3D has full graphical modeling capability, which means that you can design it and, at the same time, edit the tool in multiple different views simultaneously. Needless to say, this further minimizes the likelihood of error. One more feature that this tool is known for is its interactivity. 

When compared to STAAD, many users find optimization to be more seamless. It’s also said that RISA-3D has a lot fewer bugs and crashes than its more popular counterpart. Also, STAAD doesn’t do a great job when it comes to tracking of various user settings. This makes the concept of returning to the tool a lot less satisfactory, not to mention that it may take a lot of work to optimize the settings to your liking. The biggest advantage of STAAD, however, is user-friendliness and a simpler learning curve, which is, on its own, a reason enough for people to use it.

SAP2000 3D

One last tool that we’ll add to this list is SAP2000 3D. There are numerous benefits to using this tool, ranging from the integration and efficiency of your projects, all the way to the cost reduction that you may achieve by using it. However, the tool itself is quite expensive and it’s definitely not known for its flexibility. The tool itself is incredibly complex and requires highly trained staff. Also, while the implementation can be relatively problem-free, it may take a while. One more thing that some see as an advantage, while others have the opposite mindset is the fact that SAP comes out with a new version every six months. Either way, if you opt for this tool, you’re in for a constant innovation but also adjustment period. 

In conclusion

The very last thing worth mentioning, when it comes to the use of software for structural design, is the fact that there are many factors you need to take into consideration. There are your skill level and your experience with work on such projects. Then, there’s the cost of license and how good the tool is when it comes to working with various materials. Lastly, seeing as how each of the tools has a unique interface, there’s also the factor of personal preference to consider. Either way, there must be something on this list to meet all your needs and expectations.