What Software does a structural engineer need to know.

There is a lot of structural engineer software, and I will be answering the heated debate on what software does a structural engineer need to know? Although it is important to know how to use the software it is more important to know, what structural design software you should use in each situation. Knowing the different types of software structural engineering available and when to use each is more important than ever.

Structural Engineering Software
Learn a programming language - Python
MathCAD
Structural ToolKit
Spacegass
RamConcept
Etabs
Rapt
Strand7

What to watch next
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My name is Brendan, and I am a structural engineer with over 15 years of experience 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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Disclaimer: Some of the below links are affiliate links as an Amazon Associate and other affiliate programs; I'll earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
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Chapter
00:00 Intro
00:40 Where to start
01:56 Preliminary Assessment and one-off structural designs
04:04 Frames of Geometric Complexity
05:27 Detailed local Assessment - Analysis/Design Complexity
06:28 Detailed Slab Analysis - Geometric Complexity
07:43 Lateral - Wind Earthquake - Design Complexity
08:26 What software every engineer needs to know

[mangoandguitar]

Great video!

Software (besides MS office/ open office) that I personally put on my list in order of priority by use and value/ purchase order:

1. BricsCAd/ Auto CAD/ Revit
2. Structural Tool Kit
3. Spacegas
4. Bluebeam

For more complicated structures

1. RAPT
2. Etabs
3. Ram Concept (for concrete) / Strand 7 (for steel)

[anindyadutta]

Hi Brendan, I am a practicing SE in San Francisco. We do a lot of Performance Based Design using the software Perform 3D (a CSI product). You might want to a video on PBD at some point as your viewers will certainly find it interesting. And thank you for doing this and bringing our profession to the forefront.

[MengLim]

Yes bro structural engineer is the skill for smart people. Structural engineer is always challenges.
I have used ETABS for doing structural analysis, CSI Safe for RC slab design and check deflection, Adapt builder for PT slab design and check. For structural elements such as Beam column I use etabs and compare result with Spcolum, MathCAD 15/Prime. And also Midas design plush. Thank you for this intro and best wish for all structural engineers. I have created sharing platform can visit, Wish.!

[noorulhaq]

You the best tutor.. I'm GLAD to found u

[ericstoddard]

Good list! Don’t forget about the FEM giants such as ansys or abaqus. Although they are not used much with practicing engineers, research and defense engineers rely greatly on them. Great video.

[anibaltv]

if I can give any advice that will help you for life is to dedicate time and create your own spreadsheets, in excel or on mtc, you can buy premade sheets but you won't know them and why they decided to use certain methods and leave out certain others, do your own and keep improving it and it will help you throughout your career.

[PeterRanieriII]

at least here in New York, USA for buildings, it's moving towards Revit and RAM with Bluebeam being the documentation and pdf coordination/markups go-to.

[rvatina]

Thanks for your content! Idea for future videos - general tips&tricks for modeling a 3D concrete structure in any FEM software (walls, beams, plates, beams) - boundary conditions, coupling beams, avoiding numerical errors, etc...

[FernandoCarddoso]

Hey Man Whats up ? Your channel is pretty good, I'm a civil engineer in Brazil, a hug and keep doing this nice work

[tekdhant]

Thanks for the video!!
The most anticipated video!!

[lucasle]

LOVE This type of video is just what i need

[PaulGrosvenor]

It's be great to hear more about how you've used python in structural engineering.

[DeepakKrishna]

So what I am getting is that one must know basic hand calcs and concepts about structural properties before jumping into any software.

[jan-weber]

Frilo for calculation and allplan for drawing. 😎👍

[maarirs]

Fantastic sir. Loved the video. MathCAD was mind blowing to me.😅 I was just thinking yesterday while doing rcc design, checking the calculation is so hard with excel…

[sonofsun]

Brendan thanks for very useful contents, i have a suggestion which if you can design step by step(from surveying to finished structure) a full timber, concrete, steel structures with explanation in videos i will be very glad to join your private membership. only for residential building

[jhimjimmapa]

Great video.

I wonder what your insight about Staad.

[tribbyd]

Great video Brendan! Hoping to see Tribby3d on the list next year :)

[craigf]

One of the issues I have with programs, for example like SAP, is that they model the completed structure. With concrete structures, certain loads, particularly dead-loads are "locked in" at various stages of construction. Therefore, composite section properties may not apply to certain loads, for example, a heavy concrete wall sitting on a concrete slab the was cast earlier. This may result in minor stress inaccuracies in many cases but not all.

[CIVILENGINEERHUB]

In India we use staad pro and etab only