Documentation

Welcome to StructuPro

StructuPro is a comprehensive structural engineering application designed to streamline your design workflow. Whether you're analyzing beams, designing steel members or connections, our tools provide accurate calculations with detailed reporting.

Beam Calculator

Calculate internal forces, moments, displacements, and reactions for beams under various loading conditions. Supports multiple load types and support conditions.

Point loads, distributed loads, and moments
Pinned, roller, fixed, and spring supports
Real-time visualization of results
PDF export with detailed diagrams

Steel Member Design

Design steel segments or members according to NZS3404 and AS4100 standards. Perfect for complex multi-segment analysis.

Multi-segment design capability
Three report types: Summary, Standard, Detailed
Critical segment identification
Visual representation of member/segment design and segments end conditions
Exports design results in PDF format
Automatically calculates relevant design factors

Connection Design

Comprehensive suite of 12+ steel connection design tools fully compliant with SCNZ Steel Connections Design Guide (SCNZ 14.1-2007).

12+ connection types including simple, moment, and splice connections
Full compliance with SCNZ 14.1-2007 and AS/NZS standards
Real-time design checks with pass/fail indicators
Comprehensive PDF reports with all calculations

Quick Start Guide

Choose your module: Beam Calculator or Member Design
Enter project details and specifications
Define geometry, supports, and loading conditions
Run analysis and review results
Export comprehensive PDF reports

Quick Start Guide

Getting Started: This guide will walk you through the basic workflow of the modules.

Beam Calculator Workflow

General Setup: Define beam length, material properties, and section type
Add Supports: Place supports along the beam with appropriate restraints
Apply Loads: Add point loads, distributed loads, or moments
Analyze: Run the analysis to generate force and deflection diagrams
Export: Download results as a PDF report

Member Design Workflow

Project Details: Enter project information and metadata
Segment Details: Define member geometry and segment properties
Forces: Input internal forces either automatically or manually
Design: Run the design check according to selected standard
Results: Review capacity ratios and export documentation

Connection Design Workflow

Project Details: Enter project information, metadata, and loading parameters
Member Properties: Select section type, grade, and dimensions for beam/column
Plate Details: Specify plate grade, dimensions, and geometry
Bolt Configuration: Define bolting category, sizes, spacing, and layout
Weld Details: Select electrode type and weld sizes (if applicable)
Design: Validate inputs and run calculations per SCNZ standard
Results: Review capacity ratios, generate reports, and export documentation

Project Details

The Project Details section captures essential information that will appear in your final documentation.

Input Fields

Project Name: Enter the name of the project. This helps identify the design file
Project Number: Unique code or number for project tracking and reference
Project Designer: The person responsible for the segment design
Description: A brief overview of the project or design purpose

Tip: All fields are optional but recommended for professional documentation. The information entered here will appear in the header of your PDF reports.

Segment Details

a. General Configuration

This section defines the geometry and properties of the steel member or segment. Key inputs include member length, section type, design reference, and other specifications.

Reference: Select either NZS3404 or AS4100 as the design standard.
Member Category: Automatically populated for NZS3404. This field is hidden when AS4100 is selected. Used to verify section geometry per Clause 12.4.
Member Length: Define the total member or segment length in millimetres (mm).
Segment Number: Enter 1 for a single segment or the number of segments for a multi-segment member.
Section Type: Common New Zealand and Australian sections are available, including:
- UB (Universal Beam) – Grade G350 and G300+
- UC (Universal Column) – Grade G350 and G300+
- CHS (Circular Hollow Section) – Grade G250 and G350
- RHS (Rectangular Hollow Section) – Grade G350 and G450
- SHS (Square Hollow Section) – Grade G350 and G450
- PFC (Parallel Flange Channel) – Grade G350 and G300+
- TFB (Tapered Flange Beam) – Grade G350 and G300+
- CWB (Custom Welded Beam) – Various grades.
For CWB sections, the application allows the user to input the start and end depths, flange width, and flange and web thicknesses.

The user can also select the critical segment section used for calculating M_bx or N_c.
- When calculating M_bx, the critical section may be selected as:
  - Maximum moment-to-depth ratio
  - Minimum depth
  - Maximum depth
  - Middle depth
- When calculating N_c, the critical section may be selected as:
  - Minimum depth
  - Middle depth
- PB, EB, HB, HCB, HCBC, HCC, HP, NB, BP, SB, SC, LB, WS – Welded steel sections in Grade G300M
Steel Grade: Automatically populated based on section type.
Section: Select from a list based on the chosen section type.

b. Segment Specifications

The number of rows corresponds to the number of segments. Each segment can have unique specifications.

Restraint Conditions

Seg No: Segment number identifier.
Start (mm): Distance from the beginning of the member.
End (mm): End position relative to the start of the member. Must not be less than 0 or less than the previous segment end.
Restraint: End restraints as per Clause 5.4.3 of AS4100/NZS3404. No distinction is made between start or end, as each segment is treated independently.
- FF: Full restraint at both ends
- FL: Full restraint at one end, lateral restraint at the other
- LL: Lateral restraint at both ends
- FU: Full and unrestrained ends
- FP: Full and partial restraint
- PL: Partial and lateral restraint
- PU: Partial and unrestrained
- PP: Partial restraint at both ends
Major Axis Length (mm): Length for bending about major axis (x-x). Defaults to member length.
Minor Axis Length (mm): Length for bending about minor axis (y-y). Defaults to segment length.
Hole Area (mm²): Total hole area within the segment.
Start/End Restraint Rotational: "Free" or "Fixed" per Clause 5.4.3.4, affecting rotation restraint factor (k_r).
K_t : Twist restraint factor. Automatically calculated; not editable.
K_r : Rotational restraint factor. Automatically calculated; not editable.
K_l : Load height factor for gravity loads. Calculated from load position inputs. Press the adjacent button to view the selection menu:

Forces Input

In this tab, Internal forces in the segment or member can be imported in twe ways, "Automatic Calculation" and "Manual for Each Segment". The first method is usually used for a member contains several segments. Instead of extracting the internal forces for each segment from the analysis engine, they can be imorted in several stations regardless of the number or location of the segments. The software automatically calculates the internal forces for each segment. The second method is usually used when the internal forces of each segment are available.

Method 1: Automatic Calculation

Ideal for members with multiple segments. Input forces at various stations and the software interpolates values for each segment.

Input Parameters

Force Station Number: The number of the force stations. It is not same as the segment number and can be different based on the force diagram changes throughout the member. Most of analysis platforms provide the forces at specified stations in the member which can be used easily in here. We are trying to provide some features to get these forces automaticaly from the popular analysis platforms.
No: The station number in each row.
Station (mm): The station location in each row in mm from the start of the member. The station location should be greater than the previous one and less than the next one. The maximum value is the length of the member.
M_x^* (kN.m): The design bending moment about the x-axis (major-axis) in kN.m for the corresponding station. This value can be negetive.
M_y^* (kN.m): The design bending moment about the y-axis (minor-axis) in kN.m for the corresponding station. This value can be negetive.
V_x^* (kN): The design shear force (major-axis) in kN for the corresponding station. This vale is positive
N^* (kN): The design axial (Compression or Tension) force in kN for the corresponding station. This value is positive

The axial force type (Compresion or Tension) can be selected from the drop-down list.

Visualization: Bending moment, shear force, and axial force diagrams are automatically generated to help verify your input.

Method 2: Manual Input

Direct input of maximum forces for each segment. Best when you have exact values from analysis software.

Segment: The segment number in each row.
M_x^* (kN.m): The design bending moment about the x-axis (major-axis) in kN.m for the corresponding station. This value can be negetive.
M_y^* (kN.m): The design bending moment about the y-axis (minor-axis) in kN.m for the corresponding station. This value can be negetive.
V_x^* (kN): The design shear force (major-axis) in kN for the corresponding station. This vale is positive
N^* (kN): The design axial (Compression or Tension) force in kN for the corresponding station. This value is positive

The axial force type (Compresion or Tension) can be selected from the drop-down list.

k_te: Correction factor for distribution of forces in a tension segment according to clause 7.3 of NZS 3404 and AS 4100. This is active once the tension is selected as axial force type.
α_m :The moment modification factor as per clause (5.6.1.1.1b) of NZS 3404 and AS 4100. The user can specified this value in three ways that one of them is manual input and the other two are automatic based on the input moment values which can be achived by the button next to the α_m non editable value in each segment row.

a. Manual input: In this method the user can input the α_m value manually then apply it for the corresponding segment.

b. Based on the input moment values - Interpolation between start & end moment: In this method the user specifies the major axis bending moments for the start and end of the segment and the software will calculate the α_m value for the corresponding segment based on the interpolation between the start and end moments which specifies M₂^*, M₃^*, M₄^* values to be used in (Eq. 5.6.1.1(2)) of NZS 3404 and AS 4100.

c. Based on the input moment values - Input M₂^*, M₃^*, M₄^*: In this method the user specify M₂^*, M₃^*, M₄^* and the software will calculate the α_m value based on the (Eq. 5.6.1.1(2)) of NZS 3404 and AS 4100 for the corresponding segment.

β_m In plane Major : The ratio of smaller to larger bending moment at the ends of a member for inplane major bending. Should be imported manualy and it is only used in alternative design provision
β_m In plane Minor:The ratio of smaller to larger bending moment at the ends of a member for inplane minor bending. Should be imported manualy and it is only used in alternative design provision
β_m Out of Plane:The ratio of smaller to larger bending moment at the ends of a member for out of plane bending. Should be imported manualy and it is only used in alternative design provision

Design Results

After clicking "Design", comprehensive results are displayed with multiple reporting options.

Report Types

Summary Report

High-level overview showing pass/fail status and critical capacity ratios. Perfect for quick compliance checks.

Standard Report

Balanced detail with key equations and intermediate values. Suitable for most documentation needs.

Detailed Report

Complete step-by-step calculations with all equations in scientific notation. Ideal for verification and learning.

Key Features

PDF Export: The user can export the selected design report as a PDF file. By default, the file is saved to the user's downloads folder, but this location can be changed.
Critical Segment: Displayed at the top of the report, it identifies the critical segment when multiple segments exist, along with the highest ratio and the cause of that ratio.
Result for segment: Indicates which segment the displayed results relate to. Users can navigate to reports for other segments using the right and left arrows.

Beam Calculator - General Setup

Configure the basic properties of your beam including material, geometry, and section properties.

Project Information

Project Name: The title assigned to the project.
Designer: The name of the individual responsible for designing the project.
Description: A brief summary outlining the scope and purpose of the project.
Length: The total length of the beam/member.
Material: The type of material used in the beam, which can be steel, concrete, or other materials.

Material Options

a. Steel Sections

Young's Modulus: The Young's modulus of the steel material.

Section Type: A list of common steel sections used in New Zealand and Australia:

UB (Universal Beam) - Grades G350 and G300+
UC (Universal Column) - Grades G350 and G300+
CWB (Custom Welded Beam) - Various grades.

CHS (Circular Hollow Section) - Grades G250 and G350
RHS (Rectangular Hollow Section) - Grades G350 and G450
SHS (Square Hollow Section) - Grades G350 and G450
PFC (Parallel Flange Channel) - Grades G350 and G300+
TFB (Tapered Flange Beam) - Grades G350 and G300+
PB (Perimeter Welded Beams) - Grade G300M
EB (Equivalent Welded Beams) - Grade G300M
HB (Heavy Welded Beams) - Grade G300M
HCB (High Capacity Beams) - Grade G300M
HCBC (High Capacity Beam-Columns) - Grade G300M
HCC (High Capacity Columns) - Grade G300M
HP (Welded 'H' Piles) - Grade G300M
NB (Narrow Welded Beams) - Grade G300M
BP (Welded Bearing Piles) - Grade G300M
SB (Standard Welded Beams) - Grade G300M
SC (Standard Welded Columns) - Grade G300M
LB (Light Welded Beams) - Grade G300M
WS (Wide Sections) - Grade G300M

Section: Automatically populated based on the selected section type. The user can then select a specific section from the list.

The moment of inertia and area are automatically calculated based on the selected section.

When CWB is selected, manual inputs for depth (d), flange width (b_f), flange thickness (t_f), and web thickness (t_w) become available.

b. Concrete Sections

If the selected material is concrete, the following options are available:

f'_c: The compressive strength of the concrete in MPa.

Young's Modulus: Automatically calculated based on f'_c, but it can also be entered manually.

Rectangular Concrete Section: Enter the height and width of the section to calculate its properties.

Circular Concrete Section: Enter the diameter of the section to calculate its properties.

Other Concrete Section: Manually enter the moment of inertia and area for custom sections.

c. Other Materials

If the material is not steel or concrete, you can manually enter the Young's modulus, moment of inertia, and area.

Beam Calculator - Supports

Add, modify, or delete supports to define boundary conditions for your beam analysis.

Support Configuration

Support Number: Automatically generated based on existing supports. You can browse existing supports using the left and right arrow buttons.
Support Position: Defines the position of the support on the beam in millimeters (mm).

Support Types:

Basic Supports

Pinned (translational fixed, rotational free)
Roller (vertical fixed, horizontal free)
Fixed (all DOF restrained; ends only)

Spring Supports

Vertical Spring (user-defined stiffness)
Horizontal Spring (user-defined stiffness)
Combined Horizontal/Vertical Spring (user-defined stiffness)

Actions

New: Adds a new support. Once added, there is no need to press this button again unless you want to add another support.
Apply: Applies the current support settings and adds it to the beam.
Delete: Deletes the currently selected support and removes it from the beam.

Note: Fixed supports are only available at beam ends. Ensure supports prevent rigid body motion.

Beam Calculator - Loads

This section allows you to add point loads by specifying their position along the beam, value, load type, and direction.

Point Loads & Moments

Point Load Number: Automatically generated based on existing point loads. You can navigate through existing loads using the left and right arrow buttons.
Point Load Position: Specifies the location of the point load on the beam in millimeters (mm).
Type: Indicates the type of load. Options include Force or Moment.
Point Load Value: The magnitude of the load in kilonewtons (kN) for forces or kilonewton-meters (kN·m) for moments.
Load Direction: For forces, options include Vertical or Horizontal. For moments, choose Clockwise or Anticlockwise.
Direction Arrows: Available only when the load type is set to Force. Use the arrows to specify direction—left or right for horizontal forces, and up or down for vertical forces.

Distributed Loads

Distributed Load Number: Automatically generated based on existing distributed loads. You can navigate through existing loads using the left and right arrow buttons.
Start Position: Specifies the starting position of the distributed load on the beam, in millimeters (mm).
End Position: Specifies the ending position of the distributed load on the beam, in millimeters (mm).
Start Value: The value of the distributed load at the start position, in kilonewtons per meter (kN/m).
End Value: The value of the distributed load at the end position, in kilonewtons per meter (kN/m).
Load Direction: Defines the direction of the distributed load. It can be either Vertical or Horizontal.
Direction Arrows: Used to specify direction—left or right when "Horizontal" is selected, and up or down when "Vertical" is selected.

Tip: Loads can be positive or negative. Visual indicators show direction on the beam diagram.

Actions

New: Adds a new load. Once added, there is no need to press this button again unless you want to add another load.
Apply: Applies the current load settings and adds it to the beam.
Delete: Deletes the currently selected load and removes it from the beam.

Beam Calculator - Calculations & Export

Press the Calculate button to compute reactions, internal forces, and deflections. Export results for documentation.

Calculation Results

Reactions: Support forces and moments calculated automatically
Diagrams: Shear, moment, axial, and deflection plots with max/min values

PDF Export

Generate a visual report including diagrams, tables, and calculations.

Error Handling: Alerts display if the model is unstable or loads are invalid.

Web Side Plates Connection

1. Overview

Web Side Plate Connection Design module provides a comprehensive approach for designing bolt sizes, web plates, and welds in accordance with SCNZ 14.1-2007 Standard.

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