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This set of documents defines the design assumptions, methodologies, and reference standards that govern our structural design modeling. The goal is to provide transparency and consistency in the way we model and verify structural systems.
The documentation serves several important functions. It acts as a technical reference, allowing engineers to understand how loads, combinations, and member capacities are established. It also supports independent verification by providing a benchmark for manual checks or comparisons with alternative software. Beyond its technical role, the documentation contributes to training and onboarding, helping junior engineers, academic users, and new adopters quickly grasp the editor’s logic. It further serves as a quality assurance record, offering a traceable account of design assumptions for audits, certifications, and regulatory validation. Ultimately, it strengthens trust by showing clients, partners, and investors that the platform is grounded in established codes and professional practice.
The document set is structured around the core elements of structural analysis and design. It begins with the vertical load transfer system, explaining how gravity loads are modeled from joists through beams, posts, and into foundations, and how tributary areas and load combinations are applied. Seismic and wind load distribution are each treated in turn: seismic forces are calculated using the Equivalent Lateral Force method of ASCE 7-16, while wind forces are addressed using the Main Wind Force Resisting System directional procedure. The documentation then explains how these lateral forces are distributed within floors, using flexible diaphragm assumptions and shear band groupings to define tributary areas for shear walls and frames.
A dedicated section covers member-level design, outlining the methods for checking bending, shear, axial strength, and deflection of beams, joists, columns, and shear walls. Structural system modeling is also documented, showing how the software idealizes elements as line, area, or point components, and how it resolves connections, offsets, and geometric gaps to ensure compatibility in the analytical model.
All methodologies are rooted in established codes and standards, including ASCE 7-16 for loads, the International Building Code (IBC-2021) for design provisions, the AWC NDS and SDPWS for wood, AISC 360 for steel, and ACI 318 for concrete. By integrating these standards into its framework, the editor ensures that its results are not only consistent but also code-compliant and suitable for professional engineering practice.
