SCIA Engineer features

• Steady-state harmonic analysis for a single frequency or a range of frequencies
• Nodal, line and surface harmonic loads
• In-phase and out-of-phase harmonic loads
• Rayleigh and constant damping
• Peak and RMS values for accelerations, velocities and displacements
• Load sign assigned automatically based on the selected modal shape

• New enhancement in construction stages analysis
• Improved workflow in the design of multistorey buildings
• Ability to run a stability analysis for individual phase of construction

• Graphical visualization of the convergence progress in the nonlinear analysis
• Possibility to export the data to an Excel spreadsheet
• Graphs available both during and after calculation

• Update to the latest rules described in ASCE 7-22
• Checks performed according to the latest AISC 360-22 rules
• Automatic update of older projects

SCIA Engineer’s revolutionary new interface works in perfect harmony with the structural engineer: Less mouse clicks on almost every task. A total workspace transformation providing you with maximum screen use, with the project taking the centre stage. And with SCIA Spotlight you instantly find the tools and functions you need.

Curved beams and shells with constant or variable thickness, can all be easily defined through the modification of simple properties.  Additionally, intersections between surfaces can be automatically generated and used as a basis to create cut-outs. This makes it easy to model complex geometry compared to more traditional finite element design tools.

All structural objects and additional data can be easily accessed via a number of filtering and selection tools, removing the dependancy on navigation within the 3D environment:

• By selecting a single item, one can easily filter all other items in the model that share a similar property.
• Work with just a portion of a project active on screen. This filtering can be done based on layers in the model, on proximity to workplanes, on clipping boxes, etc.
• Selected elements can be saved, edited and reused at another time.

Parametric modelling allows users to actively adapt the model in order to quickly create design iterations of either repetitive or complex structures.  Parametric models are generated by establishing parameters, which can include any model element or property (coordinates, dimensions, cross-sections, materials, loads, etc.).

Finally, parametric templates can be established in order to allow users to create or modify projects by utilizing predefined objects, thus creating great efficiency in the modelling process.

Free loading allows users to create loads which are defined independently of the structure geometry or meshing, creating flexibility in a variety of load applications.

The range of uses for free loads includes: equipment load on slabs that will be perfectly mapped to the underlying mesh, hydrostatic loads on complex shells and user defined wind pressure.

Load Panels in SCIA Engineer are used for the specific task of distributing applied loads to the structural elements of the model.  In most applications, load panels represent façades or other non-bearing structural elements. SCIA Engineer utilizes these elements to distribute load using 1-way or 2-way action before analysis, allowing for a reduction in model size, improvement in calculation speed and an increased transparency in applied loads and results.

Furthermore, SCIA Engineer’s graphical interface allows users to review and modify the generated loads being applied to various locations of the structure.

SCIA Engineer’s meshing will make sure that the transitions between complex surfaces or various mesh sizes is always smooth, guaranteeing quality results from the finite element analysis.

• Automatic generation of finite element mesh, based on user defined global mesh settings that is consistent and error-free.
• Local mesh refinements at specific locations including; around nodes, along lines or edges and on an entire surface
• Automatic Mesh Refinement for optimal mesh and and feedback on the quality of current mesh

Construction stages in SCIA Engineer allow users to understand the time dependant behavior of a structure:

• Progressive construction of cross-sections.
• Gradual application of loads and prestressing.
• Changes of boundary conditions.
• Removal of temporary structural elements.
• Use of deformed shape from previous stage using nonlinear functionality.

• Various types of material non-linearities can be included in the analysis:
• Input of nonlinear hinges and springs by the defining of functions, both on linear elements and on surfaces (edge hinges)
• Nonlinear material behaviour (plasticity) can be employed through the use of plastic hinges on 1D members or by using general material plasticity for 2D members
• Concrete non-linearity can be considered through a physical non-linear analysis taking into account redistribution due to precise behaviour laws of concrete and reinforcement.

After running a lateral load analysis (wind, earthquake, etc) results can be summarized per storey to include:

• Summary storey results: center of mass, displacements, accelerations, interstorey drift, storey forces
• Detailed storey results: internal and resultant forces on individual load bearing elements (columns and walls)

The ability to visualize output graphically is incredibly beneficial but sometimes, engineers need to review data in table format as well.  In SCIA Engineer, all result types can be viewed in a powerful table results tool complete with:

• Customizable columns
• Sorting and filtering of table values
• In-cell colour bars that give visual feedback on where min and max values are located
• Support for direct selection and copy-paste to Excel

Concrete member design in SCIA Engineer combines the best of an integrated FEA solution and straightforward hand calculations in order to offer a high level of productivity without the need to worry about transferring data to other external software.

• Transparent: all code formulas are available in the report, showing original mathematical notation, intermediate numerical values and final results
• Complete: all cross-section shapes and internal force situations are supported; including normal force, bi-axial bending, bi-axial shear and torsion
• Fast: supporting all available cores for parallel processing

• Manufacturer libraries for steel studs and decking
• Design and optimization of steel profiles and studs per Eurocode 4 and AISC 360-10 (LRFD & ASD)
• Detailing checks for concrete slab, steel deck and studs
• Serviceability checks (with respect to camber) for both construction and composite stages
• Fully transparent output with rendered formulas and all calculation steps

• Timber (EN1995): section and stability checks of timber beams. Includes special checks for creep, variable height and curved elements.
• Aluminium (EN1999): standard and custom aluminium profiles can be defined and checked. Includes calculation of effective properties, influence of heat affected zone.
• Scaffolding checks according to EN 12810 and EN 12811: tube & fittings or system scaffolds are fully supported.

• Derivation of effective shape for arbitrary members, taking into account local buckling and distortional buckling of internal and edge stiffeners.
• Overall design includes allowances for shift of neutral axis, use of average yield strength and steel core thickness. 
• Advanced design verifications include web crippling and shear under local transverse forces, also in the case of sections with stiffened webs
• Specialized purlin design includes the derivation of free flange geometry, advanced loading determination, etc.

Templates allow users to save custom report layouts (including all results and graphics settings) in order to accelerate the creation of everyday reports.

• Automatic creation of plan and section views of the structure according to predefined building stories and line grid planes.
• Views and sections can be added to customizable layout pages which can include labels, dimensions, additional graphical model views and table results.
• All drawings are directly linked to the model and therefore will automatically update after any model modifications.
• Export to PDF or other image based file types, while also being saved as DWG, DXF or VRML files.

SAF is a neutral, MS Excel-based, file format. It improves collaboration between structural engineers and allows them to easily exchange analysis models between different analysis software. It is practical, simple, and intended to be used in daily practice. Originally a Nemetschek Group initiative, the SAF open format has already been implemented or is in progress by many software providers like: SCIA, Graphisoft, Allplan, RISA, FRILO, Axis VM, Dlubal, Sofistik, IDEA StatiCa and more.

SCIA and Tekla are both part of buildingSMART alliance’s OpenBIM initiative and promote IFC as the preferable format for data exchange of 3D structural models.  In addition SCIA Engineer offers a bi-directional link that makes it easy exchange of steel models.
Steel structures and components can be easily modelled in SCIA Engineer, analyzed and optimized, then sent to Tekla for final documentation and detailing. Reversely, models created in Tekla can be pushed to SCIA where the design can be optimized and then pushed back to Tekla for final documentation.