SCIA Garage

The SCIA team created many little (sometimes experimental) tools over the years. Now they are all here for you to explore, test & be inspired.

Robot text file (.STR) import into SCIA Engineer

Excel VBA-based tool to import the content of a Robot text file (.STR) file into SCIA Engineer. Supported items are: nodes, beams, supports, hinges.

Staad.Pro file (.STD) import into SCIA Engineer

Excel VBA-based tool to import the content of a Staad (.STD) file into SCIA Engineer. Supported items are: nodes, beams, shells, supports, hinges, most load types, etc.

KOALA - Grasshopper plugin for SCIA Engineer

Koala is a VB.NET script component to connect Grasshopper with SCIA Engineer for parametric/generative design.

Beam Moment Iterator using ESA_XML

The ‘Beam Moment Iterator’ is a simple script written in Windows PowerShell which illustrates the use of ESA_XML. By means of an example the script shows how SCIA Engineer can be run iteratively while each time changing the inputs based on the results of the previous iteration step.

Input Combination via Excel

Export the list of load cases from a SCIA Engineer project to this XLS-file, and then create linear (type: linear, envelope and EN) and non-linear combinations, by specifying the coefficients for each load case.

Input Dynamic Load Functions via Excel

Input the parameters for the Modal function and the Base function. Very useful when you have to add a lot of functions, or when you want to ‘generate’ these functions yourself, and import them into SCIA Engineer.

Input Non-linear Functions via Excel

Input the Displacement-Force or the Rotation-Moment values for the NonLinear functions, that can be used in a nonlinear support or nonlinear hinge. Very useful when you have to add a lot of nonlinear functions, or when you want to ‘generate’ these functions yourself, and import them into SCIA Engineer.

Seismic spectrum generator

Input of Frequency/Period and Acceleration for a horizontal and vertical spectrum. Very useful when you want to generate the spectrum with formulas from a foreign national code, and import this into SCIA Engineer.

Batch Calculation

Process multiple esa-projects in one go.

Effective CSS properties input via Excel

Input of effective cross-section properties for Cold-Formed sections. Define the effective cross-section properties for Cold-Formed sections, and import them into SCIA Engineer.

Input Line Loads on Beams via Excel

Input the parameters for line loads on beams. Very useful when you have to add a lot of line loads, or when you want to ‘generate’ these loads yourself, and import them into SCIA Engineer.

Input Load Cases via Excel

Input the parameters for permanent and variable Load Groups, and input the parameters for permanent and variable Load Cases. Very useful when you have to add a lot of load cases, or when you want to ‘generate’ these load cases yourself, and import them into SCIA Engineer.

Fatigue verification for heavy gauge steel components

The provided calculation form can be used for the assessment of fatigue resistance of members and connections subjected to dynamic loading. The calculations follow the rules given in EN 1993-1-9 and are valid for the assessment of high-cycle fatigue (> 102 to 104 cycles); this means that stresses and strains remain in the elastic range such that no local yielding occurs.

Train Loads on 1D Members

This excel file creates train load on multiple 1D members.

Parametric Batch Optimiser

This excel file 'replaces' the functionality of the (old) Parametric Batch Optimiser module (esa.23). Using incremental steps in the parameters, the user can easily optimize his structures. The user defines a SCIA Engineer project and parametrizes it. With this excel file you can run this specific project. The calculated results will generate a complete output data set, from which you can determine the set of parameters that lead to the optimised result.

senpy – Python framework to generate SCIA Engineer data

The senpy package is a small Python framework to facilitate the generation of XML-files for SCIA Engineer. There is one example file (SpiralStair.py) that shows how to use the senpy framework to generate a spiral staircase.

Shell buckling check

Numerically supported buckling check with global LA and LBA calculation according EN 1993-1-6, Chapter 8.6.

Nodal loads input tool

Engineers often exchange data about point loads, to take the reactions from one part of a building as loads on the other part. This data is sometimes presented with 6 values per node (3 forces & 3 moments for each X, Y, Z axis). As SCIA Engineer approaches node loads differently (1 value, with an arbitrary direction), this Excel-based tool will facilitate the input of such data in SCIA Engineer.

EXCEL tool for 3D wind

Excel tool for verification of values generated by 3D wind in SCIA Engineer.

Concrete Corbel Design

Concrete Corbel Design is a Design Form based calculation ready to be linked into SCIA Engineer. It serves for design and check of directly supported concrete corbel according to Eurocode 2 and implemented national annexes. The strut-and-tie model concept prescribed in EC2 is used for the analysis.

HSS Design Tools Pack

The SCIAHSS Design Tools Pack, is a new software for the design of hollow structural sections (HSS) members and connections. Developed in conjunction with the Steel Tube Institute, the SCIAHSS Design Tools Pack is a powerful suite of engineering checks to aid engineers in the design of HSS beams and columns, as well as their connections. Unlike other engineering software that may be a “black-box,” the SCIAHSS Design Tools Pack output shows the formulas and methods used in the calculation, so results are completely verifiable. HSS Calculations Reports can be shown as a brief summary of the results or as a detailed output, which includes all the formulas that were used to derive the calculation.

Meet the team

Disclaimer: The software tools presented in the SCIA Garage are the result of individual initiative & research done by SCIA team members, and are not official SCIA software products. Some of the tools might not be sufficiently tested, may lead to crashes, etc.

Did you have any troubles or issues in the SCIA Garage? Or you want to simply send kudos or feedback? Don’t hesitate to send us an e-mail at garage@scia.net.