What is RKALC?

RKALC serves as a professional companion for structural engineers in their daily undertakings, analogous to a meticulously engineered calculator. It boasts a comprehensive repository of solutions, reminiscent of venerable reference texts from bygone eras, such as the Reynolds Handbook or the Steel Designer's Manual, all presented with a contemporary and efficient touch.
The RKALC initiative is directed towards seasoned senior engineers and principal professionals tasked with the responsibility of scrutinising the work of their peers. It is equally applicable to novice engineers commencing their careers, enabling them to effectively navigate their duties independently, without necessitating constant oversight. RKALC facilitates engineers in the verification and validation of their work, even when employing sophisticated and contemporary software solutions that may be akin to navigating unfamiliar terrain. Our commitment lies in ensuring that RKALC is dependable, credible, transparent, and above all, aligned with Australian engineering standards.
At the core of the RKALC code resides the Australian Standard, meticulously integrated with local construction practices and design conventions. Concurrently, we remain attuned to international standards, most notably Eurocode and ACI, to facilitate comparative analyses, especially when formulae are interwoven with international counterparts.
As of August 2022, RKALC encompasses a comprehensive suite of over 25 applications, seamlessly integrated within a user-friendly Windows interface. Notable examples include:
1- The Strut & Tie Wall: An advanced application tailored for the design of deep beams subjected to point or line loads. It equips engineers to address complex structural challenges, including deep beams, shear walls abutting columns, or foundation footings on resilient substrates.
2- RC Columns: A user-friendly and expeditious tool designed to facilitate the comprehensive design of concrete columns, be they rectangular or circular, encompassing considerations such as fire resistance and specialised confinement provisions.
3- Column Bearing Tool: A particularly invaluable resource, especially in scenarios where columns undergo planar rotations between different levels. This tool leverages a 3D strut and tie analogy to streamline the design of transition zones.
4- The Steel Calculator: An exhaustive repository of steel elements, specifically standardised sections within the Australian context. It affords engineers the capability to calculate member capacities, encompassing axial forces, moments, and shearing forces, with a degree of efficiency surpassing traditional tabular approaches.
5- Tributary Area Calculator: A pragmatic tool for computing tributary areas.
6- Centres of Mass & Rigidity Calculator: Streamlining the determination of centres of mass and rigidity, augmented with graphical representations. It involves the simple process of importing a PDF floor plan, tracing the slab edge and walls, and initiating the analysis to derive insightful results.
7- And an assortment of other equally meritorious applications.
We anticipate that you will derive substantial benefit from your engagement with RKALC