learn structural analysis and design through practical engineering workflows.

From load-path development to physical nodal-zone design

STM Studio brings the complete strut-and-tie workflow into one interactive engineering environment. Start with the concrete domain and applied actions, use TopoKALC for load-path guidance, construct the analytical STM, solve the force system, then develop the actual finite nodal geometry used to transfer forces through the concrete.

The learning page also introduces the offset physical truss, AS 3600 strut and tie checks, bursting reinforcement, designer-controlled nodal faces and the general N-face plane-stress reconstruction used to interpret non-uniform stress fields inside complex nodes.

• Create concrete domains, loads, supports and engineer-defined STM geometry.
• Use TopoKALC topology optimisation as load-path guidance.
• Construct, edit, merge and freeze physical finite nodal zones.
• Review nodal face stresses, principal stresses and local stress heat maps.
• Compare the analytical STM with the downstream offset physical truss.
• Design concrete struts, bursting reinforcement and tension ties to AS 3600.

Design a steel warehouse using FeaKALC 3D

This learning series demonstrates the complete structural workflow for a large twin-portal-frame warehouse. It combines software modelling with the engineering decisions required to establish loads, interpret results and verify the final design.

• Develop the three-dimensional structural model.
• Apply gravity actions to AS/NZS 1170.1.
• Develop wind actions to AS/NZS 1170.2.
• Review reactions, force diagrams and deflections.
• Assess precamber and serviceability requirements.
• Verify primary steel members to AS 4100.

Design reinforced concrete discontinuity regions using RKALC

This learning series introduces the engineering principles of Strut-and-Tie Modelling before demonstrating complete design workflows within RKALC. From establishing load paths to checking nodal stresses and reinforcement requirements, the focus remains on understanding the structural behaviour rather than simply obtaining software results.

• Identify B-regions and D-regions within reinforced concrete members.
• Develop rational strut-and-tie models representing load paths.
• Establish strut, tie and nodal forces.
• Verify nodal capacities and concrete strut stresses.
• Design reinforcement required for tension ties.
• Apply Australian design provisions using RKALC.

Generate column load rundowns directly from architectural plans

This learning series demonstrates a complete TribKALC workflow, from importing and calibrating a PDF floor plan through to tracing slabs, walls, cores and columns, generating tributary loads, optimising column sizes and validating results using FEAKalc 3D. The emphasis is on understanding the engineering process while reducing hours of repetitive manual calculations.

• Import and calibrate architectural PDF floor plans.
• Trace slabs, walls, cores and columns.
• Generate tributary areas and column load rundowns.
• Optimise reinforced concrete column sizes.
• Create professional optimisation reports automatically.
• Verify reactions and loads using FEAKalc 3D.

Design deep coupling beams using structural behaviour and STM principles

This walkthrough explains how coupling beam stiffness influences the distribution of shear through the height of a coupled-wall system, and why the forces obtained from analysis must be interpreted before design begins. It then develops a practical workflow for designing deep coupling beams as strut-and-tie models rather than relying on conventional beam theory.

The example also demonstrates how ETABS coupling beam actions can be exported, reviewed and processed through RKALC, including overstrength, flexural, nodal and strut checks across multiple beams.

• Understand coupled-wall behaviour and coupling beam shear distribution.
• Review the effect of flexible and rigid coupling beams.
• Extract coupling beam moments and shears from ETABS.
• Apply Australian Standard overstrength requirements.
• Develop and verify deep-beam strut-and-tie models.
• Batch-design multiple coupling beams using the RKALC workflow.