Structural Engineering: Top 6 AI-Driven Tools to Streamline Projects

AI (Artificial Intelligence) is the buzzword in every industry, and structural engineering is no exception. This revolutionary invention aids in refining designs, enhancing analysis, automating repetitive tasks, and amplifying productivity and efficiency. 

These futuristic tools also facilitate structural behavior prediction, ensure collaboration among team members, and detect potential issues in design. In this write-up, let’s discuss the finest AI-driven tools for structural engineering.

Super Six AI-Driven Software for Structural Engineering

Revit 

Autodesk Revit is recognized as a top-notch BIM (Building Information Modeling) software. Facilitating integration with leading-edge AI tools, this software assists in designing and managing 3D BIM models and enhances structural engineering workflows. The creation of structural connections and elements is automated on Revit software, leading to reduced errors and saving time. 

This tool leverages AI to identify potential design issues early and provide corrective actions. Through its AI-enhanced simulation tools, professionals can gain extensive insights into structural performance in various conditions. Moreover, it is easy to integrate Revit with other Autodesk projects, which paves the way for a smooth design and construction workflow.

SkyCiv Structural 3D

SkyCiv Structural 3D is a cloud-based structural design and analysis software that organizes and optimizes engineering tasks by utilizing AI. Designing, modeling, and analyzing structures in 3D is easy with its potent features. Based on building codes and standards, this software’s AI algorithms automatically calculate loads, leading to higher precision and compliance.

Engineers can discover cost-effective and efficient structural designs, as AI helps optimize them. SkyCiv Structural 3D is a cloud-based platform that contributes to enhancing project coordination by fostering real-time collaboration among team members. Furthermore, it is ideal to conduct different types of structural analysis, such as nonlinear, linear, and dynamic analyses.

Bentley Systems STAAD.Pro

Bentley Systems’ STAAD.Pro is a leading-edge structural design and analysis tool that boosts usability and performance by utilizing AI. The most common uses of this software are in designing a broad spectrum of structures such as bridges, buildings, and industrial facilities. Built-in AI tools in STAAD.Pro leverage past projects and predefined criteria to offer innovative design suggestions.

AI-driven checks in this software also facilitate designs’ compliance with international building codes and standards. It simplifies the optimization of structural designs for cost, performance, and weight through AI. This AI-powered software integrates well with many Bentley products and third-party tools.

Tekla Structural Designer

Trimble’s Tekla Structural Designer is a potent building design and analysis tool. This software’s AI enhances design precision by automating complex calculations. It contributes to minimizing manual intervention, as AI automatically performs design calculations and analysis. 

Various teams involved in a BIM project can experience seamless data sharing and real-time collaboration using its cloud-based platform. Users can avail efficient and precise designs leveraging Tekla Structural Designer’s AI-driven optimization and load analysis. Also, a cohesive workflow ensues with this tool integrating easily with Tekla Structures and other BIM software.

SAP2000

Invented by Computers and Structures, Inc. (CSI), SAP2000 is another structural engineering tool on our list, which is powered by AI. This software excels in designing different structures like bridges, buildings, and dams, and uses AI to optimize usability and performance. Built-in AI in SAP2000 offers assistance in load calculations to facilitate effectiveness and precision in design.

The AI algorithms of this software help check for weight, performance, and cost in structural designs. Gaining in-depth insights into the performance of structures in different scenarios is made possible with AI-driven simulation tools. Additionally, it offers interoperability with other BIM tools.

RISA-3D

RISA-3D is a versatile and AI-powered structural design and analysis tool that simplifies the design of towers, bridges, buildings, and other structures. This application is ideal for conducting several types of analysis, such as wind, seismic, and dynamic analysis. Users can make the most of its AI feature to improve the structural designs for performance, cost, and weight.

It also integrates well with all RISA applications and other third-party tools. Professionals can harness it for various types of analysis, like wind, dynamic, and seismic analysis. The safety and reliability of structures are boosted by its top-notch features.

Applications of AI in Structural Engineering

Structural Design Optimization

AI empowers engineers to automatically develop structural designs following the specified guidelines. As a result, processes are accelerated by AI, contributing to enhanced development of digital models and material selection. Users can analyse generated alternatives for optimizing the use of material and ensuring structural integrity. Cost-effectiveness ensues with smart resource allocation. 

Monitoring Structural Integrity

Structural engineers can utilize AI to continuously monitor structural health and perform maintenance and repairs proactively. Latest technologies assist AI in fetching historical data and real-time data from the environment and sensors to offer high-quality predictions. The engineers don’t need to dig into data, as AI highlights the issues. Moreover, estimating the building’s lifetime is possible, as AI identifies the signs of structural damage early.

Automation of the Construction Process

Incorporating AI in the structural engineering process can offer an immersive experience of a construction space to the engineers. Features such as monitoring drones, 3D printers, bricklaying, rovers, welding, painting, and rebar-tying robots make it possible. The human workforce can experience ease, safety, and rapidness in construction with the inclusion of self-driving vehicles and self-operating equipment such as drones and robots. 

Safety Improvement and Risk Assessment

Access to substantial structural data plays a significant role in identifying danger signs early. It also facilitates identifying load patterns, material issues, or corrosion, leading to predicting the potential structural failure. Integrating a digital twin and live monitoring enables professionals to receive real-time updates and learn about the potential collapse. 

Preparation for earthquakes becomes easier with seismic resilience analysis. This way, AI can demonstrate how such calamities can affect a structure and suggest solutions for it. Additionally, AI is essential for generating images from drone footage and utilizing sensor data to evaluate the damage a building has suffered in the case of an earthquake.

In A Nutshell

By ensuring better design accuracy, collaboration, and efficiency, AI-driven software are redefining structural engineering. AEC professionals are leveraging these tools to create effective, compliant, and sustainable designs, limiting costs and material usage. 

Continuously evolving AI will impact structural engineering even more in the future, as engineers strive to build smart and safe buildings. Hence, gaining proficiency in these AI software for structural engineering will improve engineers’ productivity and help them build engineering marvels.

FAQs

Q 1: What is generative AI in structural engineering?

Ans: In the structural design phase, generative AI can help emulate various environmental factors such as seismic activity, wind loads, and temperature variations. Engineers can harness these tools to design structures that suit different circumstances.

Q 2: Does STAAD use finite element analysis?

Ans: Structural engineers utilize STAAD for structural finite element analysis and design applications. This way, they can perform structural analysis, considering factors such as moving loads, earthquakes, wind, and thermal.

Q 3: Is Risa free for students?

Ans: Risa offers a free license to the students in its quest to equip the next-generation engineers with relevant skills through firsthand experience with software.

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