An in-house project was developed to suggest steel reinforcement for beams using ETABS flexure and shear data
Automating with Concrete and Steel
Users can fine-tune parameters like bar spacing, bar diameter, minimum and maximum number of bars, for skin, top, bottom, and stirrup reinforcements, through excel ensuring the design meets their specific engineering needs. This customization enhances flexibility while maintaining compliance with ACI 318-19.
Customization Parameters
This rule-based algorithm was developed using Python and controlled through a macros Excel sheet. It's built to automate reinforcement generation for concrete beams, optimizing both time and cost. It imports flexure and shear data from ETABS via its API, ensuring seamless integration without manual intervention.
Algorithm Design and Features
Video Demostration
To address potential issues, the tool isolates beams with errors, referred to as "corrupted beams," and ensures only error-free beams ("Safe_Beams") are processed. The automation is compatible with both ETABS 20 and 21, with dedicated error-handling mechanisms tailored for ETABS 21.
Error Handling and Compatibility
Results are displayed in a structured Excel file, including a detailed calculation sheet and a Beam Reinforcement Schedule, ready for export. The automation delivers results for a 40-story tower with 600 beams in under 30 seconds, demonstrating exceptional efficiency and accuracy.
Results Display and Performance
Developed in line with the ACI 318-19 code, the automation adheres to global standards for structural safety. Additionally, it can be tailored to meet specific contractor or client needs, such as constructability constraints or project-specific requirements. This ensures the tool is adaptable for diverse engineering challenges.
Compliance and Tailoring for Industry Needs
