Getting Started

This guide will walk you through creating your first structural model in AutoCalcs.

Creating a New Project

  1. Navigate to /structuralfea
  2. You'll start with a blank canvas

Basic Workflow

A typical workflow in AutoCalcs follows these steps:

  1. Create Geometry - Draw nodes and connect them with members
  2. Define Supports - Add boundary conditions to nodes
  3. Assign Properties - Set materials and cross-sections for members
  4. Apply Loads - Add forces, moments, and distributed loads
  5. Run Analysis - Execute the structural analysis
  6. View Results - Examine displacements, reactions, and internal forces

Your First Model

Step 1: Draw a Simple Beam

  1. Press Ctrl+D or click the Draw tool to enter Draw mode
  2. Click at the origin (0, 0, 0) to place the first node
  3. Click at (5, 0, 0) to place the second node and create a member

    After placing your first point, move your mouse in the positive X direction - it should snap to this vector.

    Type in the distance "5" and hit Enter.

  4. Press Escape to finish drawing

Step 2: Add Supports

  1. Press Escape or click the Select tool to enter Select mode
  2. Click on the first node (at origin), or hold Shift and drag to box select

    The Properties panel should automatically appear - ensure only the node is selected.

  3. In the Properties panel, set the support to "Fixed" by clicking

    This will automatically set the Degrees of Freedom to FFFFFF.

  4. Click on the second node and set it to "Pinned" by clicking

    This will set the Degrees of Freedom to FFFRRR (translations fixed, rotations free).

Step 3: Assign Section and Material

  1. Select the member by clicking on it
  2. In the Properties panel, assign a section by clicking on the in the Section row

    Section Library/Australia/STEEL/UB Universal Beams/UB 200x18.2

  3. Assign a material by clicking on the in the Material row

    Material Library/Australia/Steel/STEEL

Step 4: Apply a Load

  1. With the member selected, right-click on the member to open the context menu
  2. Select "Member Distributed Loads"
  3. This opens the Loads dialog, adding a distributed load for member 1. However we get a warning as we haven't defined any load cases
  4. Select "Manage Load Cases"
  5. For this example, make a load case with ID "1" and Title "Dead Load" then press "Apply and Close"
  6. Back in the Loads dialog, set the load magnitude in the "Start Y (kN/m)" to "-2" kN/m (negative for downward)

Step 5: Run Analysis

  1. Click the "Render Style" button and select the Rendered option Rendered to confirm beam orientation
  2. Click the "Run Analysis" button in the top ribbon - by default this is a Linear analysis
  3. Wait for the analysis to complete

    Note: Anonymous users are limited to 3 analysis runs per day. Sign up for free for 20 runs per day.

Step 6: View Results

Use the result toggles in the left sidebar to visualize analysis results directly on the model:

  • Deflection - Shows the deformed shape (hold D+scroll to scale)
  • Reactions - Shows support reactions (hold R+scroll to scale)
  • Moments - Bending moment diagram (hold M+scroll to scale)
  • Shear - Shear force diagram (hold S+scroll to scale)
  • Axial - Axial force diagram (hold A+scroll to scale)
  • Torsion - Torsion diagram (hold T+scroll to scale)

Control the visual display on your canvas:

  • Loads - Toggle load arrows on/off (hold L to scale distributed or C for concentrated)
  • Labels - Toggle labels for nodes, members, or section names (right-click for options)

Deep Dive Analysis & Reports

Go beyond the 3D view with professional analytical tools:

  • Summary Results — Get a tabular overview of every member's performance and stress utilization.
  • Single Member Analysis — Right-click any member to see high-resolution diagrams and detailed stress exploration.
  • Steel Design Checks — Access the Design tab in Member Analysis to verify members against AS 4100, AISC 360, EC3, or CSA S16.
  • Professional Reports — Generate comprehensive PDF or Excel calculation reports for your project records.