Structural Analysis for Wood and CLT Buildings
TL;DR
Structural analysis tool for wood/CLT engineers that auto-generates Eurocode 5/NDS-compliant load, connection, and fire resistance calculations from CAD/BIM imports so they can reduce manual compliance checks by 80% and cut design iteration time from 10+ hours to under 2 hours per project
Target Audience
Structural engineers and architects at firms designing wood or CLT buildings, especially in mid-sized to large construction projects where compliance and efficiency are critical.
The Problem
Problem Context
Structural engineers designing wood and cross-laminated timber (CLT) buildings need specialized software to analyze loads, connections, and compliance. Current general-purpose tools like RISA fail to handle wood/CLT properties, forcing engineers to use workarounds or hire consultants, which slows down projects and increases costs.
Pain Points
Engineers waste time adapting general tools for wood/CLT, leading to inaccurate designs or failed compliance checks. They also struggle with manual calculations for connections and fire resistance, which are critical for approvals. Without the right software, projects get delayed or require costly rework.
Impact
Delays in structural design can push back entire construction timelines, costing firms thousands per project. Inaccurate designs risk structural failures or code violations, leading to legal issues or safety hazards. Engineers also lose productivity switching between tools or verifying calculations manually.
Urgency
This problem can’t be ignored because wood/CLT buildings require precise structural analysis to meet building codes and ensure safety. Without the right software, engineers either accept suboptimal designs or spend excessive time on manual work, directly impacting project deadlines and budgets.
Target Audience
Structural engineers, architects, and construction firms specializing in mass timber or CLT buildings. These users work in mid-sized to large firms where wood/CLT is a growing material choice, and they need compliant, efficient design tools to stay competitive.
Proposed AI Solution
Solution Approach
A cloud-based or desktop structural analysis tool built specifically for wood and CLT, with built-in compliance checks (e.g., Eurocode 5, NDS) and wood/CLT-specific calculation methods. The tool simplifies load analysis, connection design, and fire resistance checks, while integrating with common CAD/BIM workflows.
Key Features
- Compliance Checks: Automated verification against regional building codes (e.g., Eurocode 5, NDS) to ensure designs meet standards.
- Connection Design: Tools to model and analyze timber connections (e.g., beam-to-column joints) with pre-loaded failure modes.
- Integration: Import/export CAD/BIM files (e.g., Revit, AutoCAD) to fit into existing workflows.
User Experience
Engineers input CLT panel dimensions, loads, and boundary conditions into the tool. The software automatically runs structural analysis, flags compliance issues, and suggests design adjustments. Reports generate in seconds, reducing manual work. Firms can scale usage by adding seats as their team grows.
Differentiation
Unlike general tools (e.g., RISA), this focuses *only- on wood/CLT, with proprietary algorithms optimized for timber behavior. It includes built-in compliance checks—saving engineers from manual code lookups—and integrates seamlessly with CAD/BIM, unlike standalone calculators.
Scalability
The tool starts with core features (e.g., load analysis, compliance) and expands with add-ons like fire resistance modeling or advanced connection design. Pricing scales with team size (seat-based) and usage (e.g., per-project credits for large firms).
Expected Impact
Engineers save 10+ hours per project on manual calculations and compliance checks. Firms reduce rework costs and project delays, while designs meet codes first-time. The tool becomes a *must-have- for wood/CLT projects, justifying its subscription cost.