Engineering Calculators

Design criteria & objectives

Sets the design loading objectives for the project: occupancy live loads, environmental design events (snow, wind, seismic) and the target reliability that fixes the load factors used everywhere else.

Codes & standards compliance

Verifies the load standard edition, live-load reduction limits, load factors and combination set used in the calculations match the adopted code.

Engineering data — site hazard parameters

Collects the mapped and site-specific parameters every load calculation needs: ground snow, basic wind speed, exposure, seismic accelerations and site class.

Load analysis roll-up & governing case

Combines the discipline's nominal loads through the ASCE 7 LRFD set and reports which combination governs, together with the ASD service demand used for foundations and deflection.

Drawings — load plans & schedules

Checks the general-notes load schedule that must appear on the drawings: design loads by area, special loads, and the load-path key plan the reviewer uses to audit the analysis.

Technical specification & posting

Specifies what the contractor and owner must honour after design: load posting, equipment weight limits, in-service load testing where required, and the tolerance on superimposed dead load.

Constructability — construction-stage loads

Checks the temporary condition the permanent design usually ignores: construction live load, material stockpiles, equipment on partially cured or unbraced structure, and the reduced construction wind event.

Cost impact & bill of quantities

Translates the load basis into money: how the chosen design loads drive structural weight per square foot, and whether the resulting frame cost stays inside the budget.

Dead load takedown

Adds slab self weight, topping, ceiling/MEP, partitions and finishes into a single superimposed + total dead load in psf, then compares it with the value assumed in the analysis model.

Live load & reduction

Applies the influence-area live load reduction L = Lo(0.25 + 15/√(K_LL·A_T)) with the 0.50Lo / 0.40Lo floors.

Roof live load

Computes Lr = 20·R1·R2 with the tributary-area and slope reduction factors, bounded between 12 and 20 psf.

Snow load

Flat-roof snow p_f = 0.7·Ce·Ct·Is·pg with the low-slope minimum, sloped-roof p_s = Cs·p_f, and a leeward drift surcharge per §7.7.

Rain load & ponding

Builds the static and hydraulic heads to the secondary drainage, computes R = 5.2(d_s + d_h), and screens both the ponding-instability flexibility factor and the deflection limit.

Tributary load takedown

Turns psf loads into a line load on a beam, computes the beam demands, and accumulates the axial load down the column line with live load reduction between floors.

Equipment & construction load

Amplifies equipment/crane wheel loads for impact, distributes them to the supporting member, and factors the temporary construction-stage load case alongside the permanent case.

Sloped-roof snow (Cs)

Derives the slope factor C_s from the roof slope, thermal condition (warm/cold) and surface slipperiness, then gives p_s = C_s·p_f with the minimum roof snow check of §7.3.4.

Unbalanced gable snow

For 1.19° < θ < 30.2° the windward side carries 0.3·p_s and the leeward side carries p_s plus a rectangular surcharge h_d·γ/√S extending 8h_d√S/3 from the ridge.

Drift surcharge (leeward / windward)

Computes leeward and windward drift heights from the upwind fetch, takes the governing drift, limits it to the roof-step height and reports the triangular surcharge p_d = γ·h_d and its width w = 4h_d.

Sliding snow on lower roof

Total sliding load 0.4·p_f·W released from a slippery upper roof, distributed over a 15 ft band (or the available width) on the lower roof and added to the balanced snow there.

Rain-on-snow & partial loading

Adds the 5 psf rain-on-snow surcharge for low-slope roofs where p_g ≤ 20 psf, and generates the half-span partial-loading pattern required for continuous framing.

Wind velocity pressure

Builds K_z from the exposure category and height, then computes q_z = 0.00256·K_z·K_zt·K_d·K_e·V² at the reference height and at mean roof height.

Wind MWFRS base shear

Windward p = q_z·G·C_p and leeward p = q_h·G·C_p (with the internal pressure component) give the net design pressure, story force, base shear, overturning moment and base-level drift screen.

Wind components & cladding

p = q_h[(GC_p) − (GC_pi)] for the governing positive and negative C&C zones, including zone geometry, enclosure classification and the anchorage force check.

Seismic base shear (ELF)

Approximate period, C_s = S_DS/(R/Ie) with the period-based cap and the code minimum, then V = C_s·W, plus the overturning moment.

Seismic story force distribution

C_vx = w_x·h_x^k / Σw_i·h_i^k distributes the base shear to the level of interest, then accumulates story shear and overturning moment.

Seismic drift check

δ_x = C_d·δ_xe/Ie compared with the allowable story drift Δ_a·h_sx, plus the P-delta stability coefficient screen.

Flood & hydrostatic load

Hydrostatic resultant, buoyant uplift, hydrodynamic drag, breaking wave force and debris impact on a flooded wall or structure.

Ice & thermal load

Radial ice weight per ASCE 7 Chapter 10, the concurrent wind-on-ice force, and the axial force induced when thermal movement is restrained.

Lateral soil pressure on wall

At-rest earth pressure plus hydrostatic pressure below the water table, with the resultant and its point of application.

LRFD strength combinations

Evaluates all seven basic strength combinations for the entered load effects and reports the governing factored demand.

ASD combinations

Evaluates the basic ASD combinations and reports the governing service-level demand.

Seismic load effect with overstrength

Builds E = ρQ_E ± 0.2·S_DS·D and the overstrength effect E_m = Ω_0·Q_E ± 0.2·S_DS·D for force-controlled elements, then screens uplift and net-tension cases.

Serviceability combinations

Applies the ASCE 7 Appendix C service combinations (gravity, wind-only and wind-plus-live) and compares deflection, drift and ponding susceptibility with their limits.

Design criteria & objectives

Fixes the project's target limit states before any member is sized: strength reliability, required service life, deflection and drift limits, and floor vibration performance. Every downstream calculator is checked against these targets.

Codes & standards compliance

Confirms the governing code edition, risk category, importance factors and resistance factors used in the calculations are the ones the adopted code requires — the compliance statement that opens a design report.

Geotechnical data & site seismic parameters

Turns the geotechnical report into design inputs: site class, mapped accelerations, S_DS/S_D1, seismic design category, allowable bearing pressure and groundwater. Also checks the boring program is adequate for the footprint.

Load analysis roll-up (D, L, W, E, T)

Rolls the individual load effects on one element into the full ASCE 7-22 §2.3 LRFD set, including the self-straining (thermal) combination of §2.3.4, and reports the governing factored demand against the available strength.

Beam — structural steel (AISC 360-22 F2/G2)

Rolled wide-flange beam: factored demand, plastic/LTB flexural capacity by unbraced-length zone, web shear yielding and live-load deflection.

Beam — reinforced concrete (ACI 318-19 9/22)

Whitney stress block flexure with strain-based φ, minimum steel, and Vc + stirrup shear for a rectangular RC beam.

Beam — prestressed concrete (ACI 318-19 §24 / AASHTO 5.9)

Bonded pretensioned member: effective prestress stresses at service, ACI simplified fps, and flexural strength.

Beam — glulam / sawn timber (NDS 2018)

Adjusted allowable bending, horizontal shear and deflection for a glulam or sawn timber beam with the standard adjustment factors.

Beam — composite steel + concrete slab (AISC 360-22 I3)

Fully or partially composite steel beam with a concrete slab on metal deck: compression force governed by steel yield, slab crushing or stud capacity.

Girder — rolled steel (AISC 360-22 F2/G2)

Transfer girder carrying equally spaced beam reactions: LTB flexure, web shear and concentrated-load web local yielding.

Girder — welded steel plate girder (AISC 360-22 F4/G2)

Built-up welded plate girder: web slenderness classification, tension-flange-yielding flexure, and shear with tension-field-action stiffener spacing.

Girder — reinforced concrete (ACI 318-19)

Cast-in-place RC transfer girder carrying beam reactions: flexure with strain-based φ, minimum steel and stirrup shear.

Girder — prestressed AASHTO I-girder (AASHTO LRFD 5.6)

Pretensioned AASHTO/BT girder made composite with the deck: strand stress at ultimate, φMn, and Service III bottom-fibre tension.

Girder — composite steel plate girder, bridge (AASHTO LRFD 6.10)

Composite steel plate girder with concrete deck: plastic moment of the composite section, ductility limit Dp ≤ 0.42Dt and shear resistance.

Girder — glulam timber (NDS 2018)

Glued-laminated girder carrying framing reactions: adjusted bending with volume factor, horizontal shear and bearing at supports.

Girder — rolled steel (AISC 360-22 F2/G2)

Transfer girder carrying equally spaced beam reactions: LTB flexure, web shear and concentrated-load web local yielding.

Girder — welded steel plate girder (AISC 360-22 F4/G2)

Built-up welded plate girder: web slenderness classification, tension-flange-yielding flexure, and shear with tension-field-action stiffener spacing.

Girder — reinforced concrete (ACI 318-19)

Cast-in-place RC transfer girder carrying beam reactions: flexure with strain-based φ, minimum steel and stirrup shear.

Girder — prestressed AASHTO I-girder (AASHTO LRFD 5.6)

Pretensioned AASHTO/BT girder made composite with the deck: strand stress at ultimate, φMn, and Service III bottom-fibre tension.

Girder — composite steel plate girder, bridge (AASHTO LRFD 6.10)

Composite steel plate girder with concrete deck: plastic moment of the composite section, ductility limit Dp ≤ 0.42Dt and shear resistance.

Girder — glulam timber (NDS 2018)

Glued-laminated girder carrying framing reactions: adjusted bending with volume factor, horizontal shear and bearing at supports.

Column — structural steel (AISC 360-22 E3)

Elastic/inelastic buckling stress from KL/r, design compressive strength and the H1-1 interaction when moment is present.

Column — reinforced concrete tied (ACI 318-19 10/22.4)

Maximum axial strength of a tied column, reinforcement ratio limits, tie spacing and the §6.2.5 slenderness screen.

Column — composite filled HSS (AISC 360-22 I2.2)

Filled composite column: nominal cross-sectional strength, effective stiffness, elastic buckling load and the I2-2/I2-3 strength transition.

Column — sawn timber / glulam (NDS 2018 §3.7)

Allowable compression parallel to grain reduced by the column stability factor Cp from the slenderness ratio le/d, with base bearing and Emin adjustment.

Column — reinforced masonry pilaster (TMS 402-22 §8/9)

Grouted, reinforced masonry column: allowable axial compression with the slenderness reduction, tie spacing and reinforcement limits.

Slab — one-way reinforced concrete (ACI 318-19 §7)

Minimum thickness, flexure per 12-inch strip, temperature and shrinkage steel and maximum bar spacing.

Slab — composite steel deck (SDI / AISC 360-22 I)

Concrete on composite steel deck: construction-stage deck strength/deflection, composite bending, shrinkage steel and the deck/slab serviceability limits.

Wall — reinforced concrete bearing (ACI 318-19 §11)

Simplified design method for an axially loaded concrete wall including slenderness classification, minimum reinforcement, spacing and bearing checks.

Wall — reinforced masonry (TMS 402-22 §9 strength design)

Out-of-plane flexure of a grouted, reinforced CMU wall with slenderness (P-delta) and reinforcement spacing checks.

Tension member / brace — structural steel (AISC 360-22 D2)

Gross-section yielding, net-section rupture with the shear-lag factor U, and the L/r serviceability recommendation.

Tension member — timber (NDS 2018 §3.8)

Tension parallel to grain on the net section with the standard adjustment factors and connector net-area loss.

Steel grade selection

Checks the design stresses delivered by the chosen grade (A992 Fy 50, A36 Fy 36, A572 Gr 50/65, A500 Gr C Fy 46/50) against the stress the member must carry, the ductility (Fy/Fu) needed for a seismic system and the weldability implications of the carbon-equivalent grade.

Beam shape selection (Z required)

Z_req = M_u/(φ_b·F_y) sized for the factored moment; screens lateral-torsional buckling with L_p/L_b, confirms Z_x ≥ Z_req, φM_p ≥ M_u and the shear/deflection screens that go with the same shape.

Column shape selection

Computes the elastic buckling stress F_e, the critical stress F_cr and φP_n for the selected shape and effective length.

Deflection-driven stiffness (I required)

I_req = 5·w·L⁴/(384·E·Δ_allow) for a uniformly loaded simple span, then compares it with the selected shape I_x.

Shape economy comparison

Weighs the lighter section against the heavier alternative on tonnage and installed cost while confirming both satisfy the demand.

Gravity beam

Factored uniform load, simple-span moment and shear, compared with the provided flexural and shear capacity, then checked for live-load deflection.

Girder

Computes the girder moment and shear from equally spaced beam reactions plus self weight.

Column

Accumulates factored floor load over the tributary area and tributary floors with live load reduction, then checks axial capacity and slenderness.

Slab

Checks the minimum thickness for deflection control and the strip moment against the provided capacity.

Lateral frame

Computes the amplified story drift and compares it with the allowable drift for the risk category.

Brace

Resolves the story shear into the brace axis and checks tension yielding and compression buckling.

Diaphragm

Computes the diaphragm unit shear and chord force and checks them against the provided capacities.

Tension member

Derives the demand, gross-section yielding, net-section rupture, block shear and slenderness for a bolted tension member.

Compression member

Computes the elastic buckling stress, the critical stress and the design compressive strength.

Beam

Computes the plastic moment and the lateral-torsional buckling strength for the unbraced length, then checks flexure and deflection.

Beam-column

Applies the H1-1a / H1-1b interaction equations to combined axial and biaxial flexure.

Plate girder

Checks web slenderness, flexure with the bending strength reduction factor and shear with tension-field action.

Design criteria & objectives

Fixes the project's target limit states before any member is sized: strength reliability, required service life, deflection and drift limits, and floor vibration performance. Every downstream calculator is checked against these targets.

Codes & standards compliance

Confirms the governing code edition, risk category, importance factors and resistance factors used in the calculations are the ones the adopted code requires — the compliance statement that opens a design report.

Geotechnical & seismic design data

Turns the geotechnical report into design inputs: site class, mapped accelerations, S_DS/S_D1, seismic design category, allowable bearing pressure and groundwater. Also checks the boring program is adequate for the footprint.

Load analysis roll-up (D, L, W, E, T)

Rolls the individual load effects on one element into the full ASCE 7-22 §2.3 LRFD set, including the self-straining (thermal) combination of §2.3.4, and reports the governing factored demand against the available strength.

Detailing & connection layout (AISC J)

Checks the drawn connection geometry: bolt spacing and edge distance, fillet weld minimum/maximum leg, weld length and the bolt group strength that the detail has to deliver.

Technical specification — grades, welding & QC

Locks the material and fabrication specification behind the numbers: ASTM grade, tensile-to-yield margin, notch toughness, matching electrodes, bolt pretension and inspection coverage.

Constructability & erection review

Verifies the design can actually be erected: shipping length, pick weight against the crane chart at radius, erection stability of the bare frame, field bolt access and camber tolerance.

Bill of quantities & cost estimate

Converts the design into tonnage, fabrication, erection and coating costs, then benchmarks the framing weight per square foot and total cost against the project budget.

Element slenderness & classification

Flange and web width-to-thickness ratios compared with λp and λr for both flexure and axial compression, so the section is classified before any strength equation is used.

Tension members

Gross-section yielding, net-section rupture with the shear-lag factor U, block shear on the connected element, and the L/r serviceability limit.

Compression members

Elastic buckling stress, the inelastic / elastic branch selection at 4.71√(E/Fy), the critical stress and the design compressive strength.

Flexural members (LTB zones)

Plastic moment, Lp and Lr, the zone the unbraced length falls in, the Cb-modified nominal moment and the bracing spacing needed to reach Mp.

Shear & web buckling

Web shear coefficient Cv1, the design shear strength, the web local yielding / crippling checks at concentrated loads and the stiffener trigger.

Combined forces (beam-columns)

Interaction equation H1-1a / H1-1b with second-order moments, reporting the governing branch and the head-room left in the section.

Bolted connections

Bolt shear strength, bearing and tearout at the bolt holes, the slip-critical serviceability check and the required bolt count.

Fillet welds

Weld strength per inch including the directional-strength increase, minimum and maximum leg sizes, the required weld length and the base-metal check.

Base plates

Concrete bearing strength with the confinement increase, the cantilever model for m, n and λn′, and the required plate thickness.

Deflection

Live-load and total-load deflection of a uniformly loaded simple span, the code limits and the camber to specify.

Anchor rods for base plates

Rod tension and shear demand from the column uplift and base shear, steel strength, concrete breakout, pullout, shear breakout and the combined tension-shear interaction.

Shear (simple) connection — shear tab

Bolt shear with eccentricity, plate shear yielding and rupture, block shear on the plate, the weld to the support and beam-web checks.

Moment connection & column checks

Flange force from the beam moment, then column web local yielding, crippling, flange local bending, web compression buckling, the panel-zone shear, continuity-plate need and the CJP flange weld.

Composite beam with steel deck

Effective slab width, the horizontal shear transfer ΣQn, the plastic stress distribution, φMn for full or partial composite action and the stud count.

Stability bracing (strength & stiffness)

Required brace strength and stiffness for column and beam bracing, in both the nodal and relative configurations.

Stability — second-order B1/B2

Amplified first-order analysis: the no-translation amplifier B1, the story sway amplifier B2 from the story stiffness, and the resulting required strengths.

Fatigue — stress range & life

Live-load stress range against the threshold for the detail category, the allowable stress range for the design life and the fatigue life of the detail as built.

Beam

Whitney stress block flexural capacity plus the one-way shear capacity of concrete and stirrups.

One-way slab

Checks the minimum thickness, the strip moment capacity and the minimum shrinkage-temperature steel.

Two-way slab

Direct design method static moment plus the two-way (punching) shear check around the column.

Column

Computes the maximum axial capacity of a tied column and the moment magnification for slenderness.

Wall

Simplified axial capacity of a bearing wall plus the in-plane shear check.

Footing

Sizes the footing for bearing, then checks one-way and two-way shear at the critical sections.

Design criteria & objectives

Fixes the project's target limit states before any member is sized: strength reliability, required service life, deflection and drift limits, and floor vibration performance. Every downstream calculator is checked against these targets.

Codes & standards compliance

Confirms the governing code edition, risk category, importance factors and resistance factors used in the calculations are the ones the adopted code requires — the compliance statement that opens a design report.

Geotechnical & seismic design data

Turns the geotechnical report into design inputs: site class, mapped accelerations, S_DS/S_D1, seismic design category, allowable bearing pressure and groundwater. Also checks the boring program is adequate for the footprint.

Load analysis roll-up (D, L, W, E, T)

Rolls the individual load effects on one element into the full ASCE 7-22 §2.3 LRFD set, including the self-straining (thermal) combination of §2.3.4, and reports the governing factored demand against the available strength.

Reinforcement detailing & bar layout

Checks the reinforcement drawing: clear bar spacing, cover for the exposure class, tension development length, hook embedment and the crack-control spacing limit of §24.3.

Mix design & technical specification

Sets the mixture and acceptance criteria: required average strength f′_cr for the mix, exposure-class limits on w/cm and minimum f′_c, air content, slump and cementitious content, plus the strength test acceptance rule.

Constructability & placement review

Checks the element can be built: formwork lateral pressure against the form design, reinforcement congestion across the section width, placement rate against supply, and vibrator/pump access.

Bill of quantities & cost estimate

Builds the quantity take-off — concrete volume, reinforcement tonnage from the steel ratio, formwork contact area — prices each line, and benchmarks the reinforcement ratio and unit cost against the budget.

Beam flexure & crack control

Whitney stress block capacity, net tensile strain and φ, minimum steel, and the maximum bar spacing that controls flexural cracking at service load.

Beam shear & stirrup design

Concrete shear strength, required stirrup contribution, the Av/s needed, minimum shear steel and the code maximum spacing — reported as a real stirrup schedule.

Column axial capacity

Nominal axial strength, the code cap on Pn for accidental eccentricity, the 1–8 % steel ratio limits and the tie or spiral schedule.

Slender column moment magnification

Slenderness screening, the critical buckling load with cracked-section stiffness, and the non-sway magnifier δns applied to M2.

Column P–M interaction diagram

Builds the three governing points of the interaction diagram (pure compression, balanced point, pure flexure) and locates the factored load pair on it.

Development length

Full ℓd expression with the confinement term (cb + Ktr)/db, the modification factors, the hooked-bar alternative and the available embedment check.

Deflection (immediate + long term)

Cracking moment, the effective moment of inertia from the 318-19 expression, the immediate live-load deflection and the sustained-load multiplier λΔ.

One-way slab

Minimum thickness, the ACI coefficient moments, one-way shear without stirrups and the shrinkage-temperature steel, all on a 12 in. design strip.

Two-way slab (DDM) & punching shear

Static moment Mo, the negative / positive distribution into column and middle strips, the two-way shear perimeter with unbalanced-moment transfer, and the thickness screen.

Development length & lap splices

Tension ℓd, Class A and Class B tension laps, compression laps and the hook alternative, with the detail to place on the drawings.

Load-bearing wall

Checks the axial capacity with the slenderness reduction and the h/t limit.

Shear wall

Computes the in-plane shear capacity of the masonry and the horizontal reinforcement.

Pilaster

Checks the pilaster for combined axial and out-of-plane flexure from wind on the tributary wall.

Lintel

Applies the triangular arching load plus any superimposed load over the opening and checks flexure and bearing.

Veneer

Checks the anchor tributary area and spacing against the prescriptive veneer limits for the design wind pressure.

Out-of-plane wall flexure (strength design)

Wind moment including the P-delta term, strength-design flexural capacity of a grouted-cell wall, the maximum reinforcement limit and the deflection check.

Shear wall — in-plane

In-plane shear demand, masonry shear strength with the M/(Vd) term, the horizontal steel contribution and the joint-reinforcement / bond-beam schedule.

Lintel / masonry beam

Arching-action load, flexural steel in the bond-beam course, shear without stirrups, bearing length and the deflection limit over an opening.

Axial capacity & slenderness

Axial strength with the slenderness reduction, the h/r branch at 99, and the minimum prescriptive reinforcement.

Anchor bolts & ties

Anchor bolt tension by masonry breakout and steel yield, shear by breakout, crushing and pryout, plus the veneer tie schedule.

Bolted shear

Sizes the bolt group for shear/bearing, verifies spacing and edge distance, and computes φRn for bolt shear, bearing/tearout, block shear and plate shear/tension rupture.

Bolted moment

Resolves the connection moment into a flange couple, sizes the flange and web bolt groups, and checks bolt tension, prying, combined tension-shear interaction and the end-plate/flange yielding limit state.

Fillet weld

Computes the effective throat, applies the directional strength increase, checks weld and base metal rupture, minimum/maximum size limits, and the effective length/return requirements.

CJP weld

A complete-joint-penetration weld with matching filler develops the base metal, so the base metal governs.

Base plate

Checks concrete bearing, computes the required base plate thickness and checks the anchor rod tension.

Gusset plate

Checks the Whitmore section yielding, gusset buckling and the plate shear on the connection interface.

Rafter

Combines the gravity and wind uplift load cases on the sloped rafter and checks flexure and deflection.

Column

Applies the eave wind load and gravity reaction, then checks the beam-column interaction and eave drift.

Haunch

Checks the tapered haunch at the deep end for flexure and web crippling.

Knee joint

Checks the panel zone shear at the rafter-to-column knee and the required stiffening.

Door header

Computes the factored load, the door header demand and compares it with the provided capacity and deflection limit.

Crane runway

Applies the vertical impact and lateral thrust from the crane wheel loads and checks flexure and the fatigue category.

Bay layout

Checks the module dimension, stall count, factored bay demand and shear/deflection serviceability for the chosen span.

Ramp

Derives the ramp geometry, the vertical curve length at each transition, headroom clearance and the ramp slab moment demand.

Double tee

Builds up the self weight, factored demand, service flexural stress, camber-deflection balance and shear capacity of a pretopped double tee.

Post-tensioned slab

Builds up the tendon drape, balanced load, average precompression, service tensile stress, minimum bonded reinforcement and flexural strength for a PT slab strip.

Vehicle barrier

Applies the 6,000 lb concentrated barrier load at 18 in. above the floor, distributes it over the loaded area, and checks the curb/barrier flexure, the anchorage moment and shear, and the guard height.

Expansion joint

Builds up the thermal, shrinkage and creep movement between joints, applies a movement factor of safety, and sizes the joint seal width against the rating and open-air exposure spacing limit.

Column removal

Builds up the gravity load case, applies the linear-static dynamic increase factor for the column removal scenario, checks flexural DCR, catenary/tie demand, span-doubling shear and rotation, per the alternate-path method.

Girder removal

Builds up the gravity load case, applies the linear-static dynamic increase factor for the girder removal scenario, checks flexural DCR, catenary/tie demand, span-doubling shear and rotation, per the alternate-path method.

Wall removal

Builds up the gravity load case, applies the linear-static dynamic increase factor for the wall removal scenario, checks flexural DCR, catenary/tie demand, span-doubling shear and rotation, per the alternate-path method.

Tie force check

Builds the floor design force, computes internal, peripheral, horizontal edge and vertical tie forces, and checks each against the provided tie capacity per the tie-force method.

Design criteria & objectives

Fixes the bridge performance targets: 75-year design life, HL-93 live load, live-load deflection and fatigue objectives, rideability and inspection access.

Codes & standards compliance

Confirms the specification edition, the ductility / redundancy / operational-importance modifiers, and the resistance factors used are those the owner's design manual requires.

Engineering data — hydraulics, soils & traffic

Assembles the site data a bridge type-selection report must contain: design flood and scour, foundation capacity, seismic zone and traffic demand.

Analysis roll-up — Strength I / Service II / Fatigue

Rolls the DC1/DC2/DW dead loads and HL-93 live load through the AASHTO limit-state combinations and reports the governing demand against the girder resistance.

Detailed drawings & detailing

Checks the detailing that appears on bridge plans: deck reinforcement and cover, bearing and joint movement capacity for thermal range, cross-frame spacing, and fabricated camber.

Technical specification & QC

Specifies the bridge materials and quality regime: concrete class and permeability, reinforcing and structural steel grades, coating system, fracture-critical requirements and weld NDT frequency.

Constructability — erection & staging

Reviews whether the bridge can actually be built: girder pick weights against crane capacity, shipping length and weight limits, stability of the erected girder before bracing, and deck-placement sequencing.

Bill of quantities & cost estimate

Builds the bridge quantity take-off and unit-cost estimate: deck area, structural steel or girder count, substructure concrete, piling, and the $/ft² benchmark the owner uses to sanity-check the design.

DC1 / DC2 / DW dead load buildup

Separates non-composite structural dead load (DC1: girder, deck, haunch, stay-in-place forms, diaphragms), composite superimposed dead load (DC2: barriers, sidewalks, rails) and wearing surface / utilities (DW), because each is carried by a different section and takes a different load factor.

HL-93 live load with IM and distribution

Takes the larger of design truck + lane and design tandem + lane, applies the dynamic load allowance IM = 33% to the truck/tandem only, then applies the girder distribution factor and multiple-presence factor.

Bridge wind, braking and centrifugal (WS, WL, BR, CE)

Wind on structure and on live load, vehicular braking force (25% of axle weights or 5% of truck+lane), and the centrifugal force on curved alignments.

Temperature, shrinkage, creep and settlement (TU, SH, CR, SE)

Thermal movement range for the bearing and joint sizing, restraint force in an integral/fixed system, plus the force effect from differential support settlement.

AASHTO Strength / Service / Fatigue combinations

Evaluates Strength I, II, III, IV, V, Extreme Event I/II, Service I, II, III and Fatigue I/II with the max and min DC/DW/EH/EV load factors and reports the governing effect.

Abutment / pier loads (EH, EV, ES, LS, CT)

Builds the horizontal and vertical earth loads, live-load surcharge and vehicular collision force on an abutment stem, and combines them with the AASHTO §11 max/min load factors.

Deck

Uses the equivalent strip method for a deck spanning between girders under the HL-93 design truck wheel load.

Girder

Combines the distributed dead load moment with the distributed HL-93 live load moment for an interior girder.

Bearing

Sizes a steel-reinforced elastomeric pad from the service reaction, builds up the shape factor, and checks compressive stress, shear/rotation and stability of the layer.

Pier

Accumulates the superstructure dead/live reaction and self-weight, applies the longitudinal braking/wind/vessel-impact force as a cantilever moment, and checks slenderness, combined axial-flexure interaction and shear.

Abutment

Computes the active earth pressure resultant and checks sliding, overturning eccentricity and bearing.

Expansion joint

Builds up the design temperature range, thermal + shrinkage/creep movement, seismic movement demand, and sizes the joint gap and seal against the rated movement.

Design criteria & objectives

Fixes the geotechnical performance targets: factors of safety for bearing, sliding and overturning, tolerable total and differential settlement, and the global stability objective.

Codes & standards compliance

Checks the geotechnical resistance factors, code minimums for embedment and frost depth, and the design method against the adopted standards.

Engineering data — subsurface investigation

Verifies the exploration programme behind the design: boring spacing and depth, sampling and in-situ testing, groundwater monitoring and the laboratory suite that produced the strength parameters.

Analysis roll-up — factored resistances

Rolls the foundation demands through the LRFD strength and service checks: factored bearing, sliding, eccentricity and settlement, and reports the governing limit state.

Detailed drawings & detailing

Checks the geotechnical details drawn on the plans: footing dimensions and dowels, drainage behind walls, geotextile separation, bench/keys, and the earthwork sections.

Technical specification — earthwork & testing

Specifies the earthwork the contractor must deliver: fill gradation and plasticity, lift thickness, compaction targets, moisture window and the field-density testing frequency.

Constructability — excavation & dewatering

Reviews whether the substructure can be built safely: OSHA excavation slopes or shoring, dewatering drawdown and discharge, subgrade protection, and access for equipment.

Bill of quantities & cost estimate

Produces the geotechnical take-off and estimate: excavation and backfill volumes with swell/shrink, foundation concrete, shoring, dewatering, and the unit-cost benchmark.

Earth pressure coefficients

Computes active, at-rest and passive coefficients including a groundwater table and OCR correction, then builds the resultant thrusts on a vertical face of height H.

Retaining wall demand

Active thrust with surcharge, toe passive resistance, then overturning, sliding and bearing demands on the stem/footing.

Surcharge & point-load pressure

Uniform strip surcharge plus Boussinesq point-load and line-load pressures on the wall at the depth of interest, enveloped over the wall height.

Seismic earth pressure (M-O)

Seismic active coefficient K_AE, static/dynamic decomposition, incremental dynamic thrust at 0.6H, and the resulting seismic wall demand.

Buried pipe soil load

Prism (or trench) soil load, HS-20 live-load surcharge distributed to the pipe crown, and the total design load with impact.

Flexible pipe deflection (Iowa)

Δx = (D_L·K·W·r³)/(EI + 0.061·E′·r³) expressed as a percent of the diameter against the 5% limit, with a ring buckling check.

Rigid pipe D-load

Converts the field load to the required 0.01-in crack D-load using the bedding factor and safety factor, then checks the ultimate D-load margin.

Buoyancy & uplift

Buoyant force from the groundwater table versus the resisting weight of the structure, contents and soil prism, plus friction on the sides.

Footing bearing pressure

q = P/A(1 ± 6e/B) with the kern check and a settlement estimate, before any full bearing-capacity analysis.

Braced excavation pressure

Builds the apparent pressure diagram for sand or clay, the resulting strut load per bracing level, and base heave / stability checks.

Retaining wall load factors (max/min)

Applies the max/min load-factor pairs (EH 1.50/0.90, EV 1.35/1.00, ES 1.50/0.75, LS 1.75/0) to build the worst case for bearing, sliding and eccentricity, which use different combinations of the same loads.

Buried pipe / culvert load combination

Combines vertical earth load (EV with the soil-structure interaction factor F_e), live load with dynamic allowance distributed through the fill, internal pressure and groundwater, and checks deflection and wall thrust.

Foundation LRFD vs ASD combinations

Runs the strength combinations against the factored geotechnical resistance and the service combinations against the presumptive allowable bearing, so bearing capacity and settlement are checked at the right level.

Seismic earth pressure (Mononobe-Okabe)

Adds the seismic increment ΔP_AE to the static active thrust using the Mononobe-Okabe coefficient K_AE and checks the Extreme Event I combination.

Spread footing

General bearing capacity equation with square shape factors, depth and groundwater corrections, factored per AASHTO LRFD 10.6.3, and checked against eccentricity and settlement limits.

Combined footing

Locates the resultant of two column loads, sizes the footing for uniform pressure, checks bearing, eccentricity, one-way shear and flexure.

Strip footing

General bearing capacity equation with continuous (strip) shape factors, depth and groundwater corrections, factored per AASHTO LRFD 10.6.3, and checked against eccentricity and settlement limits.

Mat foundation

Computes the net bearing pressure of the mat, subgrade modulus, rigidity criterion, differential settlement estimate and punching at the heaviest column.

Grade beam

Checks the grade beam for the wall load spanning between pile caps or piers, including minimum depth, deflection and torsion from eccentric wall load.

Gravity wall

Computes the active pressure resultant, passive toe resistance and checks sliding, overturning, bearing and eccentricity for a gravity wall. Resistance comes from the wall mass alone.

Cantilever wall

Computes the active pressure resultant, passive toe resistance and checks sliding, overturning, bearing and eccentricity for a cantilever wall. Soil over the heel is included in the resisting weight.

Counterfort wall

Computes the active pressure resultant, passive toe resistance and checks sliding, overturning, bearing and eccentricity for a counterfort wall. Counterforts carry the stem as a continuous slab spanning between them.

MSE wall

Checks external sliding, eccentricity and bearing plus internal reinforcement tension, pullout and connection strength.

Soldier pile wall

Uses the apparent earth pressure diagram for a braced/cantilever soldier pile wall, checks the pile moment, shear, embedment and lagging span.

Driven pile

Computes the shaft and toe resistance of a driven pile by depth layer, the allowable capacity, the drivability stress and pile-head settlement.

Drilled shaft

Computes the side resistance with the α method for cohesive soil plus the base resistance, the allowable capacity and settlement at working load.

Micropile

Checks the grout-to-ground bond capacity, the steel casing/bar structural capacity in compression and tension, and pile-head elastic shortening.

Pile group

Applies the Converse-Labarre group efficiency, checks the group capacity, block (Terzaghi) failure and consolidation settlement of the group.

Pile cap

Checks the cap punching shear at the column and at individual piles, one-way shear, flexural steel demand, minimum cap thickness and edge distance.

Immediate settlement

Elastic (distortion) settlement of a flexible footing on a deep elastic layer, corrected for embedment and layer depth, with rigidity and angular distortion checks.

Primary consolidation

Uses the virgin compression and recompression indices for an over- or normally consolidated clay, computes the time for 90% consolidation, and checks residual settlement at end of construction.

Secondary compression

Computes the secondary (creep) settlement after the end of primary consolidation, and combines with an estimated primary settlement for a total service-life projection.

Ground improvement

Computes the radial consolidation time with prefabricated vertical drains, the combined radial+vertical consolidation rate, required surcharge and the improvement ratio.

Natural slope

Effective-stress stability of a natural slope including the pore pressure ratio, a pseudo-static seismic case and a rapid-drawdown check. Long-term drained condition governs.

Cut slope

Effective-stress stability of a cut slope including the pore pressure ratio, a pseudo-static seismic case and a rapid-drawdown check. Check the end-of-construction undrained case as well.

Fill embankment

Effective-stress stability of a fill embankment including the pore pressure ratio, a pseudo-static seismic case and a rapid-drawdown check. Compacted fill; verify the foundation soil bearing separately.

Braced excavation

Computes the apparent earth pressure strut load, the basal heave factor of safety for a soft clay excavation, wall toe penetration and strut buckling.

Temporary shoring

Checks the OSHA sloping/benching requirement, the cantilever sheet-pile net pressure diagram, embedment, moment, and deflection at the wall top.

Design criteria & objectives

Sets the roadway objectives: design speed and vehicle, target level of service, safety performance, accessibility and pavement design life.

Codes & standards compliance

Confirms compliance with the geometric, traffic-control, accessibility and pavement standards that govern a roadway submittal.

Engineering data — counts, ESALs & subgrade

Collects the field data behind the design: AADT and growth, truck percentage converted to design ESALs, subgrade resilient modulus, and the drainage/reliability inputs.

Analysis roll-up — capacity, structure & safety

Rolls the transportation analysis into one page: intersection or segment v/c, required versus provided structural number, and the safety performance check.

Detailed drawings — sections, profiles & signing

Checks the plan set a roadway package must contain: typical sections, alignment and profile with superelevation, drainage, signing/striping and ADA curb-ramp details.

Technical specification — mixes & acceptance

Specifies the paving materials and acceptance testing: Superpave mix and binder grade, in-place density, thickness tolerance, smoothness (IRI) and friction.

Constructability — staging, MOT & production

Reviews whether the corridor can be built under traffic: maintenance-of-traffic capacity during closures, work-zone speed and taper lengths, paving production versus the allowed window, and utility conflicts.

Bill of quantities & cost estimate

Builds the roadway quantity take-off and unit-cost estimate: asphalt tonnage, base and subbase, earthwork, drainage and traffic items, benchmarked as $/lane-mile.

AADT to design hourly volume

DHV = AADT·K, directional volume DDHV = DHV·D, lane volume, level-of-service density and the v/c ratio against per-lane capacity.

Traffic growth projection

Compound growth to the design year, the cumulative growth factor, and the total directional design-lane volume over the analysis period.

ESAL / design traffic (W18)

W18 = AADT·%trucks·TF·DD·LD·365·G accumulated over the design period, decomposed term by term with a lane-distribution sensitivity check.

Axle load equivalency factor

LEF ≈ (W/18)^4 for single axles, (W/33)^4 for tandems and (W/49.5)^4 for tridems, giving the truck factor from the axle spectrum.

HL-93 live load effects

Design truck plus lane load moment, design tandem alternative, dynamic load allowance and live-load distribution factor per AASHTO LRFD §3.6.1.

Wheel load & tire pressure

Contact area from the wheel load and tire pressure, equivalent radius, subgrade stress at depth (Boussinesq) and deflection factor.

Frost & environmental load

Frost penetration from the freezing index, frost heave estimate for frost-susceptible soil, and the restrained thermal stress in a bound layer.

Horizontal curve

Derives the minimum radius from side friction and superelevation, the curve geometry, the spiral transition length and the sight distance across the curve.

Vertical crest curve

Derives the required stopping sight distance from the design speed, the crest curve length for that sight distance, the achieved K value and the minimum length for appearance.

Vertical sag curve

Computes the sag curve length for headlight sight distance and rider comfort, the achieved K value, the appearance minimum and the drainage upper limit on K.

Tangent

Derives the level-ground and grade-adjusted stopping sight distance, the decision sight distance for a complex tangent, the desirable tangent length and the maximum grade check.

Superelevation

Computes the required superelevation rate, the relative-gradient-controlled runoff length, the tangent runout length and the total transition length.

Cross section

Checks lane width, shoulder width, cross slope, clear zone (with a horizontal curve adjustment), fill slope traversability and barrier warrant against AASHTO and the Roadside Design Guide.

Signalized intersection

Computes flow ratio, capacity from the saturation flow and green ratio, the v/c ratio, uniform and incremental delay, the progression-adjusted control delay and LOS, plus the critical lane group check.

Unsignalized intersection

Computes the conflicting flow rate, the potential and movement capacity of the minor movement using gap acceptance, the impedance from higher-rank movements, delay and LOS.

Roundabout

Uses the HCM single-lane entry capacity model with the conflicting circulating flow, computes the v/c ratio, delay, LOS and the 95th-percentile queue.

Freeway segment

Converts the hourly volume to a flow rate per lane, applies the speed-flow model to get density and LOS, and checks capacity and density with the heavy-vehicle adjustment shown explicitly.

Safety study

Computes exposure, the observed crash rate, the SPF-predicted crash frequency, the Empirical Bayes-adjusted estimate, the CMF-based expected reduction and the benefit-cost ratio of the countermeasure.

Flexible pavement

Derives the standard normal deviate, solves the AASHTO 1993 flexible design equation for the required structural number, computes the provided SN from the layer coefficients and checks minimum layer thicknesses.

Rigid pavement

Solves the AASHTO 1993 rigid design equation for slab thickness from the modulus of subgrade reaction, concrete strength and load transfer, then checks joint spacing and dowel/tie-bar detailing.

Composite

Converts the existing rigid slab to an effective structural number using the condition factor, adds the asphalt overlay contribution and checks the resulting composite section against the required SN and reflective-cracking mitigation.

Overlay

Computes the effective SN of the existing pavement, the structural deficiency, the required overlay thickness and checks it against the provided design and milling plan.

Shoulder

Establishes the target shoulder structural number relative to the mainline, checks the provided structure, geometry, cross slope and edge drop-off risk.

Runway

Applies the elevation, temperature and gradient corrections to the reference runway length for the critical aircraft, then checks wet/slippery runway and declared distance implications.

Taxiway

Checks the taxiway width, shoulder width, safety area, taxiway-to-runway and taxiway-to-taxiway separations for the taxiway and airplane design groups, plus the fillet geometry.

Apron

Computes the gate apron area from the aircraft footprint, wingtip and service road clearances, the taxilane geometry and the total apron demand for the fleet mix.

Airfield pavement

Compares the aircraft classification number with the reported pavement classification number, checks the overload criterion, screens an empirical thickness by CBR and evaluates the annual departures against the design life.

Runway safety area

Checks the runway safety area width and length beyond the runway end, the object free area, the runway protection zone footprint and the runway obstacle-free zone for the design aircraft category.

Approach surface

Computes the imaginary approach surface elevation at the obstruction location, the primary surface and transitional surface geometry, and checks penetration and slope compliance.

Parking lot

Computes the parking demand, the required accessible and van-accessible stall counts, the parking module geometry, aisle width by angle and the total lot area.

Parking structure

Computes the total floor area, parking efficiency, ramp capacity and grade, the accessible stall requirement and the structural clear height for van accessibility.

Transit stop

Computes the single-berth loading area capacity, the multi-berth efficiency-adjusted capacity, the required number of berths, dwell-time sensitivity and boarding area geometry.

Bike facility

Checks the bike lane width, buffer, vertical/horizontal separation for protected facilities, and computes the bicycle level of traffic stress classification and bike parking demand.

Pedestrian path

Checks the running slope, cross slope, clear width and passing space, computes the pedestrian unit flow rate and level of service, and screens the curb ramp and detectable warning requirements.

Loading zone

Computes the loading berth demand, the apron depth and maneuvering geometry for the design vehicle, the turning radius requirement and the clear height and queuing space.

Design criteria & objectives

Fixes the hydraulic objectives: design and check storm frequencies, allowable spread and freeboard, no-adverse-impact on flood levels, and the water-quality volume to be captured.

Codes & standards compliance

Confirms the hydrologic method, hydraulic model, regulatory permits and pipe/structure standards used match what the reviewing agency requires.

Engineering data — rainfall, soils & survey

Assembles the hydrologic data set: IDF rainfall intensities, hydrologic soil groups and curve number, land-use composition, survey control and existing-system inventory.

Analysis roll-up — capacity, HGL & detention

Rolls the hydraulic analysis into one page: pipe capacity versus peak flow, hydraulic grade line versus rim, culvert headwater, and detention routing performance.

Detailed drawings — plan, profile & outfalls

Checks the drainage plan set: pipe plan and profile with cover, structure schedule, inlet and manhole details, outfall energy dissipation and erosion protection.

Technical specification — pipe, bedding & testing

Specifies the buried infrastructure: pipe material and class, bedding and haunching, joint type, and the acceptance tests (deflection, leakage, pressure, CCTV).

Constructability — trenching & bypass

Reviews the buildability of the drainage work: trench safety and width, dewatering, bypass pumping of live flow, and utility crossings and restoration.

Bill of quantities & cost estimate

Builds the drainage take-off and estimate: pipe by size and depth, structures, detention earthwork, erosion control, and the $/LF and $/ac-ft benchmarks.

Rational method peak flow

Composite runoff coefficient, time of concentration, IDF intensity, peak flow and the check against conveyance capacity with a freeboard allowance.

Time of concentration & intensity

Kirpich overland travel time, a channel/shallow-flow segment, combined t_c, and the IDF curve intensity i = a/(t + b)^c for the design storm.

Hydrostatic force on wall/gate

Triangular pressure distribution on a vertical face, the resultant at h/3, overturning moment, uplift and net stability.

Thrust block at bend

F = 2·p·A·sin(θ/2) including surge allowance, and the required bearing area against the soil with a passive-pressure cross-check.

Pipe pressure class (Barlow)

Barlow hoop stress σ = pD/2t including surge allowance, joint efficiency, corrosion allowance, and the required wall thickness.

Water hammer surge

Wave celerity, surge head from instantaneous valve closure, the critical closure time, and the actual pressure rise for a gradual closure.

Open-channel / full-pipe capacity

Q = (1.49/n)·A·R^(2/3)·S^(1/2) for a circular pipe flowing full (or a channel section), normal depth iteration, velocity and shear checks.

Pump head & power

TDH from static lift plus friction (Hazen–Williams) and minor losses, brake horsepower, NPSH available and motor sizing.

Hydrostatic pressure & uplift on a hydraulic structure

Water thrust on the upstream face, tailwater resistance, the base uplift diagram (with or without a drainage gallery), resultant location, base contact pressures, and the sliding/overturning stability of the section.

Buoyancy & flotation of a buried structure

Compares the buoyant uplift on an empty structure with the dead weight plus the soil wedge and side friction, and reports the required ballast when the factor of safety is short.

Flood loads Fa, Fd, Fi and wave (ASCE 7 Ch. 5)

Builds hydrostatic F_sta, hydrodynamic drag F_dyn, breaking wave F_brkw on a vertical element and debris impact F_i, then combines them into the design flood load for Load Combination 5/7.

Hydrodynamic, ice and surge pressure on gates & walls

Westergaard hydrodynamic pressure during an earthquake, static ice thrust on a gate or pier, and water-hammer surge head in a closed conduit.

USACE usual / unusual / extreme load cases

Assembles the usual (normal pool), unusual (flood/maintenance) and extreme (PMF, seismic) load cases and checks each against its own required factor of safety and resultant-location limit.

Rational method

Derives the weighted runoff coefficient, the design rainfall intensity from IDF parameters, the peak discharge and checks against downstream conveyance and detention triggers.

SCS curve number

Computes the composite curve number, potential maximum retention, initial abstraction, runoff depth, unit peak discharge and peak flow with the NRCS graphical peak discharge method.

Unit hydrograph

Derives the NRCS curve-number retention and runoff depth, then builds the SCS dimensionless unit hydrograph (lag, time to peak, peaking coefficient) and checks the resulting peak discharge and base time.

Gage analysis

Computes station log statistics, the standard normal deviate, the Wilson-Hilferty frequency factor including skew adjustment, the design discharge, and checks record adequacy and confidence limits.

Time of concentration

Sums the sheet flow, shallow concentrated flow and channel flow travel times computed from segment geometry, roughness and the design rainfall, and checks segment-length limits.

Storm sewer

Derives the full-flow section properties, the Manning capacity, part-full hydraulic elements, velocity and travel time, and checks minimum/maximum velocity and surcharge.

Inlet

Computes the gutter section flow, spread, the frontal-flow and side-flow interception ratios, splash-over velocity, total efficiency and the carryover routed to the next inlet.

Swale

Computes trapezoidal section geometry, hydraulic radius, Manning capacity, velocity, boundary shear stress and Froude number, then checks capacity, permissible velocity, shear and side slope.

Detention basin

Computes the inflow/outflow peak ratio, applies the NRCS TR-55 storage-ratio regression, estimates the required storage, stage-storage relationship and checks drawdown and outlet sizing.

Outlet structure

Builds a composite stage-discharge rating for a multi-stage riser (low-flow orifice plus emergency weir), including orifice submergence and trash-rack head loss, and checks total release, minimum orifice size and freeboard.

Manhole

Computes the initial junction loss, applies benching and angle correction factors, sets the minimum manhole diameter and invert drop, and checks spacing, diameter and drop against HEC-22 access-hole criteria.

Culvert

Computes barrel geometry, inlet-control headwater from the FHWA nomograph relation, entrance/friction/exit losses for outlet control, the governing headwater, HW/D, outlet velocity and scour potential.

Weir

Computes the approach velocity of approach correction, the weir discharge coefficient basis, the rating curve, required crest length, and checks capacity, approach velocity and freeboard.

Open channel

Computes trapezoidal section properties at normal depth, Manning capacity, critical depth and slope, the Froude number and flow regime, and freeboard, then checks capacity, near-critical instability and freeboard.

Energy dissipator

Computes the incoming Froude number, sequent depth via the momentum equation, jump length, energy loss, basin apron thickness, and checks tailwater matching, basin length and jump stability regime.

Drop structure

Computes the drop number, empirical basin length, pool depth and downstream scour prism dimensions from the Rand equations, plus the required riprap D50, and checks basin length, riprap size and end-sill height.

Spillway

Derives the ogee discharge coefficient basis, the rating curve, required head/length, approach velocity and freeboard rule, then checks spillway capacity, freeboard and approach velocity.

Levee

Sets the crest elevation from the design water surface plus freeboard, computes seepage gradient and exit-gradient factor of safety, checks slope stability and underseepage, and reviews the landside slope and toe drain need.

Floodwall

Computes hydrostatic thrust, buoyant uplift, resultant location, sliding and overturning factors of safety, base bearing pressure and eccentricity for a cantilever T-wall.

Channel improvement

Computes the improved trapezoidal section capacity, velocity, boundary shear, riprap sizing by the Shields criterion, freeboard, and compares with the design flood, riprap thickness and velocity limits.

Detention

Computes required flood storage from the inflow/outflow mass balance, the present-worth factor of avoided damages, the benefit-cost ratio and reviews storage adequacy, economic justification and residual risk.

Elevation / floodproofing

Sets the required lowest floor elevation from the BFE, risk category freeboard and flood-zone criteria, computes the hydrostatic and hydrodynamic forces on a dry-floodproofed wall, and checks freeboard, structural capacity and closure design.

Buyout

Computes the annualized avoided damages, applies the FEMA/OMB present-worth factor, adds relocation/demolition costs, and evaluates the benefit-cost ratio, discount-rate compliance and per-structure cost-effectiveness.

Bioretention

Derives the site runoff coefficient and water quality volume, sizes ponding and media storage, computes the surface loading rate, media infiltration drawdown, underdrain capacity and checks storage, drawdown and ponding depth.

Permeable pavement

Computes the water quality volume from the run-on area, sizes the aggregate reservoir for storage and structural support, checks the surface infiltration rate, drawdown, run-on ratio and structural subgrade support.

Green roof

Computes the media retention capacity against the water quality storm, the runoff reduction credit, the saturated dead load added to the roof structure and reviews drainage layer capacity and wind uplift.

Infiltration trench

Computes the water quality volume, the trench storage volume, drawdown time, required setback from structures/water table, and reviews pretreatment and observation-well requirements.

Wet pond

Computes the water quality volume, the required permanent pool sized by residence time, the length-to-width flow path, average depth and safety bench, and checks pool volume, flow path geometry and depth.

Constructed wetland

Applies the first-order areal removal model to size the wetland surface area, checks hydraulic loading rate and residence time, evaluates zone depths and vegetation cover, and reviews the outlet control structure.

Design criteria & objectives

Sets the delivery objectives: safety performance, quality acceptance rate, schedule and cost performance targets, and the rework allowance the project can absorb.

Codes & standards compliance

Confirms the construction standards, safety regulations and testing standards that govern execution and acceptance.

Engineering data — productivity & test records

Collects the execution data the project runs on: crew productivity, statistical test results with standard deviation, survey control, and as-built documentation completeness.

Analysis roll-up — earned value & risk

Rolls the project controls analysis together: earned value indices, critical-path float, forecast at completion, and the risk-adjusted contingency draw.

Shop drawings & detailing control

Tracks the detailing chain that turns design documents into built work: shop-drawing submittals, RFI turnaround, coordination clash resolution and dimensional tolerance control.

Technical specification — QC & acceptance

Defines the quality regime: sampling frequency, acceptance criteria for strength and compaction, non-conformance handling, and the documentation the owner receives.

Constructability & temporary works

Reviews the temporary structures and means-and-methods the permanent design depends on: crane and lift planning, shoring and reshoring, formwork pressure, and site logistics.

Bill of quantities, cost & contingency

Assembles the full project estimate: direct work by division, indirects and general conditions, overhead and profit, escalation and contingency, benchmarked against the budget.

Mobilization

Computes the mobilization cost, its share of contract value, the earned-value schedule performance index and the early cash requirement per AACE RP practice.

Earthwork

Applies shrinkage and swell to compute the compacted fill, the mass-haul balance, truck cycle productivity and the CPM duration.

Foundations

Computes the concrete quantity, truck deliveries, the placement rate needed to beat the initial set and the mass-concrete thermal control per ACI 301/347R.

Structure

Computes crane picks per day, the erection duration, schedule float and the crew productivity index against the milestone using CPM/AACE methods.

Utilities

Computes trench volume, daily production, spoil handling and checks the excavation slope/benching against OSHA Subpart P.

Paving

Computes asphalt tonnage, paver production, the number of trucks needed to keep the paver moving, and the roller passes required to reach target density per AI MS-22.

Closeout

Computes the punch-list burn-down rate, the retainage release, the days needed to reach substantial completion and the final cash-flow exposure.

Concrete

Computes the required average strength, the w/cm ratio, the maturity-based in-place strength estimate and the ACI 318 acceptance criteria for the test set.

Steel

Verifies yield, tensile, the yield ratio, elongation and Charpy toughness against the specified grade, computes the overstrength factor used for capacity design and cross-checks the statistical margin against the mill's historical variability.

Asphalt

Computes air voids, VMA, VFA, dust proportion and effective binder content from the bulk and maximum specific gravities and checks all Superpave design criteria.

Soil

Computes relative compaction, the deviation from optimum moisture, and the CBR-based structural adequacy of the field density test.

Aggregate

Checks gradation fineness modulus, LA abrasion loss, soundness, absorption and gradation conformance against ASTM C33 for the aggregate source.

Composite

Computes the design rupture strain, the FRP contribution to flexure, the debonding limit and the section ductility/existing-capacity checks required before adding externally bonded FRP.

Prediction model

Evaluates a predictive model against the holdout set, computes RMSE, R², adjusted R² and a model-uncertainty-adjusted structural reliability index before it informs design.

Computer vision

Computes precision, recall, F1 and the false-negative structural risk exposure from the confusion matrix for a defect-detection model.

Optimization

Compares the optimized design with the baseline, verifies the governing constraint is still satisfied and evaluates the optimizer's convergence behavior.

Digital twin

Compares predicted and measured response, checks the calibration error and update latency, tracks model drift over the monitoring window, and computes the statistical confidence in the calibration per ASCE structural health monitoring and reliability guidance.

Sensor network

Computes node count for the required coverage with an overlap/redundancy allowance, the data volume, the battery life and duty-cycle margin of a node, the link budget margin, and checks the sampling rate against the Nyquist criterion for the monitored frequency.

Decision support

Normalizes the weights, computes the weighted score of the preferred alternative, checks the decision margin, screens the pairwise-comparison consistency ratio, and runs a sensitivity analysis on the dominant weight per AHP / ISO 55000 asset-decision practice.

Structural collapse

Reconstructs the load at collapse, factors it per ASCE 7, computes section demand/capacity and locates the deficiency using ASCE forensic engineering practice.

Foundation failure

Back-calculates the mobilized bearing capacity at failure, compares with Terzaghi's general shear theory and checks the settlement and eccentricity that likely triggered the collapse.

Bridge failure

Reconstructs the dead and live load effects at the failure section, computes the AASHTO Manual for Bridge Evaluation rating factor and evaluates section-loss and fatigue contributions.

Embankment failure

Back-calculates the shear strength mobilized at the observed failure surface (FS = 1), compares it with laboratory strength, and checks pore pressure and residual-strength sensitivity per FHWA/Duncan practice.

Serviceability failure

Checks measured deflection, floor natural frequency and crack width against serviceability limits, and estimates the long-term creep deflection contribution.