Engineering Calculations and Software for Engineering Calculations

Engineering Calculations and Software for Engineering Calculations

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Is it possible for a person to live without calculations? It is hard to imagine in modern society.

Numbers are an integral part of our lives from birth, and counting is one of the essential skills that allow us to feel comfortable in the current environment. However, in the field of engineering, calculations have a special significance. Will the part endure the load, or will it fail? Will the structure withstand the wind, or will it collapse? Will the floor slab in the building deform, and if so, to what extent? Engineers worldwide ask themselves these and other questions on a daily basis.

How to Automate Calculations?

The task of automating mathematical calculations and computations dates back to the origins of human civilization, prior to the invention of the first calculating devices — abacus, soroban, and other elementary tools. A breakthrough in this process can be considered the emergence of electronic computing machines (ECMs) and calculators, which work on semiconductors.

Nowadays, virtually all engineering calculations are carried out using computer technology. In this regard, the field of engineering software development has emerged as a separate industry, operating at the intersection of various scientific and technical knowledge and disciplines - mathematics, physics, electronics, and programming. This interdisciplinary approach fully incorporates the ideas of STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics).

Engineering Calculation Software

The following diagram does not claim to provide a comprehensive explanation, but it gives a general idea of the variety of calculation software available.

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As we can see, the choice of one or another calculation software is determined primarily by the tasks that are facing the engineer.

Computer-aided design software

Computer-aided design systems are typically divided into three main types: CAD, CAE, and CAM.

While calculation modules are often integrated into both CAD and CAM software (for example, AutoCAD can calculate the mass and geometric characteristics of bodies and planar shapes), CAE packages are considered dedicated calculation software.

CAE systems are primarily based on the finite element method and are used to solve a variety of tasks, including static calculation (determining the stress-strain state parameters of structures), dynamic calculation (modal analysis, harmonic analysis, system calculation in the time domain, stability analysis, and impact calculation), the calculation for progressive collapse, seismicity, and special conditions, modeling of system interaction with liquids and gases (problems of hydro-gas dynamics, aeroelasticity, etc.), and modeling of electromagnetic and other physical phenomena and processes.

Typical representatives of CAE software include Ansys, Nastran, Autodesk Robot Structural Analysis Professional, Midas Civil, Scad Office, Lira, SOFiSTiK, STAAD.Pro, SAP2000, RFEM, Comsol, and others.

Spreadsheets and data analysis software

Spreadsheet and data analysis software is used whenever there is a need to collect and analyze data of one or more similar types. This can include field test results obtained from sensors or recorders, calculation information from CAD, input data for matrix calculations, and more.

In the field of engineering, spreadsheets are specialized software in the form of a tabular field with calculation functionality, which is convenient for these types of calculations. Due to their intuitive structure, spreadsheets are often used to prepare technical reports and explanatory notes in various technical fields. An example of a project implemented in Google Spreadsheet is provided below:

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Google Spreadsheets is free for Google account owners, which makes it an attractive solution. Another popular software for spreadsheets is Microsoft Office or Office 365's Excel (paid software). In addition, there are a number of programs aimed at data analysis and statistical calculations, such as Origin. These programs often have unique functions that "classic" spreadsheets do not have, such as libraries with trending, forecasting, data averaging, advanced graph smoothing functions, etc.

Despite the obvious convenience of spreadsheets, one needs to be careful when using them for engineering calculations, as this approach has hidden problems.

Mathematical packages for engineering calculations

Mathematical software for engineering calculations is a category of software used by scientists and engineers to perform various mathematical calculations. Such programs are designed to bring the user closer to performing "paper" calculations. The interface of these programs often resembles a familiar sheet of paper on which formulas are written, and the program performs the calculations automatically. The well-known program Mathcad is an example of this:

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Another category in this field is the so-called "computer algebra" packages, which can be used

  • to obtain a solution in analytical form,
  • simplify or transform calculations in some way (e.g. sinαcosβ ± cosαsinβ = sin (α ± β)).

Computer algebra is implemented in online services such as WolframAlpha and desktop software like Maple.

The latest generations of mathematical programs are multifunctional, allowing engineers to solve problems in various industries and areas of human activity. These programs provide powerful tools for solving problems in mathematical statistics, probability theory, differential and integral calculus, graph and automata theory, matrix algebra, graphing, and much more. Such programs are multitasking packages, "for all occasions."

MATLAB from MathWorks is a popular program for engineering calculations, modeling, simulation, and data analysis. Dystlab also has its own development in this area called TechEditor, which can be used to draw up technical documentation, perform engineering calculations, and even develop mini-programs:

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It is important to note that while mathematical software can greatly assist engineers in their work, they should also be careful when using them and verify the results obtained through other methods to ensure their accuracy.

Automation of Engineering Calculations: Scripts and APIs

Despite the advantages of professional mathematical software, such as its computing potential, it can be intimidating to unprepared engineers. These programs are organized on the principle of a script or code, similar to traditional programming languages, but each program has its own peculiarities. However, modern engineers inevitably encounter automation in some form or another, which is why engineering software developers provide their products with programming languages and scripting tools.

For example, the full version of AutoCAD supports a dialect of the LISP programming language called AutoLISP, while Tekla Structures supports the Tekla Open API, which significantly expands the possibilities of manual interaction between the program and the user. Graphical programming based on scripting using C++, Visual Basic, and Python programming languages is gaining popularity in BIM technologies with programs such as Dynamo and Grasshopper. TechEditor also supports Pascal and Basic programming languages, as well as LaTeX formulaic markup.

Using scripts, an engineer can

  • automate routine, repetitive operations,
  • specify how the application should respond to changes in parameters,
  • launch chains of repeated processes in optimization tasks, and more.

Online or Desktop? Pros and Cons

Let's take a look at the main advantages and disadvantages of desktop and online versions of engineering software.

Desktop Software for Engineering Calculations

One of the main advantages of desktop software is that it can be used without an internet connection. The installation process is straightforward and can be done using an installer. Developers often release portable versions of their products, allowing users to run the software directly from a storage device like a hard drive or USB stick. For instance, TechEditor offers both a separate installer and a portable version.

It's worth noting that most engineering software is currently available in desktop versions. This is because the internet and mobile technologies are relatively new, and most technological solutions were originally developed for personal computers. Therefore, desktop versions are often more functional than their online counterparts. Only time will tell what the future holds.

Online Calculators and Services for Engineering Calculations

This category of software has gained immense popularity in recent years.

The main advantage of online engineering calculators is that they can be accessed from a browser, which eliminates the need for additional software. As long as the device is connected to the internet, it's not difficult to use an online calculator. They are undemanding to resources and work well on almost all devices, including mobile ones like smartphones and tablets.

Engineers often ask whether it's better to use software calculations or online calculators. To answer this question, one needs to consider the following factors:

  1. Is the online calculator capable of solving your problem while taking into account all the basic requirements for the project?
  2. If the calculator's functionality is not enough, what will you do?
  3. What is the mathematical model behind the calculator? How detailed is it documented?
  4. Does the speed and accuracy of the online calculator depend on network, server, browser, etc. parameters?
  5. Do you trust the developers of the online calculator?

If the online service you're planning to use for your engineering calculations meets these criteria, it will probably be useful to you.

The undoubted advantage of the online version of the software is the speed of making changes and releasing updates. Therefore, the problem of software updates is no longer relevant here; when you access the browser page, you're guaranteed to work with the latest version of the calculator.

However, it should be noted that such resources often limit the calculator and become a "black box" for the user, who has to trust solely the competence of the developers. It's not just the limitations of the web interface; in terms of extensibility, such systems are quite difficult to make changes to. Usually, an online calculator is still a solution to a specific, point task. In this sense, a program that supports even an elementary script is a more scalable and predictable (and therefore controllable) product for an engineer.

Online Stores for Engineering Solutions

According to the We Are Social study, by the end of 2018, approximately 53% of the world's population had access to and actively used the Internet. Whether this is a lot or a little is a rhetorical question... Internet technologies are most widespread in the USA, Canada, and European countries, as well as in South America, the CIS, and Australia.

At the same time, 68% of the world's population is already using mobile devices, and this figure is growing every year. Following this global trend, the technology sector develops dozens of applications for various purposes every day, including mobile solutions for engineers. This process is fueled by the active development of neural networks and artificial intelligence, as well as technologies based on virtual and augmented reality.

It is logical that vendors do not want to be left behind in this process. We are increasingly seeing hybrid cross-platform solutions that combine a classic application for an operating system (for Windows, Mac OS, or Android), as well as internet services that serve this solution or duplicate it online. There is a shift in emphasis from offline to online solutions (for example, the transition to online subscriptions instead of traditional software sales).

Such global transformations stimulate the development of not only the software but also the hardware sector. Services are emerging that provide software developers with ready-made solutions for creating various marketplaces, online stores, and platforms for online trading, and information exchange. A separate technological niche related to e-commerce, cryptocurrencies, is also developing rapidly.

Companies targeting an engineering audience are also involved in this process. For example, Autodesk has its own online store, the Autodesk App Store, which offers various applications and add-ons (modules, plug-ins, extensions) for Autodesk software. Some of these applications are free, while others are distributed on a paid basis. In the world's largest online markets (Google Play, Apple Store), you will also find hundreds of engineering applications adapted for different types of devices.

For engineers looking for reliable and proven solutions for their work, we recommend our specialized resource, the Dystlab Store. This is a specialized marketplace with technical report templates, project examples, and other materials for everyday use. All digital solutions offered here operate in the free TechEditor environment and are available to you every day.

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Vitalii Artomov

Dystlab (CEO & Co-founder), ex-associate professor of the Bridges Department (DNURT), TechEditor developer, PhD.

Ready to advise and help you in your work or business:

  • +380504576819 (WhatsApp)
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