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Design codes in Struxt3D

Compare the six design code families Struxt3D supports — Eurocode, AISC/ACI, KDS, CSA, AS/NZS and NSCP 2015 — and see what each applies to loads, seismic and member design.

Struxt3D designs to six code families. One choice — Materials › Design code — sets the load combinations, live loads, wind basis, seismic spectrum, material grades, section catalogue and the member, slab, wall, footing and connection checks. Switch it at any time; the model keeps its geometry and switches to grades and sections that exist in the new code.

The six code families at a glance

CodeGravity combinationWind basisSeismic spectrumSteel / concreteDefault grades
Eurocode1.35D + 1.5L10-min mean, 26 m/sEN 1998-1 Type 1: ag, ground type, qEN 1993-1-1 / EN 1992-1-1S355, C30/37, B500
AISC / ACI1.2D + 1.6L3-s gust, 50 m/sASCE 7: SDS, SD1, RAISC 360-22 / ACI 318-19A992, f′c 35 MPa, Grade 60
KDS1.2D + 1.6L10-min mean, 28 m/sKDS 41 17: SDS, SD1, RKDS 14 31 10 / KDS 14 20SM355, fck 27 MPa, SD400
CSA1.25D + 1.5LMean speed, 25 m/sNBCC: S(0.2), S(1.0), RdRoCSA S16-19 / CSA A23.3-19350W, f′c 35 MPa, 400 MPa
AS/NZS1.2D + 1.5L3-s gust, 45 m/skpZ, sub-soil class, μ/SpAS 4100:2020 / AS 3600-2018Grade 300, N32, D500N
NSCP 20151.2D + 1.6L3-s gust, 69 m/sSection 208: zone, soil, Na, Nv, RAISC 360 / ACI 318 (as adopted)A992, f′c 28 MPa, Grade 60

Every code also gets the characteristic D + L service combination for deflections (span/250 by default), and the X and Y seismic results are always combined as ±(EX + 0.3EY) and ±(0.3EX + EY). Timber members use EN 1995-1-1 rules with each code's own glulam strengths.

Code tutorials

Design codesDesign to EurocodeHow Struxt3D applies the Eurocodes: EN 1990 combinations, EN 1991 loads, the EN 1998 spectrum and EN 1992, 1993 and 1995 member checks, with a worked example.Intermediate14 minDesign codesDesign to AISC / ACIHow Struxt3D designs to US codes: ASCE 7-22 LRFD combinations and spectrum, AISC 360-22 steel and ACI 318-19 concrete checks, with a worked example.Intermediate14 minDesign codesDesign to KDSHow Struxt3D applies the Korean Design Standards: KDS 41 load combinations, live loads, wind and the KDS 41 17 spectrum, with KDS 14 steel and concrete checks.Intermediate13 minDesign codesDesign to CSAHow Struxt3D designs to Canadian codes: NBCC 2020 load combinations and seismic RdRo, CSA S16-19 steel and CSA A23.3-19 concrete checks, with a worked example.Intermediate13 minDesign codesDesign to AS/NZSHow Struxt3D designs to Australian and New Zealand standards: AS/NZS 1170 combinations, wind and earthquake inputs, AS 4100 steel and AS 3600 concrete checks.Intermediate13 minDesign codesDesign to NSCP 2015How Struxt3D designs to the National Structural Code of the Philippines 2015: 203.3.1 combinations, Section 207 wind, the Section 208 zone spectrum, ACI and AISC checks.Intermediate15 min

How to pick the code

  • Use the code your building authority requires. Struxt3D's grades, sections and live loads follow the code, so the model looks like a local design.
  • Philippines: pick NSCP 2015, not AISC / ACI. The member checks are the same engines, but the combinations (f1, H), wind map, R values and the Section 208 spectrum are NSCP's own.
  • New Zealand: AS/NZS covers the shared 1170 loading parts, but members are checked to the Australian AS 4100 and AS 3600, not NZS 3404 or NZS 3101.
  • Learning or comparing: run the same template under two codes and compare utilizations. The load combinations tutorial explains why the answers differ.

What is simplified

Struxt3D aims at quick, sound first answers. Each code family uses one set of rules with the values quoted from the code, but:

  • Recommended values only. National Annexes and local amendments can change factors, wind and seismic parameters.
  • Not every load is generated. Snow, roof live, rain, thermal and accidental loads must be added by hand.
  • Wind uses one open-terrain profile and simple wall coefficients (0.8 windward, 0.5 leeward); terrain, topography, direction and internal pressure are not applied.
  • Seismic importance factors are 1.0, the vertical component is not included, and the response spectrum is not scaled to the static base shear.
  • Ductile detailing for special moment frames and walls is not checked; strength checks are.

Read accuracy and limitations for the analysis assumptions, and materials and sections for how to change the code in the app.