The Best Free Software For Civil Structural Engineering Hand Calculations (Mathcad Tutorial)

[@zachnemec9421]

I used MathCAD some in school, but switched back to Excel. I didn't know MathCAD had a free version. I'll have to check it out again and maybe re-write some of my simpler calculations. What's really nice about MathCAD is I can come back to it in 4 months (maybe the next time I'm doing seismic on Non-structural components) and can follow exactly what the calculations are doing without having to re-learn the sheets. With Excel, I usually have to spend some time re-verifying the sheet (since all the formulas are hidden and difficult to follow). Thanks for the information and keep up the KZbin content!

[@MatPicardal]

Glad I could help!

[@haruichigo1703]

I watched all your videos in one day, Thank you soo much for letting me get an insight of the structural engineering industry. I'm graduating next year and always felt like there's a gap between Uni and the real world. I'm getting the skyscraper book that you recommended as well as this software to further prepare myself, thanks alot Mat and I will stay tuned for your future videos. Keep it up! :D

[@MatPicardal]

You're welcome, glad I can help!

[@SamJ-kw1xk]

What is the name of that book?

[@juhiimi05]

Hey Mat! Im a structural engineer from Romania, and your videos help me a lot. I just wanted to say thanks! Kepp it up! 😀

[@cristi01234]

Hey man, i’ve been looking for such a channel for some time, im glad i found it. Keep up the good work!

[@MatPicardal]

Thanks for the support Covrig, I appreciate it!

[@hurforddj]

Used this over fifteen years ago for all my calc’s, even the software programs like Roarks stress and strain formulas straight from the book. It was a lot of 720k discs, even electrical engineering.

[@MatPicardal]

It's great, a lot of engineers don't know it exists or think you have to pay for it.

[@2011civ268]

I'm a Structural Engineer working in ARUP. I came across your videos once and since then, I've been following your videos. It's really nice. Keep it up & continue uploading new stuff for sharing.

[@MatPicardal]

Thanks Faraz, feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn. www.linkedin.com/in/matpicardal/

[@mikexbox1]

Hey Mat! I have been binge watching your videos and you are by far the most useful channel for structural engineering! Absolutely love your content, it is beyond useful! I want to be ahead of the game and really understand what is involved and your videos are golden. Keep up the amazing work and thank you!!

[@MatPicardal]

Thanks Fujiwara, I appreciate the support! Glad it's helping!

[@ct-si8nk]

Have you tried Smath? It’s like the full mathcad version, but for free. And works with mathcad files.

[@denfl6605]

I've been using it for about 4 years! It is so much better than excel. I started creating my mathcad calc sheets back in school when did homeworks and then I reused them at work. It is so easy to modify to what is needed for the actual problem. More importantly, there is no black box feeling in MathCad in contrast to Excel. There is usually no way to see and understand what happens inside of those cells in Excel after you print the report. You have a much better feel for the behavior of the structure when you actually see formulas... And finally, there are no worries about using different units! MathCad will take care of all conversions! And btw, I did graphs in a free version, too.

[@MatPicardal]

Right!?

[@junningkang7967]

hey mat, I’m a student in china, majored in civil engineering. Your videos helped me a lot, thank you.

[@LTTang]

I’ve used Excel over 25 years. This would be more labor intensive for since I’ll have to rewrite all of my excel programs. This would be great for a new engineer.

[@MatPicardal]

Excel is still great, mathcad is just another tool in the toolbelt, great to integrate both also (some excel stuff can be imported into mathcad also, I haven't tried this though).

[@twigsfloat2773]

Thank you so much for your video series. You're killing it. So helpful, so needed.

[@gtdamro2409]

Hey Mat! i know its almost been a year on this video but just wanted to say thanks a lot for the information you're giving out! i myself am a student in my 4th year and graduating soon, all the tips you have given in this video and your other videos are amazing. God bless you

[@MatPicardal]

Thanks so much for the kind words, they mean a lot!

[@civilengineeringmoretutori3974]

Thanks a lot for this video ! I really didn't know about PTC Mathcad till i saw your video so it really helped . please keep making helpful videos like these .

[@kasper9016]

Damn I didn’t know there is a free version of mathcad!

[@MatPicardal]

MathCad Express for the win!

[@balaportejean7015]

God bless you bro. Only your videos are practical

[@MatPicardal]

You too!

[@luisamariareyes6795]

Hey! I just found your channel, and I think that is pretty awesome! Thanks! Subscribe! I'm from Colombia, and I studying in Civil engineering. Don't stop doing this, please. I feel more confident.

[@MatPicardal]

Thanks for the support! Will do!

[@brendanwood1540]

They hated me for it and told me that they expected me to write it by hand the the tiny boxes on the photocopied sheet they had created. Even after I told them that I was disabled and tried to type all my notes to reduce the book weight in my backpack. They told me that any employer would expect me to do it the way they were used to doing it. Of course I know this teacher was a bully and wrong; but just so everyone is aware that teachers are not always good teachers. They should love you for it and encourage the extra effort and attention to consistent quality. People like that will point out your smallest error and never give you any praise for all of your exceptional qualities. Just don't let that bring you down and fall short of finishing school; it happened to me. But trust me, you will feel better if you just get past that person in life and find a better environment in the job you are happy with surrounded with the people who want the best for you.

[@thornados4969]

MathCad is nice for showing the calculation details. Have you explored the macro and VBA in excel for repetitive calculation in concise form? Excel can also import values from software calculated results for developing non-standard design.

[@MatPicardal]

I haven't, I just use Mathcad for clarity and when I need to show my work clearly and backchecking spreadsheets, it's good for newer engineers to digest. For really repetitive calculations, yes, I use Excel worksheets with macros, etc.

[@iecivil]

I had a lot of pain making spreadsheet and then typing the equations that are used in the formula.. Now with this tool it seem like it'll be an easy task

[@MatPicardal]

Awesome!

[@aneesraja8739]

Hi Mat thank you very useful information. I am fed up doing report in excel. I will try this one

[@MatPicardal]

Glad I could help!

[@rubio0100]

This is awesome! I hate working on excel spreadsheets. This software seems a great tool to replace some calcs made in excel. Thanks!

[@MatPicardal]

Awesome, glad I could help Jorge!

[@29Gleisson]

Hi there, New to your channel, but will ensure to watch all your videos! Thanks

[@jr3474]

Great Channel! Congratulations

[@MatPicardal]

Thanks JR!

[@nabindahal8043]

Great job Mat! Your videos are really helpful.

[@reamv]

Hi from México, I started to follow you a few day and I use MathCad for all my design.

[@MatPicardal]

Thanks for your support! Mathcad is a great tool

[@vaca493]

Bro, cuando haces diseños de casas habitación a base de muros de mampostería, haces los cálculos a mano, o haces un modelo en etabs, por ejemplo

[@reamv]

@@vaca493 hola, si hago un modelo del cuál obtengo las fuerzas internas pero no diseño, eso lo hago aparte pero uso MathCad.

[@leontheik669]

thank you so much, just downloaded it. and will try it...:) Have a wonderful day!

[@MrRight0930]

awesome video, i've been trying to get something like this for a long time!

[@MatPicardal]

Thanks

[@dkir3829]

Really appreciate you videos. Thanks for bringing back the human touch and the fun factor to our work! Keep up the good work :-)

[@MatPicardal]

Thanks so much!

[@kennethprangan9551]

Thanks for this! Now I can easily express my calculations

[@MatPicardal]

Glad it helped!

[@BadStructuralEngineeringFirms]

Thanks for that tip, Mat. Even experienced people like myself could learn some new tricks.

[@mostafaelhussaini8359]

Hi Mat, would you please consider making a video about the requirements required to be qualified engineer at the US

[@zytsang]

Hi Mat, nice suggestion for a free tool! In the future, will you consider doing some videos introducing some day-to-day engineering practice in your region (North America)? Would really like to learn how the business is carrying out on the other parts of the world. BTW I am a practicing structural engineer in Hong Kong.

[@MatPicardal]

Hi Yu, I plan on doing a video where I explain the tasks I'm actually doing day to day and get into more details.

[@vitorlethierleite6486]

Try Smath Studio, another option!

[@prathap3077]

Thanks for the video That's a crazy software I like it😍😍..

[@MatPicardal]

Thanks Prathap!

[@shaanchutoori]

Hello how do you prepare a calculation sheet like yours with the company name and project description etc

[@anandp7999]

Thank you! Great work!

[@AG80567]

Using it since 2009 😊.. nice tool

[@arunsaini2082]

Hlo mat i need help regarding structral

[@md.bazlurrahman9701]

Mathew, I hope you are doing well. Can I get the Sample calculation of the Mathcad file for Seismic demand on nonstructural components?

[@sejlavaljevac19]

Wooowww this is amazing thank you!

[@sejlavaljevac19]

I have a question for you. I am currently a junior studying civil and I am super interested in structural design. I have been a field engineer intern for 9 months on a bridge. It’s a 1900 ft long ramp with 13 spans and 3 straddle bents with post tensioning!!! It has been awesome to see and I was considering staying in construction for a couple years. I am a very visual learner and big picture is important for me so being exposed to all the plan sheets and designs (there is so many!) has been helpful. My question is do you think it would be valuable to do more field engineering or would I be better off going into design and learning that world? My concern would be starting my design career too late, 24 or 25? And not getting my masters payed for

[@MatPicardal]

No problem 😊

[@MatPicardal]

Sejla, in the U.S., it's easy to start in construction engineering for a year or two, but any more, then it becomes harder to get into structural engineering, because you will be very rusty on your structural engineering. But filed experience is a plus that not many new structural engineers have. If you start off in structural engineering, it's usually easier to transition into construction later on. Note in the U.S. from my experience, field/construction engineers typically get paid more than structural engineers, something to think about when switching industries. Best of luck!

[@hazimalwaali9507]

Thanks for the video. And for your attitude.

[@MatPicardal]

You're welcome!

[@gabrielbobmarley]

Hi Mat..Are you planning on doing some technical videos? Like showing some calcs? or softwares like Autodesk Robot? Greetings from Australia

[@MatPicardal]

Yes, eventually, how we actually design them in the real world.

[@chimbzkee]

Thank you so much sir mat.. greetings from philippines..

[@MatPicardal]

Hi Ralph, thanks for your support.

[@paolohernandez4163]

Thanks for the video, Mat! What would you consider other important software that aspiring structural engineering students should have familiarity with before going into the industry?

[@MatPicardal]

Hi Paolo, good to hear from you again! Popular engineering softwares that take some time to learn are ETABS, RISA, RAM Concept (or ADAPT for complex slab analysis), and RAM Structural System. There are others that you will end up using, but are fairly easy to learn, like Enercalc, and anchorage software (Simpson Strong-Tie, Hilti). Other software that you will end up using A LOT if you work for a structural design firm include Bluebeam Revu (Acrobat on steriods) and Revit. These will help you communicate and coordinate your designs with EVERYONE, which you will also be doing a lot.

[@charliegeorgeherrera4837]

Very helpful! Thanks

[@kvc2334]

Hi! Can you pls tell us how to read or take off materials based on structural drawing

[@aibalelomolefe6816]

I just discovered this channel and it is so helpful. Are there any other channels as helpful as this for pavement, geometric, water reticulation, wastewater and Geotechnical design? Anyone to recommend some

[@DavidSchmith7]

Thank you for the very clear explanation. Could you illustrate evaluation of some complicated formuli?

[@medwethekkhochteli4199]

Good day Sir, because i'm a design engineer working on the design of reinforced concrete with glass fiber reinforced polymer and as you know we still don't have a software that make such calculation and design with "ACI440" and "CAN-CSA s806", is it possible to program the formulas of these codes to design beams, slabs and decks... ?

[@wentaofeng5548]

Mat I need ur help!!! I have been using mathcad for a while but suffering from a unit issue!!! Since the mathcad requires you an unit in order to continue the calculation, what to do if a coefficient with no unit is needed?

[@MatPicardal]

Wentao, for those, I just make all the variables unitless. To show the unit, I add a text box right next to it that shows the "dummy" unit. x:=250 kips

[@Ngbbank]

Please make more this kind of videos!

[@MatPicardal]

Thanks for your support, will do!

[@danapatelzick594]

What are the limitations? Can you solve equations given a guess of the values? Older versions that were pre Pro Engineer could solve such problems.

[@moonn6284]

Thank you engr. Mat picardal.

[@MatPicardal]

You're welcome

[@swamy084]

can u suggest best RCC book based on aci code (si units)?

[@vitukoconnection9935]

If you move to a new page or calculation, do the previous variables affect the new calculations?

[@kamleshkailasjoshi2620]

Thanks for the video

[@TobiasHJohansen]

I don't know if it's from a more recent version of MathCad or mabye the pro version, but mine makes subscript when I type a . (dot). Just thought I'd share that since it's way faster than Ctrl+-

[@yifeiproducer]

The free version has a big watermark after 30 days that cannot be removed across the page

[@138darkslayer]

What different things does it offer from a standard spreadsheet programs like MS excel?

[@MatPicardal]

Main difference is you can see the calculations, similar to someone doing hand calcs. Both mathcad and excel have their place and uses for my workflow.

[@somber_soul]

Unit handling is a big thing. Mathcad and similar software handle units internally.

[@amarrch100]

As per the license agreement of the free version of mathcad can we produce design calculations that at the end of the day will be used for earning consultancy fees?

[@novag]

How do you made the Header?

[@MatPicardal]

I imported images into the header section, kinda tedious but only needed to do it once

[@novag]

@@MatPicardal Can you do an example?... Greetings from Dominican Republic

[@civilengineeringmoretutori3974]

Sir, how can I save my mathcad file as a pdf file ?

[@buddyryeSE]

I'd be curious how you were able to get Mathcad for free. I've had no such luck. I was using Mathcad extensively back in 2005 when I was working for a structural firm in Portland, OR. However, it's never been free in my experience. Please share how you did it! :)

[@kamleshkailasjoshi2620]

Dear sir, where it can be used in civil

[@pc277sajjad]

Hi, please share few sample worksheets related to beams colums footing design's etc.

[@MatPicardal]

Planning to do some technical videos where I do some calcs, maybe I can share my worksheets.

[@trmpereira]

Could you share a version of this file? With that template header :) ty

[@mustafac.celebi3082]

Hey Mat, do you think the most effective way to automate calculation is writing code or using programs like Excel, Mathcad ?

[@MatPicardal]

Coding is the most powerful and also the most time consuming because you need to know coding. But for most structural engineers, Excel and Mathcad are simple and effective enough to start using right away without learning to code.

[@morningstariam103]

Do a video on softwares for civil site engineers to progress as a structural engineer...plz

[@MatPicardal]

What software are you interested in? Or softwares in general?

[@rabinsonrai2905]

@@MatPicardal software in general

[@morningstariam103]

@@MatPicardal yes softwares in general please

[@michaelacheampong2869]

Do mean a comparison of the softwares like Prota ,EtABS ,Staad etc..?

[@mr.molross8794]

Insightful

[@Tycket]

This is a pretty dope program, can we get a part 2?

[@Tycket]

Plot contains basics of graphing in MathCAD, that aren't too many good tutorials out right now.

[@11itech11]

what do you think about maple against mathcad_ i really like mathcad but i guess i'll buy maple instead.

[@myomintun6594]

Thank you bro

[@MatPicardal]

You're welcome!

[@saosamon]

spread sheet wrap those in one page.

[@directionwes3711]

My school actually has half of a class dedicated to MathCAD.

[@MatPicardal]

That's cool!

[@mrengineer4629]

Nice one. I have MathCAD 4.0. Are there any significant changes to the 5.0 version?

[@MatPicardal]

Not much as far as I could tell, especially if you're just using the free version.

[@ArevaloJim]

I have a watermark that’s goes across the page . Can you remove that ?

[@tmrevolution7762]

Wow this software is real good! Thank you sir! Hey I wonder if something like f’c / fy can also be treated as variable? Or I can define them in the software? God bless!!! : )

[@MatPicardal]

Thank you, yes, just assign it to a variable. For example, x=f'c/fy

[@tmrevolution7762]

Mat Picardal thanks mat ! Btw I am pretty sure I’ve met you and talked in person before, probably the seaocs job fair and scholarship day! : ) can I connect you through LinkedIn as well?

[@Hitngan]

Nice one

[@hpfbr2000]

MathCad is not free, you have to pay for it in professional work. But SMath Studio is free and is very similar to MathCad.

[@MatPicardal]

Haven't heard of SMath Studio, thanks for sharing! MathCad Prime is not free, but MathCad Express is according to some users who called PTC to verify if they could use MathCad Express for commercial use: www.reddit.com/r/civilengineering/comments/6jb1xk/mathcad_express_vs_smath_studio/

[@kevinelbury2406]

Thanks for heads up on smath. Android version as well! Some powerful features under the hood if interested in developing extensions etc

[@BayakGLuok]

How can i get math cad application

[@ameylokhande219]

Please dude make video on bridge design software.

[@MatPicardal]

I don't have much experience designing bridges, mostly buildings...but maybe I could talk to some of my bridge engineering colleagues.

[@jovanspasic2779]

If you don't like it, hit the subscribe button anyway so you can dislike more of my videos! xD

[@vishalpatil-oy1qk]

Hey, can u tell me what are the monthly expenses in us

[@mujiburrahmankhan1577]

What about ETABS and StaaD Pro???

[@arthurantonakis3319]

Does it work with metric units?

[@MatPicardal]

Yes.

[@NTC]

You should also check out SmathStudio, I think it's better.

[@MatPicardal]

Recently heard about it from you guys, thanks for sharing!

[@kabayanhustler]

Why is it better? Are there any advantages compared to Mathcad?

[@NTC]

@@kabayanhustler SmathStudio is free, while MathCad is not. And both are almost the same in terms of functionalities.

[@HayatTeleHealth]

In india, Genrally when you starting out you either focus on desing of concrete structures for couple of years and then transition to steel design. Engineers from US seem to design both steel and concrete right out of College(or year out of College). How do they do?, considering the depth of knowledge you are required to have to design a single element, for example Desing of steel plate in the case of steel structures.

[@MatPicardal]

Hi Abdulrazaq, we initially try to simplify a structure as much as engineering judgement allows us. For a simple structure or structural element, if we can do it with hand calculations quickly, we will do that instead of a computer analysis/finite element model. For complex, time-consuming structures, we will use software to help us do the calculations. Most firms also have designed similar structures before, so they already have an idea what the design is going to be, this helps quality control/backcheck new engineers designing things for the first time. For example, for a design of a steel plate, a firm may have already done the calculations for the typical plates they do and might have already created a design table for it (e.g. 2 kip load = 1/4" thick plate, 10 kip load = 1/2" thick plate). The new engineer would be given time to learn and understand the calculations, and then design it, and then backcheck it herself with previous designs.

[@HayatTeleHealth]

@@MatPicardal Thanks Matt, you are really delivering amazing content here. Keep 'em coming.

[@MRTIJUANAPS3]

Why don't you try SMath Studio? It's a free MathCad and its very good

[@MatPicardal]

Heard that's good also. MathCad has a free version (Prime?) that's available and that I'm using.

[@hariharanhacks2654]

Make a video in excel how to calculate also

[@Civilsitis]

cooooooool

[@MatPicardal]

super cool!

[@AvinashSingh-ti2gz]

Sir please teach us MSP & Primavera on KZbin and stadpro.

[@manishtevatiya4094]

Hii sir. What is the average income of a structural engineer...

[@MatPicardal]

Most earn between $70k-$95k in the U.S.

[@playfun8427]

600$ in Cambodia

[@sudarshanbhattarai6472]

Where do u live

[@MatPicardal]

Around Irvine, CA, USA.

[@rhovhiekytbince4486]

great sir! you are Pinoy sir?

[@MatPicardal]

Yes! Born in the Phillipines and raised in the U.S.

[@kashifbangash6039]

PLZ notes for structural engineering

[@jakegoldcoasta]

Is the company still going? they haven't gotten back to my emails

[@nikmohamedzaki6565]

Are u from Malaysia?

[@MatPicardal]

From the U.S., Filipino.

[@eissenloiscuyos170]

Are u a filipino? Just asking

[@MatPicardal]

Yes!

[@kebzkebz6437]

Mat Picardal Sir, nakakapag tagalog ba kayo?

[@_alex07_]

I think he is a filipino in blood? Or else, Sir. Mat Picardal can speak tagalog also. Anyway great video. Thank you, Sir. Mat Picardal!

[@abduseid8141]

Stracteral enginer chapter one