S T R U C T U R A L   E N G I N E E R I N G   S O F T W A R E

Over a 30 year period, DCALC Software was written by myself as a design aid for structural engineers. Practically all the programs were developed to automate the design of structures I designed during my career: bridges, buildings, parking structures, walls, tanks...even wooden buildings. The objective of DCALC has been simple: To produce calculations that an engineer can check (as opposed to "black box" results). Over the years, I have heard much advise - and praise - from structural engineers who use the program. I would like to thank all the engineers who have used DCALC, especially those of you who offered improvements. 

Unfortunately, as a one-man-operation, the time has come to begin winding down the business operation. For existing customers, DCALC has been converted to a perpetual license that will run as long as it is maintained. If your firm is a licensed DCALC user, you can contact support@designcalcs.com  and request instructions for downloading a perpetual version of DCALC. In addition, instructions for installing DCALC on a "virtual machine" using Oracle's VirtualBox will be provided (In effect, a virtual machine is a simulated computer within a host operating system. A virtual machine setup provides a permanent solution for running proven legacy applications on future Windows operating systems.)

- Karl Hanson, SE, PE
August 2021 

(The below text is from the original webpage)

Design codes have become so complex that preparing structural calculations can be a very difficult task. Gone are the days of doing calculations entirely by hand. These days, most structural engineers prepare calculations by a difficult juggling act using "black box" type design software supplemented by spreadsheets and hand calcs.

Today's structural engineers need to have a balanced understanding of both engineering software and engineering theory.

There is an emerging need for engineers to automate their calculations in a systematic way, providing output that is accessible for good comprehension. What structural engineers really need is an application that asks them questions and produces output similar to hand calculations. Something that is readable with graphics and is easy to use and learn. Ideally, we need a method that is logical, geared toward production and comprehension.

DCALC (*) was written to provide structural engineers with derivable results, allowing engineers the means to check, modify and understand automated calculations.

DCALC ("DesignCALCs") software was written by a practicing structural engineer as a way to automate tedious calculations. Years in development since the late 1980's, DCALC has grown to address the relevant calculations that structural engineers need. Each calculation has a project behind it, and typically have been used on many projects. Now available for Windows, DCALC  is a package of everday "hamburger" programs for getting your calculations finished and checked on time.

DCALC has the following new and unique features:

• DCALC software produces calculations which you can check. You can read the calculations complete with sketches and understand where the numbers come from, with fully documented code reference.
• DCALC uses an integrated design approach. At the option of the designer, new calculations can read a database built of previous calculation results, thereby reducing input errors.
• DCALC is easy to use. All DCALC programs have a consistent appearance and graphical interface. With DCALC, you can get your team off the ground and running, producing results in an organized fashion.
• DCALC produces CAD drawings via DesignCAD, a powerful and inexpensive CAD package. DesignCAD drawings are compatible with other CAD packages, utilizing DWG and DXF formats. You will get a big head start with complex details, drawn to scale, automatically generated by your calculations. 
• DCALC has flexible input. You can choose whether or not to use certain analysis results. You are not necessarily confined to using only DCALC results, but can provide input from other programs as well.
• DCALC does LRFD Bridge Design. Bridge design programs are able to design either way - Standard Spec Service Load, Load Factor Design or the new LRFD Design Method. You can easily compare results between the old Standard Specification methods and the new LRFD method.
• DCALC explores interesting topics. We try to cover interesting topics, like structural dynamics and seismic design, in a straight forward ways, intended for practicing engineers. Our online manual is a perpetual document that we continuously edit and expand. Check out the following:

  • "How Engineering Software Has Changed The Way We Work"
  • "Transitioning to LRFD Bridge Design Using DCALC"
  • "Fundamental Methods Used In Structural Dynamics"
  • "Solving Structural Dynamic Problems Using DCALC"
  • "Settlement Computations Using DCALC"
  • "Pile Design Using DCALC"
  • "Adapting Graphical Coulomb Methods to Numerical Solutions"
  • "Solving Laplace Equation Problems Using DCALC"
  • "Computing Continuity Diaphragm Moments Using DCALC"
  • "Solving Geometry Problems Using DCALC"
  • "Non-Linear Structural Analysis Using DCALC"
  • "How to Install DCALC on VirtualBox"

Click here to play animated demo (5 minutes)

For history buffs: What can structural engineers learn from the Revolutionary War?