A professional web-based structural engineering tool to design and compare wood beam options with clear controlling checks and visual diagrams. The MVP focuses on a fast, correct, and extendable foundation to support future expansion (I-joists, span tables, advanced combinations, PDF reports, etc.).
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Provide a professional, fast, and consistent tool for designing and comparing wood beam options with clear PASS/FAIL results, utilization ratios, and visual diagrams.
Licensed structural engineers (residential + light commercial) and design teams needing quick comparisons and consistent calculation outputs.
The MVP is designed to be advanced enough for real use, while still realistic for a two-week delivery. It includes the requested charts/diagrams (moment, shear, deflection) in MVP.
| Module | What’s Included in MVP (14 Days) | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Beam Analyzer (Core) | Simply-supported beams. Load types: uniform (required), point load (included). Outputs: reactions, Mmax, Vmax, Δmax, and controlling check with utilization %. | Included |
| Charts / Diagrams | Discretized diagrams (plots) for: bending moment, shear, and deflection. Load diagram preview included for verification. | Included |
| Material Comparison | Side-by-side comparison cards (up to 3 selections) showing PASS/FAIL and utilization. Materials: LVL (SPF/SP1/SP2 presets) + dimensional lumber presets. | Included |
| Ply Count (1–4) | Engineer selects ply count. App computes combined width and section properties (A, I, S, Q). | Included |
| Deflection Criteria | Presets: L/240, L/360, L/480 + custom. Optional separate live-load deflection check (if DL/LL used). | Included |
| Load Templates Library | 6–10 templates for common scenarios (floor beam, roof beam, header, etc.) that prefill loads & settings. | Included |
| Project Save/Load | Save projects with name + description. Duplicate project and adjust quickly. (Storage via DB if backend enabled; otherwise local storage fallback.) | Included |
| User Accounts | Lightweight authentication for multi-device access (email/password). Role: standard user (admin later). | Optional* |
| Bearing Check | Basic bearing check (compression ⟂ grain). Input: reaction, bearing length, width → stress vs Fc⊥ allowable. | Optional* |
Phase 2 extends the MVP into a full production-grade platform with advanced materials, code factors, and additional modules.
| Phase 2 Feature | Description | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced Load Builder | Partial uniform, triangular, trapezoidal, multiple loads per case, draggable visual UI. | Phase 2 |
| ASD/LRFD Full Combination Engine | Full set of ASCE 7 combinations with governing combo identification per effect (M, V, Δ). | Phase 2 |
| I-Joists Support | Manufacturer series models (BCI/TJI/…): supports EI, M/V limits, and series tables rather than generic Fb/Fv. | Phase 2 |
| Joist/Rafter Span Tables | Preloaded span datasets (species/grade/spacing/loads/deflection). Filter + export. | Phase 2 |
| More Beam Types | Cantilever, continuous (2-span), internal supports, overhangs, etc. | Phase 2 |
| Reporting | PDF report with inputs, assumptions, results, diagrams, project stamp fields. | Phase 2 |
| Admin + Team Workspaces | Company org accounts, team libraries, shared templates, permissions. | Phase 2 |
Keep the calculation engine modular and separated from UI. This allows future expansion (steel, columns, footings) without refactoring the entire app.
The MVP stores user projects and material presets. Loads and results can be stored as JSON for flexibility.
I-joists are often best modeled with manufacturer series tables (EI, M/V limits) rather than generic Fb/Fv. This is why they are planned for Phase 2.
The engine computes internal forces/deflection using closed-form formulas and superposition, then evaluates checks and selects the controlling condition.
The controlling check is the maximum utilization across bending, shear (if enabled), and deflection. This is shown prominently in UI.
Clean, light UI focused on speed, clarity, and minimizing input mistakes.
The MVP can run fully client-side for calculations, while backend stores projects and materials.
| Endpoint | Method | Description |
|---|---|---|
| /api/auth/register | POST | Create user account |
| /api/auth/login | POST | Login and return JWT |
| /api/projects | GET/POST | List projects / Create project |
| /api/projects/:id | GET/PUT/DELETE | Read / Update / Delete project |
| /api/materials | GET/POST | List materials / Create custom material |
| /api/calc/beam | POST | Server-side validation and analysis (optional; frontend can compute too) |
A practical, milestone-based plan to deliver MVP fast with test coverage and engineering verification.
| Days | Milestone | Output |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1–2 | Project setup, UI skeleton, core models (loads/material/section), unit conversion layer | Repo ready |
| Day 3–5 | Beam formulas + superposition (uniform + point), baseline results, data arrays for diagrams | Engine v1 |
| Day 6–7 | Results UI + diagrams (moment/shear/deflection/load) + controlling check | Analyzer UI |
| Day 8–9 | Materials presets (LVL + lumber) + ply count + side-by-side comparison cards | Comparison |
| Day 10 | Load templates library + “copy summary” + responsive polish | Templates |
| Day 11–12 | Project save/load (DB or local storage), optional authentication | Persistence |
| Day 13 | Testing, verification examples, bug fixes, performance | QA pass |
| Day 14 | Deployment, documentation, handoff | Go-live |
Prepared for: [Takla Engineering] • Prepared by: [Eng. Khamis] • Date: [1-8-2026]