Integration of Excel VBA with professional software for the structural analysis and design of civil structures

Abstract

A feasible combined approach between structural analysis program (SAP) 2000 and Excel software is proposed in this article to develop customized numerical tools for the analysis of civil engineering structures. For such scope, the Open Application Programming Interface from SAP 2000 software is linked to the Visual Basic for Application (VBA) environment embedded within Excel. Three computer applications resembling industrial situations related to size optimization of trusses, soil−structure interaction in buildings, and automatic design of reinforced concrete slabs are presented. As the tools are parameterized, students can observe the effects of the various parameters on the output response of the structures because geometry, loading, and material properties can be easily varied. As the main concern is the educational aspect, the novelty of this research is to present the proposed combined approach in a stepwise manner with explained codes. The source codes of the developed tools are made freely available so that the applicants can modify them according to their priorities. The tools present a friendly user interface that made them attractive to use in daily design tasks at the office, but certainly, they are the result of the integration of student knowledge as part of a bachelor's dissertation in an undergraduate civil engineering educational program. The tools have been preliminarily introduced into a reinforced concrete course at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil), searching for a better understanding of theoretical concepts, while integrating technology into the classroom and reducing time constraints as new configurations for the studied structures can be easily explored during class.