A deep dive into everything StruxDraft can do — from 12 structural member types and three code engines to beta AutoFrame, customizable material databases, and professional markup tools.
12 structural member types covering wood-frame, steel, concrete, and geotechnical construction. Each element type can be drawn directly on the plan and receives real-time code checks.
| Element | Placement | Materials | Key Properties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beam | Drag-to-create line | DIM, GLB, LVL, PSL | Size, span, overhang L/R, multi-span (1–2), roof slope, partial-span loads, point loads |
| Joist | Rectangular or polygon region | DIM, LVL, TJI | Size, spacing (12/16/19.2/24″), custom angle, overhang, multi-span, tributary width |
| Header | Drag-to-create line | DIM, GLB, LVL | Size, span, trimmer stud (size + qty), king stud (size + qty) |
| Column | Click to place | DIM, GLB, LVL, PSL | Size, height, stack type, tributary area, auto-place at beam ends |
| Load-Bearing Wall | Drag-to-create line | DIM (studs) | Stud size (2×4/2×6), spacing, wall height, stack type |
| Spot Footing | Click to place | Concrete | Width × Length × Thickness, f'c, fy, rebar X & Y, bar size #3–#11 |
| Continuous Footing | Drag-to-create line | Concrete | Width, thickness, f'c, q_allow, wall thickness on footing |
| Pier | Click to place | Concrete | Square/round, width, depth, height, f'c, rebar, ties, k-factor |
| Foundation Wall | Drag-to-create line | CMU, Concrete, ICF | Type, thickness, height, backfill height, soil density, f'm |
| Steel Beam | Drag-to-create line | W-Shapes, HSS | AISC section, grade (A992, A500 Gr. B/C, A36), multi-span, overhangs, partial loads, point loads, Cb lateral bracing, LRFD & ASD |
| Steel Column | Click to place | W-Shapes, HSS | AISC section, height, K-factor, Euler buckling (Fe), AISC 360 axial compression, auto-place at steel beam endpoints, rotatable cross-section |
| Retaining Wall | Click to place | Concrete (cast-in-place) | Stem height & taper, toe/heel length, base thickness, shear key, backfill slope (β), surcharge, passive pressure, stem/toe/heel rebar, ACI 318-19 strength & ASD stability |
| Anchor Bolt | Click to place | Steel | Diameter (3/8″–1″), length, spacing, embedment depth |
13 annotation and measurement tools for communicating your design intent, verifying dimensions, and marking up plans like a pro.
Straight lines and directional arrows with adjustable stroke width and color. Use arrows to highlight load paths, call out specific conditions, or indicate force directions.
Freehand drawing on the canvas — sketch quick notes, circle problem areas, or mark up conditions that don't fit a geometric shape. Pressure-sensitive width supported.
Geometric shapes with optional fill color and opacity control. Great for highlighting areas of concern, marking exclusion zones, or calling attention to plan regions. Rectangle annotations can also act as whiteout blocks.
Semi-transparent overlay rectangles with adjustable opacity (default 28%). Highlight bearing walls, shear panels, or any plan region without obscuring the drawing underneath.
Text box with a leader arrow pointing to a specific feature. Resizable box width, editable text via double-click, and configurable font size. The go-to annotation for keynotes, special conditions, and engineering notes on the plans.
Free-floating text with configurable font size, color, bold/italic, and optional whiteout background. Double-click to edit inline. Use for titles, general notes, or any text that doesn't need a pointer.
Section cut line with a bubble annotation — shows top/bottom text labels (section ID / sheet reference) inside a circle at the line endpoint. Standard structural drawing convention for section references.
Dimension-style span indicator with automatic length labeling from the drawing scale. Useful for marking clear spans, tributary widths, or opening dimensions.
Persistent dimension line with tick marks and auto-calculated length based on your drawing scale. Saved with the project — click to edit length. Supports both imperial (ft-in) and metric display.
Multi-segment measurement tool — click to define vertices and measure complex paths. Shows per-segment lengths and a total accumulated length label. Perfect for measuring irregular wall runs or pipe routes.
Click to define a polygon, and StruxDraft calculates the enclosed area using the shoelace formula. Shows area in SF (or m²) and perimeter length. Essential for tributary area calculations, room areas, or footing plan dimensions.
Temporary measurement line (Ctrl+Q) for checking distances on the fly. Shows the scaled measurement in real-time but isn't saved with the project — disappears when you switch tools.
Full NDS 2018 Allowable Stress Design with ASCE 7-22 load combinations.
Continuous beam solver supporting simple span, 2-span, and cantilever configurations. Handles uniform, partial-span, and point loads with Gaussian elimination for the stiffness matrix.
fb = M/Sx ≤ F'b with all applicable adjustment factors: CD, CM, Ct, CL, CF, Ci, Cr. Governs for the worst-case load combination automatically.
fv = 1.5V/(b·d) ≤ F'v. Multi-span beams apply a 1.25× shear amplification factor for interior support reactions.
Live load deflection ≤ L/360, total load ≤ L/240 (both configurable). Computed for each load combination independently.
fc_perp = R/(b·lb) ≤ Fc_perp at R1 and R2 support locations. Checks bearing perpendicular to grain at each reaction point.
Full Cp calculation with Euler buckling (FcE = 0.822·Emin/(Le/d)²), slenderness ratio, and combined compression check. Includes axial shortening serviceability (L/500).
| Factor | Symbol | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Load Duration | CD | Adjusts for load duration: 0.90 (D), 1.00 (D+L), 1.15 (D+S), 1.25 (D+.75L+.75S) |
| Wet Service | CM | Reduction for moisture content above 19% |
| Temperature | Ct | Reduction for sustained elevated temperatures |
| Beam Stability | CL | Lateral torsional buckling factor |
| Size Factor | CF | Depth-based adjustment for sawn lumber (NDS Table 4A/4B) |
| Incising | Ci | For preservative-treated incised lumber |
| Repetitive Member | Cr | 1.15 for joists/rafters spaced ≤ 24″ o.c. |
| Column Stability | Cp | NDS Eq. 3.7-1 with buckling interaction |
Full AISC 360-16 design for W-shapes and HSS sections with both LRFD and ASD methodology.
Matrix stiffness beam analysis with multi-span, overhangs, and combined loading. Handles uniform, partial-span, point loads with DL/LL/SL disaggregation — the same solver powering wood beams, adapted for steel LRFD and ASD.
Lateral-torsional buckling with Cb moment gradient factor. Computes Lp, Lr, and classifies the unbraced length to determine φMn (LRFD) and Mn/Ω (ASD). Covers compact, non-compact, and slender flange cases.
Web shear check: φVn = 0.6 × Fy × Aw × Cv1. Computes h/tw ratio and Cv1 coefficient per AISC G2. Reports ASD and LRFD shear utilization side by side.
Service-level deflection computed separately for DL, LL, and SL. Standard limits L/360 (LL) and L/240 (TL) — both configurable. Reports governing deflection utilization ratio.
Full axial compression check: computes KL/r slenderness, Euler buckling stress (Fe = π²E/(KL/r)²), critical stress (Fcr), and nominal strength (Pn). Both LRFD (φPn) and ASD (Pn/Ω) simultaneously. Supports W-shape and HSS columns with rendered cross-section on canvas.
Full AISC database: A992 W-shapes (W4–W14+), A500 Gr. B/C HSS (rectangular and round), A36 plate/angle. Each section includes d, bf, tf, tw, A, Ix, Sx, Zx, rx, Iy, Sy, Zy, ry — all properties needed for design.
| Method | Combinations (Gravity) |
|---|---|
| LRFD (ASCE 7-22 §2.3) | 1.4D | 1.2D+1.6L+0.5S | 1.2D+1.6S+L | 1.2D+1.6Lr+L |
| ASD (ASCE 7-22 §2.4) | D | D+L | D+S | D+0.75L+0.75S | D+L+S |
Strength design (LRFD) for footings, piers, and foundation walls per ACI 318-19.
Applied loads, effective depths, soil bearing, two-way punching shear (3 ACI criteria), one-way shear (X & Y), flexural design with Whitney stress block, minimum reinforcement, max bar spacing, development length, and column bearing transfer.
Soil bearing check (q = w/B_ft ≤ q_allow) and one-way shear per ACI §22.5. Width, thickness, and reinforcement design for strip footings under walls.
Soil bearing, axial compression (tied/spiral), slenderness classification, shear, tie requirements, longitudinal steel limits, and P-M interaction. Cross-section SVG with rebar layout.
Axial stress (fa = P·12/Ag), lateral earth pressure (p = γ·H), bending stress, and combined unity check (fa/Fa + fb/Fb ≤ 1.0). Supports CMU, concrete, and ICF walls.
LRFD per ACI §5.3: 1.4D, 1.2D+1.6L+0.5S, 1.2D+1.6S+L, 1.2D+1.6S+0.5L. Governing Pu/Mu automatically identified.
Full bar database #3 through #11 with diameter and area. Development length calculation per ACI §25.4.2 with ψ_t, ψ_e, ψ_s, ψ_g factors and As_reqd/As_prov reduction.
Concrete cantilever retaining wall analysis combining ASD stability checks with ACI 318-19 LRFD strength design.
Active earth pressure: Ka = tan²(45° − φ/2) for level backfill, with Coulomb adjustment for sloped backfill (β angle). Passive pressure optional with user-defined depth. Surcharge loads supported as uniform lateral pressure.
Resisting moments (soil weight, concrete weight, surcharge) vs. overturning moments (active earth pressure, surcharge lateral). Safety factor ≥ 1.5 required. Reports eccentricity and middle-third check.
Friction resistance (μ × vertical forces) plus passive pressure vs. horizontal driving forces. Safety factor ≥ 1.5. Optional shear key for additional resistance.
Meyerhof distribution: q_toe and q_heel computed from eccentricity. Checks q_max ≤ q_allow. Trapezoidal or triangular pressure distribution depending on resultant location.
Stem treated as vertical cantilever: computes Mu and Vu at base. φMn from Whitney stress block with user-specified bar and spacing. φVn per ACI one-way shear. Minimum reinforcement per ACI §11.6.1 (wall vertical/horizontal).
Toe: cantilever from stem face, net upward soil pressure. Heel: cantilever with soil weight + surcharge down minus soil pressure up. Flexure and shear checks with As_min per ACI §24.4.3.2 (T&S reinforcement).
| Parameter | Range | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Stem Height | Custom (in) | Height of stem above base slab |
| Stem Thickness | Top & Bottom (in) | Tapered or constant stem width |
| Toe / Heel Length | Custom (in) | Base slab extensions front and back |
| Base Thickness | Custom (in) | Foundation slab depth |
| Shear Key | Depth & Width (in) | Optional key for sliding resistance |
| Backfill Slope | β (degrees) | Sloped backfill above retained height |
| Soil Properties | γ, φ, μ, q_allow | Unit weight, friction angle, base friction coeff, bearing capacity |
| Reinforcement | Stem, Toe, Heel bars | Bar size (#3–#11) and spacing (in) per location, with horizontal and rear T&S bars |
Built-in databases with hundreds of sections and connectors — and a fully customizable database system that lets you add your own materials, grades, sections, and load combinations.
| Library | Count | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensional Lumber | 18 sections | 2×2 through 8×12 — depth, width, area, Ix, Sx per NDS Table 1B |
| Species & Grades | 31 combos | 7 species × up to 5 grades — Fb, Ft, Fv, Fc_perp, Fc, E, Emin |
| Glulam (GLB) | 23 sections | 3-1/8″, 5-1/8″, 6-3/4″ widths, 6″–18″ depths, 24F-V4 |
| LVL | 31 sections | Single through quad ply, 7-1/4″–18″ depths |
| TJI I-Joists | 14 sections | TJI-110 through TJI-560, 9-1/2″–16″ depths |
| PSL | 6 sections | 3-1/2×3-1/2 through 7×7 |
| Steel W-Shapes | Full AISC database | All W-shapes with section properties |
| Steel HSS | Full AISC database | Rectangular and round HSS sections |
| Simpson Hangers | 72+ models | LUS, HUS, LU/GLT, HU, MIT/DERA families with Fv, Fl, Fu |
| Simpson Hold-Downs | Catalog | Hold-down connector capacities |
Every material library in StruxDraft is backed by a structured CSV database system with default and user tiers. You can add, modify, or override any material, grade, section, or load combination.
Materials, wood grades, steel grades, masonry grades, concrete grades, wood shapes, steel shapes, masonry shapes, concrete shapes, hanger connectors, hold-down connectors, load combinations, governing codes, material standards, and unit conversions.
Every default dataset has a matching user CSV file. Add rows to the user file to extend the library — your entries are merged by ID and take precedence over defaults. Never lose your customizations on an update.
Override any dataset at runtime via localStorage — perfect for project-specific material properties, custom load combination sets, or regional masonry grades. Reset to defaults with one click.
Define your own load combination sets in the database: set DL, LL, SL, Lr, R factors and CD values. Switch between ASD and LRFD combo sets per project. The calc engine uses your custom combos automatically when a set key is assigned.
From live editing to print-ready calculation packages.
8 collapsible schedule groups in the right sidebar: Beam, Joist, Header, Column, Wall, Footing, Foundation Wall/Pier, Anchor Bolt, and Keynotes. Every property is inline-editable with real-time utilization badges.
Schedule tables render directly onto the Konva canvas, visible alongside your structural annotations on each drawing sheet.
Comprehensive structural calc document: title block, summary statistics, design criteria, member-by-member BeamCards/ColumnCards/JoistCards with every code check, reactions, and utilization — ready for plan review submittal.
Link identical members to a parent — they share engineering properties and appear in the schedule with "SIM" designation. Keeps schedules clean when you have many identical members.
Multi-page PDF export at 2× resolution via jsPDF. Includes all structural elements, annotations, and schedule tables per page — print-ready for plan check submittals.
Export all structural elements to DXF format with organized layers (beams, columns, walls, joists, footings, annotations). Coordinates convert through your drawing scale for accurate real-world dimensions in AutoCAD or any CAD software.
Save/load as .sdp (JSON) files via native OS file dialogs (Tauri). Import elements from other .sdp project files. Browser fallback with File API.
Dedicated hold-down schedule for shear wall connections. Select Simpson hold-down models from the built-in catalog with allowable tension, anchor bolt, and fastener specifications.
Isolate structural walls from architectural clutter — see only what matters for your engineering analysis.
The Wall Highlighter tool lets you paint keep/remove strokes directly on the PDF. Highlighted areas preserve wall lines while stripping away furniture, fixtures, room labels, hatching, and other architectural noise that clutters your view.
For layered PDFs (OCG), StruxDraft detects PDF layers and auto-selects architectural layers (furniture, plumbing, electrical, HVAC) for removal — preserving walls, dimensions, and structural layers. One-click "Auto-Select" picks the right layers automatically.
Under the hood, the strip pipeline performs binarization (Otsu threshold), morphological cleanup, Zhang-Suen skeletonization, and polyline tracing to extract wall centerlines — which can be exported to DXF for use in CAD software.
Export extracted wall centerlines as a DXF file on a dedicated WALL_CENTERLINES layer. Coordinates are converted from pixel space to real-world inches using your drawing scale. Ready for import into AutoCAD, Revit, or any CAD tool.
Automatic structural framing from wall geometry — detect rooms, lay out joists, place beams, and size all members in one click.
AutoFrame builds a graph from your wall segments, clusters endpoints with adaptive tolerance, and uses planar face extraction (most-left-turn algorithm) to detect enclosed rooms. Room classification uses annotation text and area heuristics.
For each detected room, AutoFrame determines the optimal joist direction (perpendicular to the short dimension), sets spacing (12/16/19.2/24″ o.c.), and identifies bearing walls. Pre-computed span tables (NDS-derived) guide initial sizing before full analysis.
When a joist span exceeds the allowable limit for the chosen size, AutoFrame automatically subdivides the room with beams. Beam lines are clipped to room polygon boundaries and dimensioned using your drawing scale.
Identifies gaps between collinear wall segments and creates header elements across the openings. Classifies opening width for appropriate header sizing — windows, doors, and garage openings all handled automatically.
After framing layout, AutoFrame iterates through candidate sizes (DIM, LVL, TJI for joists; DIM, LVL, GLB for beams) using the full NDS calc engine to find the lightest passing member. Checks bending, shear, and deflection for each candidate.
Control joist spacing, preferred member types, beam ply count, species/grade, starting tag numbers, and which rooms to include. Per-room overrides let you set custom live loads or room types. Exclude rooms you want to frame manually.
CAD-like tools designed for structural drafting — from element placement to markup to measurement.
| Tool | Shortcut | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Select / Move | — | Click to select, drag to move, Shift+click multi-select, marquee box selection |
| Beam | Ctrl+B | Drag-to-create with Shift-snap to horizontal/vertical |
| Steel Beam | — | Drag-to-create; picks from AISC W-shape or HSS catalog |
| Wall | Ctrl+W | Drag-to-create with Shift-snap; auto-detects angle |
| Joist (Rect) | Ctrl+J | Drag-to-create rectangular joist region |
| Joist (Polygon) | Ctrl+S | Click vertices to define polygon joist region |
| Column | Ctrl+R | Click to place; auto-places at beam/steel beam endpoints |
| Steel Column | — | Click to place W-shape or HSS column with rendered cross-section |
| Header | Ctrl+E | Drag-to-create with Shift-snap; trimmer + king stud config |
| Retaining Wall | — | Click to place with full stem/base/rebar configuration |
| Spot Footing | — | Click to place; full ACI 318 two-way and one-way shear checks |
| Cont. Footing | — | Drag-to-create for strip footings under walls |
| Pier | — | Click to place square/round pier with rebar config |
| Foundation Wall | — | Drag-to-create; supports CMU, concrete, ICF |
| Anchor Bolt | Ctrl+A | Click to place with diameter, length, spacing config |
| Quick Measure | Ctrl+Q | Temporary measurement (not saved) — real-time distance |
| Linear Measure | — | Persistent dimension line with tick marks and auto-length |
| Polyline Measure | — | Multi-segment path measurement with per-segment + total |
| Area Measure | — | Polygon area calculation: SF/m² with perimeter display |
| Grid Lines | — | Place column grid lines with auto-numbered bubbles |
| Copy/Paste | Ctrl+C/V | Duplicate elements with offset |
| Undo/Redo | Ctrl+Z/Y | 80-state history |
| Pan | Middle mouse | Middle mouse button drag to pan the viewport |
| Zoom | +/- or Ctrl+Scroll | Zoom in/out centered on cursor |
| Navigate Pages | ← → | Previous/next PDF page |
StruxDraft's signature feature — automatic gravity load tracing through the entire structure with DL/LL/SL disaggregation at every connection.
Tributary load from joist regions automatically feeds into supporting beams as uniform or partial-span loads. Spacing and tributary width drive the load magnitude. Multiple joist regions can feed the same beam from different sides.
Load-bearing wall dead load (self-weight based on stud size, spacing, and height) feeds into beams as PLF (pounds per linear foot) direct transfer. Stacking walls accumulate loads from floors above.
R1 and R2 reactions disaggregated into DL, LL, and SL components. For multi-span beams, interior reactions (R_mid) are also tracked. Each reaction maps to the connected column or bearing wall below.
Accumulated axial loads from columns (including all stories above) feed into spot footings or piers below. The footing analysis uses the accumulated DL/LL/SL for soil bearing, punching shear, and flexure checks.
The load flow engine tracks visited members to prevent infinite recursion. If a circular load path is detected, it's flagged without crashing — ensuring reliable results even in complex framing configurations.
Visual SVG load diagram showing the member with all connected loads rendered graphically. A connection table lists every incoming load source, type (tributary, point, direct), and DL/LL/SL breakdown — full transparency into where every pound comes from.
Modern, lightweight desktop application — no cloud dependency, no subscription login.
Native desktop shell using system webview. Sub-second launch, minimal memory footprint, and native OS file dialogs. Your data stays on your machine — no telemetry, no cloud sync.
Modern JavaScript UI with hot module replacement during development. Efficient component architecture for responsive, real-time interactions.
High-performance 2D canvas engine for drawing structural elements, annotations, and schedule tables. Hardware-accelerated rendering for smooth panning and zooming on large plan sets.
PDF.js-powered rendering for construction document display. Each page independently rendered at the current zoom level for crisp plan sheets. PDF layer (OCG) detection for smart architectural stripping.
The calculation core is pure JavaScript with zero UI dependencies — fully testable, auditable, and portable. Hundreds of unit tests verify engineering calculations against textbook results.
No internet required. No cloud accounts. No usage tracking. StruxDraft runs entirely on your desktop with no external dependencies after installation.
Walk through a complete structural design workflow with our step-by-step tutorial.
View Tutorial