Modern infrastructure is getting heavier, taller, and more complex — and the risks are higher than ever. According to a large infrastructure projects often suffer cost overruns or delays—up to 80% in some categories — due to inefficiencies in planning, design, and execution.
In engineering sectors like offshore, marine, heavy lifting, and cranes, structural failure isn’t just costly — it’s catastrophic. That’s why advanced tools like SDC Verifier are becoming indispensable. With built-in support for global standards and automated verification, this structural analysis software helps engineers prevent failure, streamline compliance, and build smarter, safer systems from the start.
Understanding Structural Analysis Software
Unlike general-purpose simulation tools, structural analysis software like SDC Verifier focuses specifically on automated verification, multi-standard compliance, and integrated reporting—critical for safety-driven industries.
Key Features:
- Load Simulation: Assessing how structures handle different types of loads, including static, dynamic, wind, seismic, and thermal.
- Material Behavior Modeling: Simulating how different materials (steel, concrete, timber) behave under stress.
- Compliance Checks: Ensuring designs meet international and local building codes and standards.
- Optimization: Refining designs for material efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
SDC Verifier is a prominent example of structural analysis software tailored to the needs of modern engineering, offering unique capabilities in automated code checking, structural verification, and reporting.
The Importance of Structural Analysis in Engineering
Traditionally, structural analysis was a manual process, relying heavily on simplified calculations and assumptions. With the advent of powerful computing and sophisticated software, engineers can now model complex structures with unprecedented accuracy.
Benefits of Modern Structural Analysis Software:
- Enhanced Accuracy: Detailed simulations reduce the risk of design errors.
- Time Efficiency: Automated processes accelerate project timelines.
- Cost Savings: Optimized designs lead to material and labor savings.
- Regulatory Compliance: Built-in code checks ensure adherence to standards.
- Integration with BIM: Seamless collaboration with Building Information Modeling platforms enhances project coordination.
The integration of these tools into the engineering workflow has transformed the way projects are conceptualized, designed, and executed.
SDC Verifier: Automating Compliance and Verification
SDC Verifier stands out in the realm of structural analysis by focusing on automating the verification of structures against various design codes. It serves as a standalone software and an extension to popular FEA software like Ansys, Femap, and Simcenter 3D, enhancing their capabilities with automated code checking and comprehensive reporting.
Notable Features:
- Code Compliance: Supports multiple international standards, including Eurocode, AISC, and DNV.
- Automated Reporting: Generates detailed reports, saving engineers significant time.
- Custom Checks: Allows users to define and implement custom verification rules.
- User-Friendly Interface: Engineers can interact with complex FEA results via clear visual selectors, multi-code toggles, and customizable reports — all without needing to leave their native simulation environment.
By automating routine checks, SDC Verifier enables engineers to focus more on design innovation and less on manual verification processes.
Applications in Modern Engineering Projects
In crane design, SDC Verifier supports FEM 1.001 checks for fatigue and stability under rotating loads. In offshore jackets, engineers use DNV-RP-C203 to calculate cumulative fatigue damage under 10,000+ sea state combinations.
Structural analysis software is indispensable across various sectors:
- Heavy Lifting and Cranes
Analyzing stress, stability, and fatigue in lifting equipment ensures safe operation under extreme loads. SDC Verifier helps verify compliance with relevant design codes and standards for these high-risk systems. - Bridges and Transportation Infrastructure
Evaluating load paths and dynamic responses to traffic, temperature, and environmental conditions is essential for long-term performance. Accurate verification ensures safety and code compliance. - Offshore Structures
Platforms and floating systems operate in challenging environments, facing wind, wave, and current loads. SDC Verifier supports comprehensive verification to ensure structural integrity under these conditions. - Mechanical and Structural Components in Energy and Marine Sectors
Structural components like riser supports, brackets, and welded joints in offshore platforms often face multi-axial loading. SDC Verifier enables custom fatigue checks, stress range filtering, and automated reporting per DNV and Eurocode requirements.
In all these applications, SDC Verifier enhances structural reliability, speeds up compliance, and reduces the risk of costly design errors.
Case Study: Lifetime Extension of the Haewene Brim FPSO
A notable example of SDC Verifier in action is its use by Bluewater Energy Services for the lifetime extension of the Haewene Brim FPSO (Floating Production Storage and Offloading unit).
The project involved a detailed structural assessment of the vessel, which had been in service for over two decades. Using SDC Verifier for Ansys, the engineering team performed fatigue, buckling, and code-based strength checks according to DNV standards. The automated verification features allowed them to evaluate thousands of load combinations efficiently and ensure compliance with offshore safety regulations.
The result: an accurate, fully documented assessment that supported Bluewater’s decision-making process for extending the vessel’s operational life—safely and cost-effectively.
Conclusion
As complexity and regulation increase, adopting intelligent structural analysis software like SDC Verifier ensures your designs meet tomorrow’s demands — today. Engineers looking to improve speed, accuracy, and compliance should consider integrating automated verification tools in their FEA workflows.
