Automation of Calculations of Steel–Concrete Composite Structures in the TechEditor Software Environment

Abstract

This paper addresses the automation of steel-concrete composite structure analysis within modern digital environments. The authors substantiate the necessity for flexible engineering tools that combine high accuracy, computational efficiency, and cost-effectiveness — factors that are critically important for the reconstruction of Ukraine’s infrastructure under limited resource conditions. The aim of the study is to develop and implement a computational methodology for steel-concrete composite beams within the TechEditor environment, integrating classical analytical approaches of structural mechanics with numerical modeling via the Finite Element Method (FEM). The research methodology utilizes transformed section properties and a step-by-step determination of the stress-strain state. The proposed approach combines the precision of analytical relationships with the flexibility of FEM, which is used to determine internal forces and deflections under realistic boundary conditions. A key feature of the methodology is its transparency, which eliminates the “black box” issue typical of proprietary commercial software, ensuring full control over the calculation logic and unit consistency at every stage. To demonstrate the capabilities of this parametric approach, a finite element model was developed to investigate the variation of the cross-section utilization factor and relative beam deflections for slab thicknesses ranging from 30 to 150 mm. The validation results confirm that implementing parametric relationships enables rapid optimization of design solutions and reduced material consumption without compromising structural reliability. The resulting digital solution, presented as an interactive report, ensures high accuracy and transparency while significantly improving design productivity and reducing the risk of human error.