Advanced Structural Analysis Web App for a Leading Steel Distributor
Challenge
The client is a Houston-based steel distributor specializing in API line pipe and steel foundation piling systems, with more than 10 stocking locations across North America.
Its structural engineers ran critical load analysis and material estimation in a local Excel spreadsheet. Manual data entry, results tied to individual machines, and no visual output made it hard to share work, compare solutions, or collaborate. The client wanted to keep its calculation logic while making the tool accessible, visual, and collaborative.
The client is a Houston-based steel distributor specializing in API line pipe and steel foundation piling systems, with more than 10 stocking locations across North America.
Its structural engineers ran critical load analysis and material estimation in a local Excel spreadsheet. Manual data entry, results tied to individual machines, and no visual output made it hard to share work, compare solutions, or collaborate. The client wanted to keep its calculation logic while making the tool accessible, visual, and collaborative.
Solution
SumatoSoft built a web application for geotechnical and structural engineers that integrates the client's existing Excel model directly, preserving its calculation logic and saving development time and cost.
The application calculates key measurements such as max shear and max deflection, recommends minimum embedment and pile length, and graphs shear, deflection, and moment for three structural solutions side by side. A two-server setup separates the web server, which handles registration, projects, and results, from the calculation server. A user dashboard keeps the full history of calculation records.
SumatoSoft built a web application for geotechnical and structural engineers that integrates the client's existing Excel model directly, preserving its calculation logic and saving development time and cost.
The application calculates key measurements such as max shear and max deflection, recommends minimum embedment and pile length, and graphs shear, deflection, and moment for three structural solutions side by side. A two-server setup separates the web server, which handles registration, projects, and results, from the calculation server. A user dashboard keeps the full history of calculation records.
Results
- Structural analysis completed about 45% faster
- About 35% fewer input-related errors than with the Excel-based workflow
- Engineers access the tool from any location in a browser, which removed machine-specific bottlenecks and made team-level review possible
- Delivered in 3 months by a team of 10+ specialists
- Structural analysis completed about 45% faster
- About 35% fewer input-related errors than with the Excel-based workflow
- Engineers access the tool from any location in a browser, which removed machine-specific bottlenecks and made team-level review possible
- Delivered in 3 months by a team of 10+ specialists