Imagine a high-rise building modeled in ideCAD. At first glance, everything is perfect: reinforcement ratios are optimal, column dimensions are code-compliant, deflection limits are satisfied. But when you run a nonlinear analysis—perhaps a pushover or a time-history analysis under seismic loading—the software reveals something unexpected: fine, hairline cracks forming at the beam-column joints on the 7th floor.
: The software automatically verifies building elements against international standards (like ACI 318 or Eurocode) for allowable crack widths. You can view these results in the Deflection & Crackings tab under the Beam or Slab design menus. Managing Structural Damage idecad structural crack
Outside, the first light of dawn hit the real city, a skyline of concrete and steel that stayed upright because of the invisible lines drawn on screens just like his. Imagine a high-rise building modeled in ideCAD
If you are looking at a physical building rather than software, structural cracks (as opposed to cosmetic ones) typically have the following characteristics: : Cracks wider than 3 mm (1/8 inch) are generally considered structural. : Look for stair-step patterns in masonry or cracks that run through the full thickness of a concrete slab. : Red flags include cracks around load-bearing walls , door frames, or foundation displacement. If you are looking at a physical building
Before delving into software commands, one must understand the model ideCAD uses. The software does not simulate individual discrete cracks (a computationally prohibitive task for full buildings). Instead, it employs a for global analysis, where the effect of many micro-cracks is averaged over a finite element. For serviceability checks, ideCAD switches to a strain-based, bond-dependent calculation, strictly following the chosen national code (TS500, Eurocode 2, ACI 318, etc.).
Unlike legacy workflows where crack checks are an afterthought, ideCAD integrates crack control into three distinct design phases: