Over the last 3 years, at Koup Engineering, we have been working on the development of a new and advanced software for design of steel frame buildings based on New Zealand and Australian standards.
Following three years of work in the background, Koup Engineering Steel Frame Design software (KE Steel Frame) is at its final trial and verification stages. The software is now available for use for a limited number of interested engineers for verification and receiving end user feedback.
From an ETABS model to transparent NZS3404 member checks
KE Steel Frame is purpose-built for the design of steel structures in New Zealand. It connects with ETABS results to verify beams and columns to NZS3404 for the seismic design of steel frames, with current support focused on Structural Categories 3 and 4.
Developed by Koup Engineering over the past three years, the software brings building analysis results, load combinations, physical restraints, member segments and code checks into one review environment.
NZS3404 steel frame design connected to building analysis
KE Steel Frame reads member actions from ETABS and organises the design review by member, load combination and physical segment. Engineers can see the governing demand-to-capacity ratio, the assumed restraints and the code factors used—not only a final pass/fail result.
Reviews multiple ETABS design load combinations.
Checks each physical segment for the governing actions.
Applies NZS3404 requirements for the selected structural and member design categories.
Keeps program-calculated values and engineer overrides visible.
Member summary, ETABS frame location, governing load combination and detailed segment calculation in one view.
See the calculations behind every result
The interface is designed to help an engineer understand why a member passes or fails and to trace the calculation back to the actual model, combination and segment.
Combination-by-combination analysis
Review the design moment diagram, restraint points, segment boundaries, capacities and utilisation for each relevant load combination.
Visible code factors and overrides
Inspect calculated factors, their source and any engineer-defined values, with graphical context beside the design data.
Model real restraint conditions
Define point or uniform bracing and the restraint type at meaningful locations rather than relying on a single whole-member assumption.
Less re-entry. More connection between analysis and design
The key advantage is not simply another member calculator. It is a workflow centred on the complete ETABS building model and the New Zealand seismic design decisions that follow from it.
Reduce repeated setup. Use the ETABS model, member actions and design combinations instead of recreating each member calculation from the beginning.
Review at building scale Move through beams, columns and combinations in one workspace, with governing cases clearly identified.
Design the physical segments Relate capacity checks to restraint locations, segment lengths and the changing moment diagram for each combination.
Keep engineering judgement visible Distinguish software defaults, calculated factors and user overrides so assumptions can be reviewed and challenged.
Help verify the next generation of NZ steel-frame design software
After three years of development, KE Steel Frame remains at the verification stage. A demo is available free of charge to a limited number of interested structural engineers. We are looking for users who will compare results with their established design methods and share practical feedback on accuracy, clarity and workflow.
The demo is an evaluation software. Results must be independently reviewed and accepted by a suitably qualified structural engineer before use in practice. When the software is released for commercial use, we will provide discounted licenses for those who assist us at this stage
