In modern structural engineering, balancing accuracy, original site code compliance, speed, and clear documentation is a constant challenge. As buildings, industrial facilities, and infrastructure designs become increasingly complex, structural engineers require software solutions that go beyond basic finite element modeling. They need dedicated design tools capable of bridging the gap between high-level structural analysis, detailed component design, and final construction drafting.

MIDAS Design+ (often written as midas Design+), developed by MIDAS Information Technology Co., Ltd. (MIDAS IT), is built specifically to address this workflow gap. Functioning as an integrated structural design and detailing suite, MIDAS Design+ automates section checks, structural component design, rebar detailing, and calculation report generation.

What is MIDAS Design+?

MIDAS Design+ is a specialized software tool tailored for the design, verification, and detailing of individual structural components made of reinforced concrete (RC), structural steel, and steel-reinforced concrete (SRC). While general 3D finite element analysis (FEA) software—such as MIDAS Gen or MIDAS Civil—excels at computing global structural responses (member forces, moments, deflections, and story drifts), converting these analytical forces into final structural designs traditionally required manual spreadsheets, separate design programs, or tedious hand calculations.

MIDAS Design+ simplifies this post-analysis design phase. It provides an intuitive environment where engineers can import analysis reactions and forces, execute code-compliant design checks, optimize member sizes and reinforcement, and automatically generate detailed CAD drawings (DWG) and calculation reports (MS Word/Excel).

Core Architecture and Operating Modes

To accommodate diverse engineering workflows—ranging from quick single-member checks to full-project structural detailing—MIDAS Design+ offers two flexible operating environments:

1. Simple Mode

In Simple Mode, engineers can perform standalone checks and designs for individual structural elements. This mode operates like an intelligent, graphical design calculator. Users manually enter section geometry, material properties, applied loads, and boundary conditions to obtain instant design checks and reinforcement layouts. Simple Mode is ideal for:

• Preliminary sizing of structural members prior to full-scale 3D modeling.
• Quick verification of specific problematic elements (e.g., a heavily loaded transfer girder or cantilever retaining wall).
• Peer reviews and spot-checking existing structural designs against local codes.

2. Project Mode

In Project Mode, the software acts as an integrated management tool for multi-element structural projects. Engineers can organize structural members into groups (e.g., typical floor beams, exterior columns, spread footings), batch-process design checks across hundreds of elements simultaneously, and maintain unified project reports. Project Mode helps teams systematically manage structural modifications, track rebar changes, and maintain design consistency across entire building structures.

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                           MIDAS Gen (FEA)                             |
|              [Global 3D Analysis, Reactions, Member Forces]           |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
                                   │
                                   ▼  (Direct Data Integration)
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                          MIDAS Design+                                |
|  ┌──────────────────────────────┐    ┌─────────────────────────────┐  |
|  │        Simple Mode           │    │        Project Mode         │  |
|  │ (Quick Single-Member Design) │    │  (Batch Design & Detailing) │  |
|  └──────────────────────────────┘    └─────────────────────────────┘  |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------+
                                   │
                 ┌─────────────────┴─────────────────┐
                 ▼                                   ▼
+---------------------------------+ +---------------------------------+
|      Automated CAD Drawings     | |  Detailed Calculation Reports   |
|   (DWG Rebar Plans & Schedules) | |    (MS Word / Excel / PDF)      |
+---------------------------------+ +---------------------------------+

Supported Structural Components

MIDAS Design+ covers a wide array of structural elements commonly found in residential, commercial, and industrial facilities.

Reinforced Concrete (RC) Design

• Flexural Members: Rectangular beams, T-beams, L-beams, continuous beams, one-way/two-way slabs, and long-term deflection verifications.
• Compression & Shear Members: Rectangular, circular, and irregular-shaped columns, as well as shear walls and irregular wall piers.
• Substructure & Foundations: Spread footings (isolated/combined), raft footings, pile caps, basement walls, corbels, and retaining walls.

Structural Steel Design

• Beams & Girders: Standard I-shapes, channels, angles, rectangular/circular HSS, and built-up plate girders subjected to flexure, shear, and axial forces.
• Columns & Struts: Hot-rolled and welded steel columns evaluating combined axial compression, biaxial bending, and lateral torsional buckling (LTB).
• Connections: Base plates, beam-to-column connections, shear tabs, and moment connections.

Key Features and Technical Advantages

1. Seamless Integration with MIDAS FEA Solutions

One of the primary advantages of MIDAS Design+ is its native integration with MIDAS IT’s flagship structural analysis software, MIDAS Gen. Engineers can import structural forces, support reactions, element geometries, and load combinations directly from MIDAS Gen into MIDAS Design+ with a few clicks. This eliminates manual re-entry of design forces, drastically reducing human error and accelerating turnaround times during design iterations.

2. Automated CAD Drafting (DWG Generation)

Beyond calculating rebar areas ($A_s$) or steel stress ratios, MIDAS Design+ includes built-in 2D CAD drafting functionality. Once a member design passes code compliance checks, the software automatically generates structural construction drawings, complete with:

• Cross-sectional dimensions and reinforcement layouts.
• Rebar callouts, stirrup spacing, and lap splice locations.
• Structural schedules and Bill of Materials (BOM) estimates.
• Direct export capability to .DWG and .DXF formats for easy editing in AutoCAD or standard BIM software.

3. Transparent and Comprehensive Calculation Reports

Many commercial structural engineering programs act as “black boxes,” delivering pass/fail indicators without detailing how calculations were derived. MIDAS Design+ takes a transparent approach by producing comprehensive, formatted calculation reports:

• Summary Reports: Quick executive tables displaying key design inputs, critical demand-to-capacity ratios ($D/C$), and final pass/fail statuses for rapid review.
• Detailed Reports: Step-by-step mathematical proofs including explicit code formulas, referenced design code clauses, intermediate variables, and force diagrams.
• Reports export natively to MS Word and MS Excel, enabling engineers to append custom notes, client branding, or project-specific attachments.

4. Multi-Code Compliance

MIDAS Design+ supports international design standards, allowing global consulting firms to work across jurisdictions without changing software environments:

• American Standards: ACI 318 (Reinforced Concrete Design) and AISC-LRFD / ASD (Structural Steel Design).
• European Standards: Eurocode 2 (Concrete) and Eurocode 3 (Steel) with relevant National Annexes.
• Asian design codes (including KDS/KBC for Korea and relevant local standards).

MIDAS Design+ in the Structural Engineering Workflow

Incorporating MIDAS Design+ into a structural consultancy firm streamlines the typical design cycle:

  ┌────────────────────────┐
  │  1. Conceptual Sizing  │ ──► Simple Mode for quick section checks
  └────────────────────────┘
               │
               ▼
  ┌────────────────────────┐
  │   2. Global Analysis   │ ──► 3D Modeling & FEA in MIDAS Gen
  └────────────────────────┘
               │
               ▼
  ┌────────────────────────┐
  │  3. Member Verification│ ──► Import reactions/forces into MIDAS Design+
  └────────────────────────┘
               │
               ▼
  ┌────────────────────────┐
  │ 4. Drafting & Reports  │ ──► Export DWG rebar drawings & Word reports
  └────────────────────────┘

1. Conceptual & Schematic Design: Engineers utilize Simple Mode to quickly size columns, beams, and spread footings based on preliminary gravity and lateral loads.
2. Detailed Global Analysis: A 3D model is constructed in MIDAS Gen to capture wind, seismic, and thermal behaviors across the complete structural system.
3. Automated Component Design: Internal forces and support reactions are transferred into MIDAS Design+ Project Mode. Batch design algorithms optimize steel reinforcement configurations across all framing levels simultaneously.
4. Documentation & Production: The software generates fully formatted calculation books for municipal plan reviews, alongside draft structural drawings that draftspersons can integrate into final contract documents.

Conclusion

MIDAS Design+ serves as an essential productivity force multiplier for structural design practices. By pairing rigorous analytical code checks with automatic DWG drawing generation and transparent MS Word documentation, it bridges the gap between high-level structural analysis and practical construction drafting. For engineering teams seeking to reduce design turnaround times, maintain strict quality control, and deliver polished engineering deliverables, MIDAS Design+ remains a competitive, click to read enterprise-grade solution.