Quick Guide to ASDIP Concrete: Tips, Tools, and Best Practices

Maximizing Productivity with ASDIP Concrete: Workflow and Time-Saving Tricks

ASDIP Concrete is a structural-design application focused on reinforced concrete members (beams, columns, walls, and slabs). The following workflow and practical tips are written to help structural engineers and designers get faster, more consistent results while reducing repetitive tasks and errors.

Streamlined Workflow (step-by-step)

1. Prepare project inputs first
   • Collect loads (dead, live, seismic, wind) and load combinations in one spreadsheet.
   • Standardize material properties (concrete compressive strength, steel grade) and section sizes in a template file.
2. Start each member from a template
   • Use a saved template for each member type (beam, column, slab) with default materials, load cases, and design preferences.
3. Import or paste loads and geometry
   • Paste load values and span/geometry directly from your spreadsheet into the ASDIP input fields to avoid retyping.
4. Use staged analysis: run a quick check, then full design
   • Run a fast preliminary check (basic capacity and reinforcement) to identify major problems, then run the detailed design once inputs are validated.
5. Verify reinforcement and detailing
   • Accept ASDIP’s reinforcement suggestions, then adjust only for constructability and cover requirements.
6. Export results and consolidate
   • Export design summaries, reinforcement details, and calculation reports. Consolidate into a single project report for review and BIM handoff.

Time-Saving Tricks

• Templates and defaults
  • Save templates for typical span lengths, section sizes, and material pairs to reuse across projects.
  • Set default code editions, unit systems, and reporting verbosity in preferences.
• Batch processing and repeatability
  • When designing many similar members, keep one master input and vary only spans or loads; copy the master for new members.
• Clipboard and spreadsheet workflows
  • Keep recurring load combinations and section properties in a clipboard-friendly spreadsheet so you can paste groups of inputs quickly.
• Use the quick-check approach
  • First run simplified capacity checks to filter out designs that need major changes before committing time to detailed reinforcement optimization.
• Leverage suggested reinforcement
  • Use the software’s suggested bar layouts as starting points—modify only for fabricability, cover, or conflict with other trades.
• Consistent naming and file structure
  • Name files and templates clearly (projectcode_membertype_size_date) so you can find previous designs to reuse.
• Use report templates and export settings
  • Customize report content to include only the sections reviewers need, reducing file size and review time.
• Keep code/edition choices consistent
  • Lock project-wide code versions so designs don’t differ across members due to mismatched parameters.
• Document common assumptions
  • Maintain a short assumptions checklist that you paste into each report (material factors, load factors, deflection criteria).

Checking for Errors Faster

• Sanity-check numbers: compare ASDIP output reactions and moments to quick hand or spreadsheet calculations to catch input mistakes.
• Watch warning flags and use them: address warnings before finalizing designs.
• Use coarse-to-fine validation: gross geometry and load checks first, detailed reinforcement next.

Collaboration and Handoff

• Export clear, concise calculation PDFs for reviewers with only essential pages included.
• Provide reinforcement schedules and bar lists in CSV or spreadsheet format for fabrication.
• If using BIM, keep member naming consistent to map ASDIP outputs to BIM elements.

Sample Checklist to Save as a Template

• Project code & edition set
• Unit system selected
• Concrete fc’ and steel fy
• Default covers and bar sizes
• Standard load combinations
• Template beam/column/slab geometry
• Report export settings

Implement these steps and tricks to reduce redundant work, minimize manual data entry, and speed up review cycles. The result: faster iterations, fewer errors, and more consistent reinforced-concrete designs.