Spread Footing

Digital Canal's Spread Footing Design program is by far the most productive footing design program available. Every practical footing design consideration is covered. The program is clean and simple--the easy, refreshing, no-nonsense interface keeps you "cranking out footings" as fast as possible. Unlike some competing programs, Spread Footing Design is based on tried and true engineering principles--you don't need, or even want, an FE model to design a common spread footing!

Footings for hundreds of columns can be designed in less than an hour. This structural engineering software can load up to ten columns at once and still get a single footing design that works for all the columns. Reports are simple yet as good as you will find.

Footings are designed or checked using the latest ACI 318-2008 code. The controlling column and load combination is listed for each design element (footing dimensions, thickness, pressure, top steel, bottom steel)--this is important information for identifying "problem columns" and program verification. Enter up to ten column loads and find single footing that will work for all of the columns with one click of the mouse. Un-factored loads are input and factored for the latest ACI 2008 combinations; the combination list can be completely customized. Load input includes dead, live, wind, earthquake, and roof (snow, rain, roof live) loads. Footings are designed to resist uplift and sliding forces as well as biaxial column moments and compressive forces. Reinforcement design includes multiple bar size options and corresponding spacing. Minimum steel for temperature and shrink is determined and the user is warned if the footing becomes over-reinforced. When development is inadequate the program warns the user that anchorage must be provided. Column bearing is checked and the required area of dowel steel reported. If a baseplate is present, the bearing failure surface is adjusted accordingly. Dimension restrictions can be entered to control the design of the footing when space limitations are present. User defined increment factors assure that the program does not design footings of impractical size--no 46.5" x 27.33" footings! Reports are outstanding and provided in Microsoft Word format (RTF) giving you unequalled compatibility with other software. Flexible unit controls allow for US or metric designs. User defined "default data" lets you reduce the design of a footing to simply inputting the loads. Graphic "backgrounds" illustrate program input. The simple file format is small and makes projects easy to store, email, etc. Inputs are minimal and your solution is practically instant. Footings for hundreds of columns can be designed in less than an hour. Unequalled capabilities, speed, and simplicity make this program almost too good to be true!