Arch Analyser: The Ultimate Tool for Structural DiagnosticsStructural health and safety are non-negotiable in architecture and civil engineering. Whether inspecting heritage bridges, high-rise buildings, or modern pedestrian spans, engineers need fast, reliable insight into load paths, material performance, and potential failure modes. Arch Analyser is designed to give professionals those insights quickly — combining automated diagnostics, intuitive visualization, and deep analytics into a single workflow-ready application.
What is Arch Analyser?
Arch Analyser is a software platform for structural diagnostics that focuses on arches, vaults, curved shells, and other non-linear load-bearing systems, while also providing tools applicable to general framed and continuum structures. It integrates finite element analysis (FEA), modal and stability analysis, automated damage detection, and decision-support reporting, with the goal of shrinking the time between inspection and actionable recommendations.
Key capabilities at a glance:
- Automated geometry recognition for arch and vault profiles
- Nonlinear FEA with material and geometric imperfection modeling
- Modal, buckling, and fatigue analyses tailored to curved structures
- Integration with inspection data (photogrammetry, UAV scans, strain sensors)
- Visual, prioritized remediation suggestions and report generation
Why specialized diagnostics for arches matter
Arches and curved structures behave differently from straight-beam members. Their load paths, sensitivity to support conditions, and failure modes (hinge formation, thrust line deviation, toppling) require targeted analysis. Generic tools can model them, but often at the cost of manual setup, overlooked nonlinearities, and time-consuming interpretation.
Arch Analyser addresses these gaps by:
- Recognizing arch geometry and automatically applying appropriate boundary conditions and contact/thrust-line checks.
- Modeling masonry, concrete, steel, and composite arches with material-specific constitutive laws and crack/plasticity handling.
- Using reduced-order models where appropriate to speed up preliminary assessments while enabling full 3D FEA for detailed checks.
Core features and how they help engineers
Automated geometry and data import
Arch Analyser accepts common CAD/IFC formats and converts LiDAR/photogrammetry/UAV point clouds into usable geometry. For historic masonry, it can extract intrados/extrados profiles and identify missing stones or mortar loss.
Benefit: saves hours on manual modelling and reduces human error.
Nonlinear FEA tailored for curved structures
Supports large-deformation, contact, and material nonlinearity. The solver can include creep, shrinkage, and time-dependent stabilization for aging structures.
Benefit: realistic prediction of post-yield behaviour and long-term safety margins.
Thrust-line and collapse mechanism detection
Implements thrust-line analysis for masonry arches and searches for possible hinge patterns and collapse mechanisms. Visualizes safety envelopes and indicates zones at risk of hinge formation.
Benefit: quick identification of critical sections and collapse scenarios without running full nonlinear time-history simulations.
Modal and vibration diagnostics
Performs modal analysis and compares measured vibration signatures (from accelerometers or ambient vibration tests) with model predictions to detect stiffness loss or cracks.
Benefit: non-destructive identification of damage progression and validation of model fidelity.
Fatigue and fracture tools
For steel or composite arches, Arch Analyser carries out S-N and fracture mechanics-based assessments, including variable-amplitude loading and crack growth projection.
Benefit: predicts remaining life and recommends inspection intervals or retrofits.
Sensor integration and real-time monitoring
Connects to strain gauges, displacement sensors, and wireless monitoring systems. Live data can feed the model for continuous diagnostics, automated alarms, and trend analysis.
Benefit: continuous safety assurance and faster response to emerging issues.
Automated reporting and remediation suggestions
Generates professional reports with prioritized interventions, estimated costs, and step-by-step retrofit options (tie-rods, anchorage, buttressing, targeted repointing, composite wraps).
Benefit: speeds decision-making for owners and asset managers.
Typical workflows
- Import geometry via CAD, IFC, or processed point cloud.
- Run automated recognition of arch type, supports, and material zones.
- Integrate inspection data (photos, sensor logs) — Arch Analyser maps anomalies onto the model.
- Conduct staged analyses: thrust-line, linear modal, nonlinear pushover, buckling, fatigue as needed.
- Review visual diagnostics, ranked risk areas, and suggested remedial actions.
- Export reports, drawings, and retrofit details; optionally feed monitoring rules for live surveillance.
Use cases
- Heritage conservation: detect mortar loss, displaced stones, and collapse risk while preserving original material.
- Bridge inspection: prioritize repairs on arch bridges with mixed material decks and steel tie elements.
- Tunnels and vaulted roofs: check long-term deformation and predict required buttressing.
- New design verification: assess novel curved members and composite arch prototypes under realistic imperfections.
- Post-disaster assessment: rapidly evaluate earthquake-damaged arches for safe access and immediate shoring needs.
Example: assessing a masonry arch bridge
Imagine a 19th-century masonry arch bridge with visible cracking and a reported sag at midspan. Using Arch Analyser:
- A drone survey converts imagery into a point cloud; the software extracts the arch profile and identifies missing mortar joints.
- Sensor data (displacement transducers) shows slight increasing deflection over months.
- A thrust-line check highlights eccentric thrust near the springing, and nonlinear FEA with reduced masonry strength predicts hinge formation under extreme loading.
- The generated report recommends targeted repointing, installation of a discreet internal tie-rod, and a 5-year monitoring plan — with cost and disruption estimates.
Integration and interoperability
Arch Analyser emphasizes compatibility: BIM/IFC workflows, DXF/DWG import, common FEA exchange formats, and APIs for sensor networks and asset-management systems. This reduces friction for teams already using BIM and digital inspection tools.
Limitations and best-practice considerations
- Quality of input data matters: poor point clouds or inaccurate material properties reduce model reliability.
- For highly irregular or severely damaged structures, expert interpretation remains necessary; Arch Analyser is a decision-support tool, not an autonomous engineer.
- Calibration with field measurements (vibrations, load tests) improves predictive accuracy.
Pricing and deployment (typical options)
- Desktop license for single engineers or small firms.
- Server/BIM-integrated deployments for asset managers and city authorities.
- SaaS options with cloud processing for large point-clouds and collaborative workflows.
- Add-ons for real-time monitoring, advanced fracture mechanics, and heritage-material libraries.
Final thoughts
Arch Analyser bridges the gap between specialized curved-structure behavior and modern diagnostic workflows. By automating geometry extraction, tailoring nonlinear solvers, and linking inspection data with advanced analytics, it lets engineers move from observation to prioritized action far faster. For anyone responsible for the safety and longevity of arches, vaults, and curved shells, Arch Analyser is a focused tool that reduces uncertainty and speeds sound decisions.
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