Skip to Content

Slab Model Example 

After successfully installing ProtaStructure 2025, locate the ProtaData2025 folder:

  1. On your Windows computer, go to the main search bar at the bottom (next to the taskbar and the Windows icon).
  2. Type "ProtaData2025" into the search bar.
  3. When the search result appears, right-click on it and select "Open file location" as shown below:

Next Step: Add the Slab Example Model

  1. Download the slab example model using the link provided below.
  2. Once downloaded, copy the folder.
  3. Paste it into the ProtaData2025 folder you opened in the previous step.


➡ Download Slab Example Model

Note: Download the entire Slab_Example_Model Folder, not individual files. After importing the model folder into your ProtaData2025 folder it will appear as shown below. 

Next, launch ProtaStructure 2025 by clicking on its icon on your desktop.

  1. Under the Building Setout tab, click on Open Project.
  2. In the Project Data Folder, ensure ProtaData2025 is selected.
  3. From the list of projects displayed, choose Slab_Example_Model.
  4. Wait for the project to load.

Once loaded:

  • On the Structure Tree on the left, right-click on Views and select 3D Physical Model.
  • Hover your cursor over each structural element to display its properties, as shown below.

(Swipe left on the images below to follow these steps visually.)

This simple model serves as a perfect introduction to the world of ProtaStructure. In this tutorial, you'll follow along with the manual hand calculations and directly compare them with the software’s output side by side. Later, you’re free to experiment with the model—tweak its geometry, change material properties, or even add more elements and extra storeys to see how it all comes together.

For now, let’s stay focused on the core learning: you'll be guided step by step on how to access the exact design reports shown in the tutorial, so you can actively compare the software results with our hand calculations. We’ll go through everything in the same order as presented in the tutorial: starting with the slab design report, then moving on to beam diagrams, beam loads, beam design reports, column design reports, and finally the pad footing report. To wrap up, you'll also learn how to release the end moments on the beams in the model—transforming them from fixed to simply supported—and then run a fresh building analysis to review the updated moment and shear diagrams (as also shown in the tutorial).

Let’s get started with the first set of steps: opening the slab design report.

Opening the Slab Design Report

To view the slab design report and compare it with the manual calculations from the tutorial, follow these steps:

  1. In ProtaStructure 2025, with your Slab_Example_Model open, go to the Design tab located at the top ribbon.
  2. Click on Slab Analysis and Design from the toolbar options.
  3. Click on Design Report from the menu options.
  4. The report will open, showing detailed reinforcement requirements and design checks. Use this report to compare with the step-by-step hand calculations provided in the tutorial.

Swipe through the images below to visually follow each of these steps before moving on to the next section.

Opening the Beam Diagrams

Next, let's check the beam diagrams (moment and shear) so you can compare them with the manual calculations in the tutorial:

  1. In ProtaStructure 2025, go to the Design tab on the top ribbon.
  2. Click on Storey Beams from the toolbar.
  3. In the new window, select Diagram to display the shear and bending moments for the beams.
  4. Check on the Display Detailed Values option and hover your mouse over any point on the beam diagrams to see the exact values for moments and shear.
  5. Use the zoom and pan tools to focus on specific beams as referenced in the tutorial.

Swipe left through the images below to follow each step visually and make your comparisons easier.

Viewing the Beam Loads

Now, let’s proceed to view the beam loads, just as shown in the tutorial for side-by-side comparison with manual calculations:

  1. While still in ProtaStructure 2025, go to the Loading tab on the top ribbon.
  2. Click on Load Editor Storey: 1.
  3. Under the Structure Tree, expand Beam and select Dead Load (G) or Live Load (Q) to display the corresponding loads.
  4. Hover your cursor over each beam to see the load values displayed on-screen.
  5. Make note of the uniform loads and pattern loads applied to the beams — these are the same values used in your hand calculations.
  6. You can toggle between different load cases (e.g., dead, live) to see how each affects the beam loads.
  7. To zoom in on the displayed 3D model, click on View Options and deselect Auto Scale.
  8. Zoom in to get a clearer view of the load labels and values on the model by sliding both fingers apart on your touchpad or rotating the wheel on your mouse.

Swipe left through the images below to visually follow each of these steps.

Viewing the Beam Design Report

Next, let’s access the beam design report to compare with our manual hand calculations:

  1. In ProtaStructure 2025, go to the Design tab at the top.
  2. Click on Storey Beams.
  3. A new window will appear — select the beams you want to generate a report for (you can select all or specific beams).
  4. Click on Detailed Report and Select All on the dialog box that appears.
  5. The Beam Design Report will open, showing reinforcement details, moment capacities, shear checks, and deflection checks.
  6. Scroll through the report and match the values with those shown in the tutorial, including areas of steel (As), moments, and provided reinforcement sizes.
  7. You can also export this report as a PDF for your reference.

Swipe through the images below to see these steps visually.

Viewing the Column Design Reports

Now let’s move on to the column design reports, where we compare software results with our manual biaxial bending calculations:

  1. In ProtaStructure 2025, click on the Design tab at the top.
  2. Click on Columns.
  3. A window will appear, click on Interactive Design.
  4. A new window will pop up. Click on the Slenderness tab (lower right section). This will display if the column is braced or not and degree of its ends fixity β.
  5.  Click on Interactive Design at the top left of the same window.
  6. On the new window that appears click on Design Report. Scroll down the notepad that appears to read through the column analysis results.
  7. Close the notepad then click on OK to close the 4th window to come back to the 3rd window.
  8. Close the 3rd window.
  9. On the 2nd window, click on the Reports tab located at the top.
  10. Click on Design Report. On the dialog box that appears, check all options, type a title then click on OK
  11. The Column Design Report will open, showing detailed calculations including axial loads, moments, provided reinforcement areas (As and Asc), and the interaction diagram checks.
  12. Scroll through the report and identify the parameters we calculated manually, such as design axial load (N), design moments (Mx, My), and reinforcement details.
  13. Export the report as PDF if needed for future comparison and study.

Swipe through the images below to view these steps.

Viewing the Pad Footing Design Report

Let’s now proceed to the pad footing design report, where you will compare the hand calculations from the tutorial with the software output:

  1. In ProtaStructure 2025, go to the Design tab located at the top menu.
  2. Click on Pad Footings from the available options.
  3. In the window that appears, click on Detailed Design Report.
  4. The Pad Footing Design Report will open. Here, you'll see data such as soil bearing pressure checks, footing dimensions, punching shear verification, and reinforcement details.
  5. Compare the values provided (like bearing stress, footing size, and reinforcement area) with those obtained in our manual calculations.
  6. You can export this report as PDF to keep a side-by-side record while following the tutorial.

Swipe through the images below to visualize these steps clearly.

Modifying Beam End Releases and Running Updated Analysis

In this step, we will modify the model's beams so that they behave as simply supported (instead of fixed-ended), by releasing the moments at the ends. After this, we'll re-run the structural analysis to view the updated moment and shear diagrams, just as shown in the tutorial comparison.

Follow these steps carefully:

  1. On the Structure Tree (left panel), click on the left arrow next to Beams to expose all the four beams. 
  2. Click on the first beam and hold down the control key and click on the remaining 3 beams to Select All, which will highlight all the beams in your model.
  3. With the beams selected, right click and select Properties.
  4. A Beam Summary table will appear. Go to the Hinge column.
  5. Under the same column, click on the first beam and choose IJ (Left & Right) among the options provided.
  6. On the dialog box that appears, click Yes and repeat the same step for the remaining 3 beams so that they are all hinged at the supports (this makes them act like simply supported beams with zero moment transfer).
  7. Click on Close to apply the changes.
Running the Updated Analysis:
  1. Next, click on the Analysis tab at the top.
  2. Select Building Analysis to run the structural analysis with the updated beam releases.
  3. In the window that appears, click on Analysis tab then click on Building Analysis.
  4. Another window will appear. Click on Building Analysis and then wait for the analysis to complete. 
  5. Once analysis is complete, click on Close.
  6. To view the new diagrams:
    • Under Design tab, click on Storey Beams then choose Diagram.
    • Select to display Moment and Shear diagrams.
  7. Hover your cursor over the beams to compare the new diagrams against the manually calculated diagrams provided in the tutorial.

Swipe left through the images below to guide you through each step!

Wrapping Up: Play Around and Get Comfortable!

Congratulations! You’ve now successfully followed through the complete process — from importing the slab example model, generating design reports, and even tweaking the structural behavior by modifying the beam end releases. By comparing ProtaStructure's output with our manual calculations, you’ve built a solid foundation in understanding both the theory and practical side of structural analysis.

Now, feel free to experiment with the model:

  • Try changing the beam or slab dimensions.
  • Adjust material properties like concrete grade or reinforcement type.
  • Add an extra storey or more beams and see how it affects the analysis.
  • Play around with different end releases and loading conditions.

This hands-on exploration is the best way to deepen your skills before moving on to real-world structural projects.

When you’re ready, click the “Back to Tutorial” button to proceed to the next chapter where we dive into actual design projects based on real architectural plans. This is where your skills start transforming into real engineering power!

Keep going — you’re well on your way to becoming a confident and skilled structural engineer!


Back To Tutorial