Today, we’re exploring IDEA StatiCa as a Design Link for Prokon SUMO — a powerful design link that significantly enhances structural workflows for pro-consumer users. My name is Jacobus Oberholster, and I’m a technical consultant for AEC and Prokon at Micrographics. If you have any questions after reading this or would like a personalized demo, feel free to reach out via the contact details at the end of this post.
This post is based on a recent live webinar. All steps were performed in real time, which occasionally led to short pauses during processing, but it provided participants with a clear, unfiltered view of how the tools work together in practice.
A New Integration: Prokon and IDEA StatiCa
The design link between Prokon and IDEA StatiCa is a relatively recent development, introduced with the release of Prokon version 5.3. This update brings significant enhancements to existing modules. If you haven’t explored what’s new in version 5.3, I highly recommend it—you’ll find several features that can streamline your day-to-day workflow.
To demonstrate the integration, we used a simple support frame model in Sumo. After loading the model and simplifying the view by turning off some load cases, we examined the structural layout: bracing elements, beams, and columns. It was a straightforward example, but ideal for testing functionality.
Connection Design with IDEA StatiCa
One of IDEA StatiCa’s standout features is its ability to design and check structural connections in full 3D—considering intersecting members from multiple directions. Even what might seem like a basic connection—a beam with a stiffener and some bracing—can be modeled and verified in three dimensions, accurately reflecting the true load effects. This level of detail significantly improves the accuracy and reliability of your designs.
After setting up the frame, we performed a second-order analysis—an essential step when lateral forces are present. Once complete, Sumo provided the resulting internal forces: axial loads, torsion, bending moments, and more. While Sumo is excellent for structural analysis, it doesn’t check compliance with design codes. That’s where IDEA StatiCa steps in.
With the new design link, you can transition seamlessly from analysis in Sumo to code-based design in IDEA StatiCa—checking connections against regional standards like the Eurocode and its national annexes. This makes it possible to complete detailed, compliant design work without duplicating effort or leaving your workflow.
Moving from Analysis to Design
To begin the design process, we opened the design links panel in Sumo, selected the relevant elements, and exported them to IDEA StatiCa using Checkbot. Navigating within Checkbot was straightforward—you can isolate individual connections, model them precisely, and run full compliance checks.
A particularly helpful feature of Checkbot is the ability to group similar connections throughout the model. This promotes consistency and saves time by allowing you to apply design rules across multiple joints efficiently.
While we didn’t have time during the session to explore baseplate connections with bracing, that’s a topic I’d be happy to cover in future content. If you’re interested, let me know—I can share a relevant YouTube tutorial or create new content based on your needs.
When a Connection Fails: IDEA StatiCa in Action
IDEA StatiCa truly shines when a connection fails. The software doesn’t just flag the failure—it shows you a realistic, cost-effective path forward. Without this kind of insight, the default response is often to upsize members unnecessarily, leading to wasted material and inflated costs.
When I clicked “Calculate,” the software identified the worst-case scenario from all available load effects and ran a comprehensive analysis. Unlike other programs that evaluate individual load combinations, IDEA StatiCa consolidates them to simulate an extreme, global condition. It takes a bit longer to compute, but the result is both accurate and safe.
In our session, the analysis returned a dramatic failure—1366.7% plastic strain. By default, IDEA StatiCa considers failure at 5% plastic strain, as defined by Eurocode. Some engineers prefer stricter thresholds like 1.5%, or even 0% if they treat yield as the limit.
When plastic strain hits quadruple digits, it’s a clear sign that something needs to change. But here’s the key: it’s not always the member that’s underperforming—it’s often the connection. Yet, in traditional workflows, engineers might simply increase the member size, wasting material.
A Smarter Solution: Targeted Stiffening
Instead of upsizing the member, I added a simple 14 mm cap plate to the top of the column—a minimal but strategic change. This dropped the plastic strain by more than half. With today’s manufacturing options like laser cutting, such stiffeners are inexpensive and easy to produce.
This is where IDEA StatiCa’s value really stands out—it allows engineers to test and verify design changes in real time. You can model ribs, plates, and stiffeners and instantly see whether they improve performance. If a change has no effect, the software tells you, saving you from unnecessary fabrication.
This kind of cost-conscious engineering is something we should embrace more in South Africa. While consulting fees often take priority, the real long-term savings come from optimizing material use—sometimes cutting costs by hundreds of thousands, even millions, through smarter design choices.
Iteration and Optimization
Returning to the model, I increased bolt sizes to M20 and thickened some plates. I also added a cleat to the beam’s bottom flange and connected it to the column, adjusting the spacing to fit. After re-running the analysis, the plastic strain dropped to 462%—still high, but a major improvement.
With a few more small changes—adding plates at the rear and increasing weld sizes—we reduced the strain further to 38%. That’s a massive turnaround from catastrophic failure to near-passing status. And we did it through targeted, intelligent design—not brute-force upsizing.
Eventually, you’ll hit a point where further tweaks offer no meaningful benefit, and resizing becomes the only option left. But when you reach that point, you do so with confidence, knowing you’ve explored every reasonable alternative. That certainty is invaluable—and can save substantial costs.
Conclusion: Empowered Engineering
By the end of the session, we transformed a failed connection into one on the verge of passing—all through smart, incremental improvements that reflect real-world conditions. Traditional tools don’t offer this level of practical, iterative feedback. IDEA StatiCa, by contrast, empowers engineers to explore design options visually and analytically, backed by a powerful calculation engine and full code compliance.
I’ll soon return to Sumo to synchronize the updated model. With a few final refinements, we’ll achieve a structure that’s not only optimized and compliant but also cost-effective and buildable—ready to meet both engineering standards and practical construction demands.
The integration between Prokon and IDEA StatiCa doesn’t just save time; it enables a mindset shift. Rather than defaulting to overdesign, engineers can make informed decisions based on clear, visual feedback. This means structures that are safer, more efficient, and ultimately more economical to build.
In today’s industry, where timelines are tight and budgets even tighter, having tools that allow you to iterate quickly and validate each change makes a measurable difference—not just in performance, but in client trust and satisfaction. Beyond speed, we can also optimize our material use, making our designs more environmentally friendly and cost-effective. South Africa has a lot of catching up to do on this front, prioritizing quality along with cost-effectiveness. Cost-effectiveness (or the illusion of it) is costing South Africa dearly. This combination of software is a phenomenal step in the right direction.
As we continue to evolve our workflows, tools like this help bridge the gap between design intent and structural reality—bringing better outcomes within reach.
