Structural Engineering lite vs CSiMaterials
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Structural Engineering lite
This app provides engineers with essential structural formulas and calculations for civil construction projects. It offers instant results, demand/capacity checks, and a built-in database of materials and sections, all accessible on mobile devices.
- 59 structural formulas (AISC/ACI)
- Instant demand/capacity checks
- Built-in AISC section database
- Material and code references
- USCS & SI unit support
- Pass/Fail visual indicator
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Structural Engineering Calculator delivers 59 AISC and ACI structural formulas with instant results, demand/capacity checks, a built-in AISC section database, and material references — all in one app. Whether you’re on site, in the office, or reviewing drawings, every calculation you need is in your pocket. 59 STRUCTURAL FORMULAS COLUMNS Critical Ratio (Cc), Effective Length Factor (K), Slenderness Ratio (KL/r), Allowable Compressive Stress (Sr less than Cc), Allowable Compressive Stress (Sr greater than Cc), Safety Factor, Maximum Axial Load. BEAMS Shear Capacity of Flexural Members, Allowable Bending Stress (Compact and Noncompact), Moment Gradient Factor (Cb), Allowable Flange Bending Stress, Plastic Moment (Mp), Lateral Unbraced Lengths (Lp and Lr), Limiting Buckling Moment (Mr), Nominal Moment (Mn), Critical Elastic Moment (Mcr), Allowable Shear Stress, Beam Deflection for UDL and Point Load. BASE PLATES Base Plate Area, Plate Thickness, Bearing Pressure, Flange and Web Thickness, Plate Dimensions N and B. COMPOSITE BEAMS Horizontal Shear for Concrete and Steel, Number of Shear Connectors, Transformed Section Properties, Modular Ratio, Elastic Neutral Axis. CONNECTIONS Allowable Shear with Tension Field Action, Allowable Bearing Stress for Rollers and Rockers, Axial Stress for Concentrated Loads, Allowable Bearing Stress on Fasteners, Number of Shear Connectors, Total Horizontal Shear. AISC CODE REFERENCES Every formula links directly to AISC/ACI clauses — AISC 360-16, AISC ASD 9th Edition, ACI 318-19, and AISC Design Guide 3. PASS / FAIL CHECK Instant visual adequacy check with demand/capacity ratio — green for PASS, red for FAIL. AISC SECTION PICKER Browse W-shapes (AISC 15th Edition) and auto-fill section properties instantly. REFERENCE TAB Built-in library with W-sections (W4–W44), ASTM materials (A36, A992, A572, A500, A325, A490, F1554), weld electrodes, concrete grades, and codes. USCS & SI UNITS Switch anytime between inches/ksi and mm/MPa with automatic conversion. All section and material data included. Supports both USCS and SI units. Compatible with iPhone and iPad. Pay once — no subscriptions. References: AISC Steel Construction Manual 15th Edition, AISC 360-16, AISC ASD 9th Edition, ACI 318-19, AISC Design Guide 3.
CSiMaterials
Access a comprehensive library of construction materials for structural design. Search and sort materials by various properties like strength and strain to find optimal options for your projects.
- Comprehensive material library
- Search and sort by material properties
- View material properties
- Includes tendons, cold formed steel, and aluminum
- Filter by strength and strain
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CSiMaterials is an app that contains construction materials for structural designs. It allows searching, sorting and viewing of materials based on various material properties. Application/Usage: • View construction materials for structural designs • Search and sort material properties based on user selection criteria Target Users: • Site engineers and contractors looking for alternative material properties based on regional availability, or construction constraints • Structural and civil engineers looking for optimum materials and their properties for structural modelling and analysis • Teachers and students searching for materials in member designs and projects Key Features: • Comprehensive list of materials including tendons, cold formed steel and aluminum • Search and sort for materials based on many parameters, including strength and strain properties Key Input: • Material library • Material type, name, or properties Key Ouput: • Material type, name, or properties
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Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: CSiMaterials at none against Structural Engineering lite's 1. CSiMaterials also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 17.6). Structural Engineering lite's advantage is ratings volume (19 vs 1) and rating (4.2 vs 4.0). On price and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Structural Engineering lite sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. CSiMaterials asks for nothing beyond the download.
Structural Engineering lite holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Structural Engineering lite has 19 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
| Parameter | Structural Engineering lite | CSiMaterials |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.2 (19 ratings) — better | 4.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 60.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 19 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | — |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 9.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 6 MB | 16 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | V PUGAZHENTHI | Computers and Structures, Inc. |
Customer experience
Structural Engineering lite
CSiMaterials
In-app purchases
Structural Engineering lite
- Structural Engineering Calc.$5.99
CSiMaterials
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Structural Engineering lite free?
Is CSiMaterials free?
Which has better reviews, Structural Engineering lite or CSiMaterials?
Do Structural Engineering lite or CSiMaterials have ads?
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