Post-process plate analysis results into design moments by strip with an AI-written script

Short answer

Use Claude, ChatGPT or OpenAI Codex: The AI writes and explains a short Python script that applies the design-moment equations you paste to exported plate forces, assigns plates to the strips you define, and reports the governing plate and combination per strip with a hand-check table. Many analysis programs report plate results as separate Mx, My and Mxy, so engineers export them to Excel, combine them into design moments by hand and then search the model for the governing plates. Have Claude, ChatGPT or Codex write a short, commented Python script that applies the design-moment equations you paste from your own reference, assigns plates to the design strips you define by coordinates, and lists the governing plate and load combination per strip. You choose the method, the strips and the sign convention, and you hand-check a few plates. A person still checks: method choice, sign conventions, strip definitions and averaging, a hand check of several plates (including a high-twist one), and all reinforcement design.

AI tie-in

Tool: Claude, ChatGPT or OpenAI Codex

The AI writes and explains a short Python script that applies the design-moment equations you paste to exported plate forces, assigns plates to the strips you define, and reports the governing plate and combination per strip with a hand-check table.

Prompt 1

Write a commented Python script using pandas that reads a plate results export (CSV columns: plate ID, load combination, Mx, My, Mxy, centroid x, centroid y) and a strips table (strip name, direction, x min, x max, y min, y max). Use exactly these design-moment equations and this sign convention, which I am pasting from my own reference: [paste]. Do not substitute equations from memory. Assign each plate to a strip by its centroid and list unassigned or double-assigned plates. For each strip and combination, output the maximum and minimum design moment, the strip average and the governing plate ID to an Excel file with a summary sheet and a plate-level sheet. Also print a check table for plates [IDs] showing every intermediate value so I can hand-check them.

Prompt 2

Here is the script and its check-table output for three plates [paste], and my hand calculations for the same plates [paste]. Explain every difference step by step, point to the line of code involved, and check whether the sign convention for Mxy and for top versus bottom faces matches what I described: [paste convention]. Do not change the equations; suggest fixes only for coding errors.

Human check: Method choice, sign conventions, strip definitions and averaging, a hand check of several plates (including a high-twist one), and all reinforcement design.

The problem

Post-process plate analysis results into design moments by strip with an AI-written script. This is a common, time-consuming task for a structural engineer.

What this workflow does

Many analysis programs report plate results as separate Mx, My and Mxy, so engineers export them to Excel, combine them into design moments by hand and then search the model for the governing plates. Have Claude, ChatGPT or Codex write a short, commented Python script that applies the design-moment equations you paste from your own reference, assigns plates to the design strips you define by coordinates, and lists the governing plate and load combination per strip. You choose the method, the strips and the sign convention, and you hand-check a few plates.

How it works: AI drafts or analyzes. A person operates the tools, checks the work, and takes action.

Your checkpoint: The script reproduces the method you chose. It does not judge whether that method, the mesh, the strip widths or the averaging are appropriate, and it does not design reinforcement. Sign conventions differ between programs and between faces, so hand-check plates before use; the engineer of record owns the design.

Before you start

Access to the named tool; confirm license, version and cost with the vendor.
A small, non-confidential sample to try the workflow on first.
A qualified person to review the output before it is used.

Tools and access

Follow the steps

Export plate results for the load combinations you need to CSV: plate ID, combination, Mx, My, Mxy (by face or at the centroid, however your program reports them) and plate centroid coordinates. Write down the program's local axes and sign conventions from its documentation first.
Choose the design-moment method yourself (for example the orthogonal-reinforcement method in your design guide, or working from corner or nodal forces) and paste its equations from your textbook or design guide into the prompt. Tell the model not to substitute equations from memory.
Define strips as coordinate bands in a small table (strip name, direction, x and y limits). Have the script assign each plate to a strip by its centroid and list plates that land in no strip or in two.
Have it compute top and bottom design moments per plate and combination, then report per strip the maximum, the minimum, the strip average if you use averaging, and the governing plate ID and combination. Write a summary sheet and a plate-level sheet to Excel, plus a plate ID list you can paste into the program's selection or search.
Hand-calculate two or three plates, including one with a large twisting moment, and compare every intermediate value before you trust the script. Re-check whenever the mesh, plate orientation or combinations change.
Review peaks at columns, supports and point loads with your own judgment. The script reports numbers; it does not decide how much peak smoothing is reasonable or design the reinforcement.

Try a small example

Replace the bracketed fields with your own project details. No tested sample run is published for this workflow yet.

Sample input

Fill in the bracketed [fields] in the text below with your project data.

Starter prompt

Write a commented Python script using pandas that reads a plate results export (CSV columns: plate ID, load combination, Mx, My, Mxy, centroid x, centroid y) and a strips table (strip name, direction, x min, x max, y min, y max). Use exactly these design-moment equations and this sign convention, which I am pasting from my own reference: [paste]. Do not substitute equations from memory. Assign each plate to a strip by its centroid and list unassigned or double-assigned plates. For each strip and combination, output the maximum and minimum design moment, the strip average and the governing plate ID to an Excel file with a summary sheet and a plate-level sheet. Also print a check table for plates [IDs] showing every intermediate value so I can hand-check them.

Expected output

Not published yet. Treat any output as a draft and check it against the source documents.

Check the result

Every value, citation or quantity traces back to a source document.
Missing information is marked as missing, not filled in.

Limits and recovery

The script reproduces the method you chose. It does not judge whether that method, the mesh, the strip widths or the averaging are appropriate, and it does not design reinforcement. Sign conventions differ between programs and between faces, so hand-check plates before use; the engineer of record owns the design.
Check your organization’s data policy before sharing project files with third-party tools.

Stop or switch when: The source cannot be verified, permissions are missing, or the result contains unsupported facts.

Frequently asked questions

How does AI help with this?

Claude, ChatGPT or OpenAI Codex: The AI writes and explains a short Python script that applies the design-moment equations you paste to exported plate forces, assigns plates to the strips you define, and reports the governing plate and combination per strip with a hand-check table. A person still checks: Method choice, sign conventions, strip definitions and averaging, a hand check of several plates (including a high-twist one), and all reinforcement design.

How do I post-process plate analysis results into design moments by strip with an AI-written script?

Export plate results for the load combinations you need to CSV: plate ID, combination, Mx, My, Mxy (by face or at the centroid, however your program reports them) and plate centroid coordinates. Write down the program's local axes and sign conventions from its documentation first. Choose the design-moment method yourself (for example the orthogonal-reinforcement method in your design guide, or working from corner or nodal forces) and paste its equations from your textbook or design guide into the prompt. Tell the model not to substitute equations from memory. Define strips as coordinate bands in a small table (strip name, direction, x and y limits). Have the script assign each plate to a strip by its centroid and list plates that land in no strip or in two. The full step list is above.

Does this use an AI agent or regular software?

It is labeled AI assists: AI drafts or analyzes. A person operates the tools, checks the work, and takes action.

What tools do I need?

Claude, ChatGPT, OpenAI Codex, pandas, Microsoft Excel. Confirm license, version and cost with the vendor, and try it on a small non-confidential sample first.

Has this workflow been tested?

Workflow guide · not independently tested. Written from vendor documentation and practitioner use. Labels apply to the steps described here, not every feature of a product. Links were checked when the page was written.

Evidence and maintenance

Written from vendor documentation and practitioner use. Labels apply to the steps described here, not every feature of a product. Links were checked when the page was written.