Author Archives: Calcpad

Engineering calculation notes with Markdown and Calcpad

Since version 7.3.1, Calcpad supports Markdown in comments besides simple text and Html/CSS. Markdown is a simple markup language that allows users to quickly format text by adding short symbolic tags. It is easier to use and learn than Html and much faster to type. Although it provides limited features, they are just enough forContinue reading “Engineering calculation notes with Markdown and Calcpad”

Parametric drawings with Calcpad

Besides text and formulas, Calcpad allows you to add scaled parametric vector images to your reports. Their dimensions can depend on your input data and the results from the calculations. It means that if you change some values, the drawings will resize accordingly. An example drawing of a prestressed TT panel section, created with CalcpadContinue reading “Parametric drawings with Calcpad”

Checking the Collatz conjecture (with Calcpad)

The Collatz conjecture is one of the most interesting and still unsolved problems in mathematics. It is named after the German mathematician Lothar Collatz (1910 – 1990), who invented it. It sounds very simple, and it is hard to believe that no one has managed to prove it so far: Pick a random integer >Continue reading “Checking the Collatz conjecture (with Calcpad)”

How to calculate special functions with Calcpad

There are many special mathematical functions that are not defined by arithmetic expressions, but as a solution of some definite integral. Such are Gamma and related functions, Error function, Fresnel integrals, elliptic integrals, etc. Unlike some advanced mathematical packages as Octave, Maxima or Scilab, they are not implemented internally in Calcpad. However, for real numbers,Continue reading “How to calculate special functions with Calcpad”

Comparison of three quadrature rules

Sometimes, in science and engineering, we need to calculate some definite integrals of the type: It is equivalent to evaluating the area enclosed between the function graph and x-axis, within the interval [a, b]. There are some integrals (like elliptical, Fresnel, etc.) that cannot be expressed in analytical form. In such cases, we have toContinue reading “Comparison of three quadrature rules”

How to add title, labels and legend to a Calcpad plot?

Calcpad does not provide options to add titles, axis labels and legends to function plots like in Excel. However, you can decorate your plots with these attributes by your own, by using a little Html. Bellow, you can find a sample code that you can use as a boilerplate. Since chart colors are predefined, theyContinue reading “How to add title, labels and legend to a Calcpad plot?”

Units in empirical formulas

There are many formulas in structural design codes, that are empirical and if you enter them in Calcpad “as are”, you will not obtain the results in the expected units. Moreover, there are even formulas, that are not dimensionally correct and won’t calculate. Lets take for example the shear resistance without reinforcement, according to EurocodeContinue reading “Units in empirical formulas”

What’s new in Calcpad 5.8 and later?

In the last several months, Calcpad was subjected to continuous improvement, driven by the efforts of its developers and the help of the community. In this post, we will make a short review of the most important changes. 1. Modules If you have a simple and short worksheet, it is definitely easier to keep itContinue reading “What’s new in Calcpad 5.8 and later?”

5 reasons to choose math worksheets over Excel spreadsheets for structural calculations

Although there are plenty of software nowadays, engineers still have to develop custom calculations to solve specific problems. Some may still make them “by hand”, but most engineers use some kind of software for that. The problem is that in most cases, we have to document our calculations and collect them in design reports orContinue reading “5 reasons to choose math worksheets over Excel spreadsheets for structural calculations”