Case Study: Kiernan Steel achieves efficient, award-winning grandstand connection design with IDEA StatiCa

Kiernan Steel designs 1100-tonne roof connections in 6 months with IDEA StatiCa

Kiernan Steel, an Irish structural steel firm, faced significant engineering challenges when designing connections for the award-winning Curragh Racecourse grandstand. Prior to using vendor IDEA StatiCa, the firm relied on simplified software and manual calculations for non-standard connections, which often led to oversized components and inefficient "black-box" design processes. The complex, large-scale project demanded precise and compact connections for a tight six-month schedule.

By implementing IDEA StatiCa, Kiernan Steel gained a solution that enabled efficient and confident design of even the most complex nodal connections. The software provided clear visualization of stress patterns, allowing for optimized welds and plate sizes. This led to a significant increase in design output and efficiency, enabling the creation of lightweight, cost-effective connections that were crucial for the project's success. Using IDEA StatiCa helped Kiernan Steel win a TEKLA BIM award and ensured the client received a high-quality product on time.

Kiernan Steel