Inside ArcelorMittal's Global R&D advanced FEA webinar with IDEA StatiCa
ArcelorMittal engineers deepen their proficiency with IDEA StatiCa
We are pleased to share insights on a recent collaborative webinar with ArcelorMittal, a global leader in steel production. The session brought together several experts from the field of steel design, including our own Product Engineer, Sebastiaan van Hassel.
Our contribution focused on the application of advanced digital tools in structural design. The webinar marked another step in our collaboration with ArcelorMittal, where our CBFEM-based software continues to support their rigorous standards for safety, efficiency, and sustainability. The decision of ArcelorMittal’s engineers to deepen their proficiency with IDEA StatiCa highlights our shared commitment to engineering excellence and modern, data-driven design workflows.
This article reviews the key outcomes of the session and examines how combining advanced software with material expertise strengthens the development of modern infrastructure.
The engineering precision imperative
ArcelorMittal’s products are integral to some of the world’s most complex structures. To ensure these materials perform as intended, engineers need tools that can mirror real-world behavior while streamlining the design process. This is where advanced software solutions come into play, particularly for the intricate domain of connection design and member verification.
The company has integrated specialized engineering software into its core workflows to bridge the gap between theoretical design and practical application. One such tool is IDEA StatiCa, a platform known for its Component-Based Finite Element Method (CBFEM)—a hybrid approach that combines the efficiency of the Component Method with the detailed insight of Finite Element Analysis. For ArcelorMittal, this isn’t just about software adoption; it’s about building a ecosystem where digital design, material science, and fabrication realities align seamlessly.
The FEA webinar program
The main technical part of the presentation focused on the Component-Based Finite Element Method (CBFEM). We explained how CBFEM combines the traditional Component Method with nonlinear FEA to provide accurate, design-oriented results while keeping modelling time low.
A series of real project case studies showed how engineers use the software to solve complex connection and member problems. The webinar included a case study on strengthening a stability-sensitive steel bracing member. The original slender brace, affected by an eccentric connection, showed loss of stability in advanced analysis. Replacement was not possible, so a bolted Omega profile was added as reinforcement. The updated GMNIA assessment confirmed that the strengthened configuration restored stability, reduced deflections, and met code requirements. The case illustrated how realistic nonlinear analysis can guide efficient and practical strengthening strategies for steel members.
To conclude, the presentation highlighted ongoing innovations in automation, parametric design, and AI. These developments include Checkbot for integrated workflows, parametric templates for rapid variant exploration, Grasshopper-based parametric modelling, and machine-learning tools capable of predicting weld resistance based on extensive training datasets.
Building on a legacy of innovation
ArcelorMittal’s partnership with software providers like IDEA StatiCa is a testament to its commitment to leading the industry not just in material production, but in the entire value chain of construction. The October webinar session is a snapshot of this ethos in action—equipping engineers with deep technical knowledge to leverage advanced software in their mission to build safer, smarter, and more sustainable structures.
