The Joint Sizing Optimizer is an interactive engineering application created to simplify and accelerate the design of structural steel joints. Originally developed as a desktop tool in Qt, the platform featured a clean multi-screen interface where users could explore different joint types and instantly generate optimized design parameters. With inputs such as maximum axial force, the application produced tailored outputs—thickness, width, length, and gap—for three foundational joint types: Imposter Joint, U Joint, and Plate Joint.

More than just a calculator, the tool integrated rigorous checks of Design Safety Factors (DSFs)—bolt shear, bearing, net section rupture, and block shear; ensuring compliance with CSA S-16 standards.

To broaden accessibility, the optimizer was reimagined as a web-based application, allowing engineers, students, and industry collaborators to use it without the barrier of software installation.

Looking ahead, the next-generation Version 2.0 represents a leap forward. Currently in development, this release introduces parametric tuning, refined constraint handling, and iterative optimization engines that deliver robust, convergent solutions across a wider range of design conditions. It will also expand beyond the legacy joint library to include additional steel joint types, providing a more versatile, cutting-edge platform for structural design exploration.