About

An engineer who writes software for engineers.

I’m Ming Zeng, a structural engineer based in Hong Kong and Shenzhen. My work combines performance-based seismic and wind design of complex buildings with software development for the tools engineers use every day.

Focus
Structural engineering software & automation
Engineering
Performance-based seismic and wind design
Based in
Hong Kong & Shenzhen (UTC+8)
Working in
English — email and video calls

Engineering background

Complex buildings, analyzed in depth

  • Structural analysis, design and design review of complex buildings that go beyond prescriptive code limits
  • Career experience on supertall towers from 200 m to 380 m, multi-tower connected structures and transfer structures
  • Seismic performance evaluation, and seismic design of a three-tower connected structure in a high-seismic region
  • Wind-induced vibration and occupant comfort assessment
  • Work alongside international architecture and engineering teams

Software development

Tools built for real engineering work

Before offering development as a service, I built tools to remove repetitive work from my own projects — structural modeling, analysis and reporting.

  • AutoEPRAutomated report generation for performance-based design reviews
  • AutoWAVEStrong-motion database and ground-motion selection system
  • AutoSECTP–M–M interaction and moment–curvature solver for complex sections
  • SpectraToolsResponse spectrum generation and comparison
  • AutoOSAutomatic pre- and post-processing for OpenSees
  • Global indicatorsStructural summary indicators for frequent-earthquake design checks
  • Abaqus workflowsPython-scripted simulation of RC walls and members, including pinching behavior
  • Parametric developmentRhino/Grasshopper tools, including links to MIDAS API

Credentials

Education & publications

Education

  • Master’s degree, Structural EngineeringBeijing University of Technology, 2013
  • Bachelor’s degree, Civil EngineeringYangtze University, 2010

Publications & patent

  • PERFORM-3D: Basic Operations and Case StudiesBook, China Railway Publishing House, 2013
  • Journal papersDamper-based seismic response reduction of steel frame–concrete core structures (2013); thick-slab transfer structure design (Building Structure, 2019)
  • Invention patent: strongly confined concrete core wallChina, ZL201310006854.6

Toolbox

Codes, software and languages

Design codes

  • ASCE 7
  • AISC
  • ACI 318
  • Eurocodes
  • Hong Kong codes
  • Chinese GB standards
  • Japanese building standards

Analysis software

  • ETABS
  • SAP2000
  • PERFORM-3D
  • midas Gen
  • OpenSees
  • Abaqus
  • Rhino & Grasshopper

Programming

  • Python
  • C# / .NET
  • C++ / Qt
  • MATLAB
  • VBA
  • CSI API
  • MIDAS API

About the name

About the name

Structure vs Poem comes from this site’s original motto: code and poetry, structure and art. Good structures and good software reward the same things — clarity, economy and nothing unnecessary.

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