RF-CONCRETE is an add-on module for the RFEM program system. The input, calculation and design as well as the layout of results are comfortable to work with and integrated in the user interface of RFEM.
RF-CONCRETE designs plates, walls, shells and members from reinforced concrete for uniaxial or biaxial bending with normal forces as well as for shearing and torsion. The following standards are supported: DIN V ENV 1992-1-1:1992, DIN 1045-88, DIN 1045-01 and ÖNORM B4700.
RF-CONCRETE offers an extraordinary functionality. Its integration in the RFEM interface implicates a smooth, almost imperceptible transition from the FE analysis to concrete design. For example, selected objects for design can easily be selected graphically unless an all-inclusive design is performed.

In both RF-CONCRETE modules, the material data (concrete and reinforcing steel grades) can be modified. Likewise, the RFEM element properties such as cross-sections of members and surface thicknesses of shells can be modified. The preset parameters like concrete covers, basal or minimum tensile reinforcement can be edited manually. By the specification of the particular diameters of bars applicable for design, the boundary conditions and other factors can be customized. If an area cannot be designed with the preset parameters, the program will provide detailed reasons for the problems and offer proposals relating to the structure or the design settings where applicable.

RF-CONCRETE Members determines a reinforcement recommendation from the given settings which can be shown graphically and further modified as the user likes. The final reinforcement can be shown in the form of a sketch of the reinforcement plan. The corresponding steel schedule will be generated, too. All reinforcement layers are perfectly visualized in the rendering. This means that the reinforcement bars can be illustrated three dimensional in half-transparent concrete, and include details such as diameters and spacing of the bars and anchorages.

The design algorithm for one-dimensional reinforced concrete elements includes typical reinforced concrete cross-sections (e.g. rectangular, circular, T-shaped, floor beam and rotated floor beam cross-sections) so that almost any situation of construction is covered. The design is based on the exact integration of the parabola-rectangle model of stress condition over the subdivided double-material cross-section surface. It incorporates the complete reinforcement optimization in one step. In addition to the required longitudinal, link and longitudinal torsion reinforcement, the lever of the inner forces, the shear range, the tensions due to shear forces and torsion can be checked. Also the state of strain can be analyzed in detail due to the listing of the internal forces.

RF-CONCRETE Surfaces is able to design three-dimensional shell structures so that combinations of exposure to bending and normal forces can be analyzed. Designing these cases is possible by the expansion of the method by Baumann for two- and three-layer reinforcements.

Areas that are covered by the basic reinforcement can be hidden in the output. Thus, only those areas where an extra reinforcement or an increase of the basic reinforcement is necessary can be shown. The results can be given as isolines, isoareas or as numerical values. The latter can be displayed in the corresponding reinforcement direction and therefore, enable a direct allocation of values and direction. Through the filtering of values according to user-defined criteria, the specification in the graphic is reduced to decisive or critical areas. This increases the clarity of output.
Because it is possible to create sections which display the required amount of reinforcement for the relevant surfaces, a precise and clear analysis of the results can be done. Isolines can be exported as DXF files and then used in CAD applications as the basis for further reinforcement drawings.