The structural analysis software RFEM 6 is the basis of a modular software system. The main program RFEM 6 is used to define structures, materials, and loads of planar and spatial structural systems consisting of plates, walls, shells, and members. The program also allows you to create combined structures as well as to model solid and contact elements.
RSTAB 9 is a powerful analysis and design software for 3D beam, frame, or truss structure calculations, reflecting the current state of the art and helping structural engineers meet requirements in modern civil engineering.
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Member hinges can be assigned to members graphically by right clicking on a member hinge definition type and selecting the "Assign to Members" option.
After this option is selected, the eligible members' start and end regions are available to select graphically. Once selected, the member hinge will be visible at the member start or end locations.
The display of internal forces for couplings (coupling members, rigid members) is deactivated by default in RFEM 6 / RSTAB 9. However, you can quickly enable the display of internal forces and deformations for these member types under the Navigator - Results - Members options by selecting the "Results on Couplings" checkbox.
RFEM 6 / RSTAB 9 requires OpenGL 4.2 or higher to run efficiently. Ideally, a virtual machine (VM) should have a high-performance graphics card such as NVIDIA. However, this is not required. An open-source implementation of OpenGL, such as Mesa, is sufficient, but the performance may decrease.
Support reactions available in the Navigator - Results tab will activate the support reactions graphically due to the applied static loads. These are the equal and opposite forces at the supports to resist the applied loads. All magnitudes are positive with the arrow indicating the reaction direction.
However, in the table results Static Analysis - Results by Node - Support Forces tab, you'll notice that while the magnitudes are identical to the graphical display, the signage is opposite. This is due to the fact that the "forces" are given in this table directly vs. the "reactions" which are shown graphically as explained above.
Users have the ability to turn on the table signage graphically under the Navigator - Results tab - Support Reactions - With Sign.
The most significant difference between the RWIND 2 Basic vs. Pro options is the simulation type. The Basic edition applies a steady-flow simulation. The Pro edition contains everything that is available in the Basic edition, but also provides new options and features including the transient flow simulation using a more advanced turbulence model (Spalart-Allmaras DDES).
For a full list of features compared in both versions, please refer to the RWIND 2 online manual RWIND Basic and RWIND Pro section with the link below.
It's possible to select an existing cross-section from the program library and edit the parameters with the "convert into parametric section" option.
This will prompt the section dialog box to directly input the modified dimensions.
It's further possible to use this member in the model for the static analysis as well as design acc. to the various standards in the Design Add-ons.
To activate the nonlinear material behavior in RFEM 6 or RSTAB 9, the Nonlinear Material Behavior add-on must be activated.
The material model should then be modified from the default setting "Linear Elastic" to the relevant "Plastic" setting in the Material dialog box, depending on whether the element is a 1D member, 2D surface, or 3D solid.
Lastly, the Static Analysis Settings should further be modified to set the number of load increments and to activate the "Save results of all load increments" checkbox.
After the calculation, all results can be viewed in the Navigator - Results panel according to the selected load increment.
There may be a scenario where a user does not have a continuous internet connection to run the cloud-based online licenses of RFEM 6, RSTAB 9, or RSECTION.
In order to initially launch these programs, a user must have an initial connection to the internet. The license will then be active over the default 24 hrs where no internet connection is required. After 24 hrs, the internet connection is needed again to renew for an additional 24 hrs.
However, there is now the option to check out a license for up to 30 days where a continuous internet connection is not required over this time period to successfully run the programs. To select a longer time period beyond the default 24 hrs, a user can simply select the borrow date directly in the License Manager.
After the selected time period has expired, an active internet connection is required to renew the license for an additional period.
All members when using the Design Add-ons for serviceability checks are considered supported at the end nodes by default. If the member is instead a cantilever or includes an internal support for a combination of both a cantilever and supported at both ends member type, a new Design Support should be defined under the member details.
The Design Support option can be found under the member dialog box under Design Supports & Deflection tab. Supports can be added to any nodes detected along the member length such as the member start, member end, or internal nodes.
Under the New Design Support dialog box, you can set the type of support from the drop-down including general, concrete, or timber. The "general" will give the program guidance on the deflection member type and which limiting deflection ratio to reference from the Serviceability Configurations whether cantilever (e.g., L/180) or supported on both ends (e.g., L/360). The alternative types "concrete" and "timber" will also influence the deflection design, but have additional strength design options incorporated such as moment and shear internal force modification for concrete design and a stress perpendicular to grain check for timber design.
For additional detailed information on this new setting in RFEM 6 including a "timber" type design support, refer to the webinar listed below under Links at time 51:05.
In the current state of RFEM 6, the user must manually define the shear and longitudinal reinforcement for members. This is considered the "Provided Reinforcement" within the Concrete Design add-on. The add-on calculation will then determine the "Required Reinforcement" needed from the analysis and further output the "Not Covered Reinforcement". The user must manually apply additional reinforcement if the "Required Reinforcement" is not met.
For surfaces RFEM 6 can design automatically the reinforcement.
Design of Surface Reinforcement
It is planned for the future to have an automatic design also of the member reinforcement rather than only the manual input option.
The RFEM 6 90-day trial version is available to all users, even if you currently own an RFEM 5 license or have previously exhausted an RFEM 5 trial. You will also not interfere with your current RFEM 5 licensing when you concurrently run RFEM 6.
You’ll find access to the trial version after filling out our online form. A separate email will be sent to you with your RFEM 6 login data for access to the program without limitations for 90 days.
RFEM 6 | Contact Form - Trial Version
Please note, only one trial version will be provided to each company. You will not have the ability for multiple users under the same account to download multiple trial versions. Once the trial version is requested from any user under the same company account, the ability to request a second trial version for any other user will not be possible. All users, however, can create their own login credentials and access the company-wide trial version over 90-days as long as someone else is not currently in the program.
RFEM 5 is supported in parallel to RFEM 6 and will be maintained with further updates. These updates mainly include the correction of small program bugs as well as adjustments to changes in operating systems and graphics cards in order to maintain functionality. New features and further developments are implemented exclusively in the RFEM 6 software generation.
Support for RFEM 5 continues until further notice as long as there is a valid service contract for RFEM 5. In order to benefit from upgrade conditions, a valid service contract for RFEM 5 is also required.
Purchased RFEM 5 licenses can continue to be used in parallel with RFEM 6 even after a complete upgrade to RFEM 6.
RFEM 6 was completely rewritten using the modern Qt framework in the C++ programming language. Graphics and the overall GUI is greatly improved including a quicker and more reliable printout report. Cloud-based licensing is also used allowing multiple users within the same company to share licenses on different computers.
Perhaps the biggest change between program generations is the add-on modules are now integrated directly in the main program renamed as “add-ons”. This means that information such as unbraced lengths, reinforcement layout, etc. will be defined directly in RFEM 6. Design ratios will then be provided within the main program rather than what used to be a separate add-on module dialog box.
Complete design equations are now provided for each standard and material so users have a clear and traceable understanding of the results.
Although some new program concepts will require a different workflow for those used to RFEM 5, we’re confident these changes will lead to more efficient and complete model designs. Check out a more complete list of new features with the link listed below.
To upgrade from RFEM 5 to RFEM 6 or RSTAB 8 to RSTAB 9 will require an upgrade fee which is not covered under your existing RFEM 5 / RSTAB 8 Basic or Pro Service Contract.
Visit the webshop to learn more about upgrade options or contact our sales team today for your customized quote.