Structure Stability for RFEM 6 / RSTAB 9

Add-on for Stability Analysis According to Eigenvalue Method and Incremental Method

Additional Analyses

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

"The RFEM add-on module RF-STABILITY is a perfect combination with RWIND Simulation. Using RF-STABILITY, I can perform a buckling analysis to get accurate effective lengths. Using RWIND Simulation, I can get accurate wind loads. For unusually shaped structures, it would be a wild guess if calculating wind loads from the standard code... either not conservative or too conservative. My client is happy with the results and impressed!"

Additional Analyses

Do you need to carry out a stability analysis? With the '''Structure Stability''' add-on, you can do it with minimum effort. The program determines critical load factors and the corresponding stability modes.

Features

Calculation of models consisting of member, shell, and solid elements
Non-linear stability analysis
Optional consideration of axial forces from initial prestress
Four equation solvers for effective calculation of various structural models
Optional consideration of stiffness modifications in RFEM/RSTAB
Determination of stability mode greater than the user-defined load increment factor (Shift method)
Optional determination of the mode shapes of unstable models (to identify the cause of instability)
Visualization of stability mode
Basis for determining imperfection

Input

If there is a load case or load combination in the program, the stability calculation is activated. You can define another load case in order to consider initial prestress, for example.

For this, you need to specify whether to perform a linear or nonlinear analysis. Depending on the case of application, you can select a direct calculation method, such as the Lanczos method or the ICG iteration method. Members not integrated in surfaces are usually displayed as member elements with two FE nodes. With such elements, the program cannot determine the local buckling of single members. That's why you have the option to divide members automatically.

Calculation

You can select several methods that are available for the eigenvalue analysis:

Direct Methods
- The direct methods (Lanczos [RFEM], roots of characteristic polynomial [RFEM], subspace iteration method [RFEM/RSTAB], and shifted inverse iteration [RSTAB]) are suitable for small to medium-sized models. You should only use these fast solver methods if your computer has a larger amount of memory (RAM).
ICG Iteration Method (Incomplete Conjugate Gradient [RFEM])
- In contrast, this method only requires a small amount of memory. Eigenvalues are determined one after the other. It can be used to calculate large structural systems with few eigenvalues.

Use the Structure Stability add-on to perform a nonlinear stability analysis using the incremental method. This analysis delivers close-to-reality results also for nonlinear structures. The critical load factor is determined by gradually increasing the loads of the underlying load case until the instability is reached. The load increment takes into account nonlinearities such as failing members, supports and foundations, and material nonlinearities. After increasing the load, you can optionally perform a linear stability analysis on the last stable state in order to determine the stability mode.

Results

As the first results, the program presents you the critical load factors. You can then perform an evaluation of stability risks. For member models, the resulting effective lengths and critical loads of the members are displayed to you in tables.

Use the next result window to check the normalized eigenvalues sorted by node, member, and surface. The eigenvalue graphic allows you to evaluate the buckling behavior. This makes it easier for you to take countermeasures.