The structural analysis software RFEM designs membranes together with the supporting structure (for example cables).
Membranes can be modeled as general and quadrangle surfaces. The quadrangle surfaces are general quadrilateral surfaces whose boundary lines do not have to rest in one plane. Therefore, it is possible to model surfaces with anticlastic and synclastic curvature, which is characteristic for the membrane structures.
For the design, the surface types Membrane and Membrane-Orthotropic are available. It is possible to define different directional stiffness properties (in the warp and weft direction) for the surface type Membrane‑Orthotropic.
In addition, RFEM provides an option to model and design the connection plates, fittings, and others.
RF‑FORM‑FINDING searches for shapes of structures subjected to tension or compression, such as membrane and cable structures, shells, and so on. The shape is calculated by the equilibrium between the surface stress (specified prestress and additional load such as self‑weight, pressure, etc.), and the given boundary requirements. The prestressed model is afterwards used as the initial state for all subsequent calculations.
RF‑CUTTING‑PATTERN generates and organizes cutting patterns for membrane structures. Boundary conditions of the cutting patterns on curved geometry are determined by boundary lines and independent planar cutting lines or geodesic cutting lines. The flattening process is performed according to the minimum energy theory.
In the frame & truss analysis software RSTAB, it is possible to design the primary construction of membrane and cable structures. Form-finding and framework design may be carried out in the engineering software Easy by Technet. The modular program system Easy performs especially the geometrically nonlinear calculation of membranes and pneumatic cushions. RSTAB has a special connection to this design program used for light framework structures.
The internal forces are determined in Easy by Technet where the membrane is also dimensioned. Then, it is necessary to import the data to the structural analysis program RSTAB by Dlubal Software in order to perform the design and stability analysis.
Since the stiffnesses may affect the forces in a membrane significantly, the cross-sections optimized in RSTAB are returned to Easy for recalculation during the iterative process. After the design, RSTAB can also be used as a tool for documentation of the structural analysis including tables and graphics.
In addition to the RF-FORM-FINDING and RF‑CUTTING‑PATTERN add‑on modules for RFEM, you can find more useful add‑on modules for structural analysis of cable, membrane, shell, and beam structures under the Steel Structures, Aluminum and Light-Weight Structures, and Concrete Structures industry.
The structural analysis software provided by Dlubal can be seamlessly integrated into the Building Information Modeling (BIM) process. A variety of interfaces allows you to exchange data from digital building models with RFEM or RSTAB.
Customer service is one of the fundamental pillars of the Dlubal Software company philosophy. We also offer you all the support you need for your daily work.
Customer Projects of Tensile Membrane Structures
The engineering company ACS provided the full project structural analysis and design including the fabric membrane and frame structure.
Customer Projects of Tensile Membrane Structures
The Belin-Béliet (department of Gironde) municipality tennis club, founded in 1976, completed a new tennis hall in July 2019. This project was made possible due to a subsidy provided by the French Tennis Federation along with the support of the municipality.
Customer Projects of Tensile Membrane Structures
Every summer, movie nights and other events take place on the banks of the Elbe in Dresden. Over 200 000 visitors throughout the summer attend more than 55 films and concerts complete with national and international artists.
Customer Projects of Tensile Membrane Structures
For twenty years, the Circus Festival in Latina has been thrilling audiences with the world’s most talented artists. The International Circus Festival of Italy, founded by Giulio Montico and operated by the Montico family, has been recognized globally since the first performance. The circus tent built in Latina has made it possible to appreciate the quality of the many artists performing there.
Customer Projects of Tensile Membrane Structures
The company Under Canvas provides the unique opportunity for all-inclusive adventure glamping (glamorous camping). Established in 2009, the company has since grown to include multiple luxury glamping resorts and customized events all over the country.
Customer Projects of Tensile Membrane Structures
A roofing made of steel and fabric membranes was designed for the football stadium in San Bernardo, a city in the south of Santiago de Chile. The elegant, curved design in lightweight construction now also covers the standing area.
Customer Projects of Tensile Membrane Structures
Under Canvas began in 2009 with the opening of an all-inclusive glamping adventure package. It has since grown to include eight luxury glamping resorts and a customized event’s offering, bringing the glamping experience to life anywhere in the country.
Customer Projects of Tensile Membrane Structures
The architectural highlight of the Halle (Saale) bus station include the stylish canopies over the bus platforms. The continuous lights integrated at the roof edges are the real eye-catcher especially at night.
Customer Projects of Tensile Membrane Structures
An impressive roof structure was constructed over the Passion Play open-air theater in Sömmersdorf, Franconia (Germany). The self-supporting spatial steel structure includes a PVC membrane roof covering the 14,908 ft² auditorium. Only four foundations in total support the entire roof structure.
Customer Projects of Tensile Membrane Structures
The entrance structure to the dinosaur park Kleinwelka near Bautzen, Germany has a total height of 72 ft and resembles mitosis. Mitosis is a type of cell division and the origin of life. The bionic structure consists of 1,389 steel tube members assembled together at 269 joints.
Customer Projects of Tensile Membrane Structures
A unique project called "Oxigeno" is currently under construction in San Francisco de Heredia, San José, Costa Rica. The recreational and commercial space, which measures almost 1,345,489 ft², offers the visitor a relaxing shopping atmosphere in harmony with nature.
Customer Projects of Tensile Membrane Structures
A unique roof structure was built for the main bus station in Aarau, Switzerland in 2013.
The canopy has a cloud-like shape and contains the largest single‑chamber cushion in the world. The ETFE cushion has a volume of 63,919.55 ft³ and covers an area of 11,517.38 ft².
Customer Projects of Tensile Membrane Structures
Allianz Arena is a soccer stadium in Munich, Germany, which hosted the opening match of the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
The translucent exterior facade of the stadium emits light in various colors and thus makes the whole arena building very special.
Customer Projects of Tensile Membrane Structures
The Eden Project is a complex of two biomes and outdoor gardens with plants from many diverse climates and environments.
The biome is a steel frame structure with cladding panels consisting of triple-layered membrane cushions made of ETFE foil.
Do you have any questions about our products or need advice on selecting the products needed for your projects?
Contact us via our free e-mail, chat, or forum support or find various suggested solutions and useful tips on our FAQ page.
Dlubal Software is a member of the TensiNet Association.
This doctoral thesis by Rostislav Lang deals with the design and analysis of membrane structures using FEA software.
"RFEM is the best I have used. I have experience with RISA, STAAD, ETABS, Visual Analysis, and others. In the tensile/fabric structure world, I've tried NDN, Forten, etc. Once you get used to RFEM's interface, it has no comparison to the others. Even with typical structures, it's much easier."
Fernando Peña, P.E.
10/19/2016
Cable and tensile membrane structures are regarded as very slender and aesthetic building constructions. The partly very complex double-curved shapes can be found using suitable form-finding algorithms. A possible solution is, for example, to search the form via the equilibrium between the surface stress (provided prestress and an additional load such as self-weight, pressure, etc.) and the given boundary conditions.
Activating the "Show Preliminary Form-Finding" option in the shortcut menu leads to an automatic preliminary form-finding according to the saved form-finding properties when you change the structure of membrane surfaces. This interactive graphics mode is based on the force density method.
Main Program
Structural engineering software for finite element analysis (FEA) of planar and spatial structural systems consisting of plates, walls, shells, members (beams), solids and contact elements
Main Program
The structural engineering software for design of frame, beam and truss structures, performing linear and nonlinear calculations of internal forces, deformations, and support reactions
Add-on Module
Form-finding of tensile membrane and cable structures
Add-on Module
Generation of cutting patterns for tensile membrane structures
Add-on Module
Stress analysis of steel surfaces and members
Add-on Module
Design of steel members according to Eurocode 3
Module Extension for RF-STEEL EC3 and RF-STEEL AISC
Warping torsion analysis according to the second-order theory with 7 degrees of freedom
Module Extension for RF-STEEL EC3
Plastic design of cross-sections according the Partial Internal Forces Method (PIFM) and Simplex Method
Add-on Module
Design of steel members according to the American standard ANSI/AISC 360
Add-on Module
Design of steel members according to the Swiss standard SIA 263
Add-on Module
Design of steel members according to the Indian standard IS 800:2007
Add-on Module
Design of steel members according to the British standard BS 5950-1:2000 or British Annex BS EN 1993-1-1
Add-on Module
Design of steel members according to the Chinese standard GB 50017-2003
Add-on Module
Design of steel members according to the Canadian standard CSA S16
Add-on Module
Design of steel members according to the Australian standard AS 4100-1998
Add-on Module
Design of steel members according to the Mexican standard NTC-DF 2004
Add-on Module
Design of steel members according to the Russian standard SP 16.13330.2011
Add-on Module
Design of steel members according to the South African standard SANS 10162-1:2011
Add-on Module
Design of steel members according to the Brazilian standard ABNT NBR 8800:2008
Add-on Module
Design of steel members according to Code of Practice for the Structural Use of Steel 2011 (Buildings Department - Hong Kong)
Add-on Module
Fatigue design of members and sets of members according to EN 1993-1-9
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