Dlubal Software is a member of the TensiNet Association .
Analysis and Design Software for Tensile Membrane Structures
Structural FEM Analysis and Design
The structural analysis software RFEM 6 is the basis of a modular program family. 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 model solid and contact elements.
Wind Simulation and Wind Load Generation
The RWIND 2 stand-alone program is recommended for complex structures. This program simulates wind flows around any structures by means of a digital wind tunnel.
The generated wind loads acting on these objects can be imported to RFEM or RSTAB.
Form-Finding of Membrane Structures
The Form-Finding add-on for RFEM 6 search for the optimal shape of the members subjected to axial forces and the surface models subjected to tension. The shape is determined by the equilibrium between the member axial force or the membrane stress and the existing boundary conditions. The resulting new model shape with impressed force conditions is made available as a universally applicable initial state for further calculation of the entire structure.
Cutting Patterns of Tensile Membrane Structures
The RF‑CUTTING‑PATTERN add-on module for RFEM 5 calculates 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.
Consideration of Nonlinear Material Laws
The Nonlinear Material Behavior add-on for RFEM 6 allows you to consider material nonlinearities in RFEM.
There is the option to couple surfaces with the stiffness types "Membrane" and "Membrane Orthotropic" with the material models "Isotropic Nonlinear Elastic 2D/3D" and "Isotropic Plastic 2D/3D." This functionality enables the simulation of the nonlinear strain behavior of, for example, ETFE foils.
Add-ons and Add-on Modules for Structural Analysis of Tensile Membrane Structures
For the structural analysis and design of tensile membrane structures or their substructures, we recommend the add-ons and add-on modules of the Steel Structures and Aluminum and Lightweight Structures industries.
Interfaces for Data Exchange
The structural analysis software provided by Dlubal Software can be integrated seamlessly into the Building Information Modeling (BIM) process. The large number of interfaces ensures the data exchange of digital building models with RFEM or RSTAB.
The web service (programmable interface) can be used to read or write data from/to RFEM and RSTAB.
Support and Learning
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.
Contact us
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.
Doctoral Thesis on Membrane Structure Design According to FEA
This doctoral thesis by Rostislav Lang deals with the design and analysis of membrane structures using FEA software.
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Versatile Software and Great Service
"ACS Production chose RFEM in order to have a versatile software that allows us to design our tensile membranes alongside our steel, timber, or aluminum structures in a single user environment.
The software’s capabilities and user-friendly interface are a real advantage over the competition. What’s more, the customer support’s dedication, modernness, responsiveness, and skillset ensure that each and every one of our projects is properly realized."
Alexandra Brochard, Vincent Cercleron
06/13/2018
Recommended for Tensile Membrane Structures
RFEM 5
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
Price of First License
3,540.00 USD
3,540.00 USD
RFEM 5
Add-on Module
Form-finding of tensile membrane and cable structures
Price of First License
1,750.00 USD
1,750.00 USD
RFEM 5
Add-on Module
Generation of cutting patterns for tensile membrane structures
Price of First License
2,240.00 USD
2,240.00 USD
RFEM 5
Add-on Module
Design of steel members according to Eurocode 3
Price of First License
1,480.00 USD
1,480.00 USD
RFEM 5
Module Extension for RF-STEEL EC3 and RF-STEEL AISC
Warping torsion analysis according to the second-order theory with 7 degrees of freedom
Price of First License
850.00 USD
850.00 USD
RFEM 5
Module Extension for RF-STEEL EC3
Plastic design of cross-sections according the Partial Internal Forces Method (PIFM) and Simplex Method
Price of First License
850.00 USD
850.00 USD
RFEM 5
Add-on Module
Design of aluminum members according to Eurocode 9
Price of First License
1,480.00 USD
1,480.00 USD
