Dlubal RX-TIMBER Frame - Introductory Example for Design of Hall Frame

In Germany, DIN EN 1991-1-3 with National Annex DIN EN 1991-1-3/NA regulates snow loads. The standard applies to civil engineering works at altitudes of up to 1,500 m above sea level.

Using the Timber Design add-on, timber column design is possible according to the 2018 NDS standard ASD method. Accurately calculating timber member compressive capacity and adjustment factors is important for safety considerations and design. The following article will verify the maximum critical buckling strength calculated by the Timber Design add-on using step-by-step analytical equations as per the NDS 2018 standard including the compressive adjustment factors, adjusted compressive design value, and final design ratio.

When calculating regular structures, data input is often not complicated but time-consuming. Input automation can save valuable time. The task described in the present article is to consider the stories of a house as single construction stages. Data is entered using a C# program so that the user does not have to enter the elements of the individual floors manually.

In RX-TIMBER Frame, the following calculation settings are available:

• Design of ULS, SLS, and/or fire resistance Selection of designs to be performed
• Determination of displaying support forces and deformations
• Adjusting the recommended limit values for the deformation analyses
• Free definition of parameters for the fire resistance design performed according to the simplified method
• Increasing bending stiffnesses for flat‑ended bending strains

Separate design cases allow for a flexible analysis of specific actions as well as for individual stability analyses. You can define the design type to be performed in the Control Parameters window.

After the calculation, the results of performed designs, including all required intermediate values, are displayed in clearly arranged result tables sorted by various criteria. Since the program displays the intermediate values in detail, the transparency of all designs is ensured. It is possible to display the distribution of internal forces for each x-location of the beam in a separate graphical window. Here, both the deformations and the individual internal forces can be displayed.

Designs with design details and selected result diagrams can be added in the printout report, providing clearly arranged documentation. The printout report can include graphics, descriptions, drawings, and more. Moreover, it is possible to select which calculation data will be covered in the printout.

There are various options available for frame modeling. Graphical representations facilitate the geometry input. Modifications are updated automatically. Basic dimensions as well as geometrical data are entered in tables. During the input, the program checks the conditions required for the beam creation (for example, lamellas forming a curve) according to the defined standard. The most important geometry parameters are updated and displayed.

The relevant timber grade of the material can be selected from the material library. All material grades for glulam, hardwood, poplar and softwood timber specified in EN 1995-1-1 are available. Furthermore, it is possible to generate a strength class with user-defined material properties in order to extend the library. Permanent loads (for example, roof structure) can also be entered using the comprehensive and extensible material library.

Generators integrated in RX-TIMBER Purlin allow for convenient generation of various wind and snow load cases. By clicking the information buttons, the map of wind and snow zones for the relevant country is displayed. The corresponding zone can be selected with a double-click. Load cases can be checked graphically. However, you can enter load specifications manually as well. According to the generated loads, the program automatically creates combinations for the ultimate and serviceability limit states as well as for fire resistance design in the background. The generated combinations can be considered or adjusted by user-defined specifications.