Online Manuals

The FEA software RFEM allows for modeling and structural analysis of general plate, shell, and member structures. It is also possible to analyze combined structures as well as solid elements and objects with contact properties.

This user manual describes the modeling, calculation, and result evaluation features related to the structural analysis.

RFEM and RSTAB are powerful programs helping structural engineers meet requirements in modern civil engineering. This short introduction will help you with the first steps and familiarize you with the most important functions of the software.

In this tutorial, we would like to familiarise you with the essential features of the RFEM program. The first part shows you how to create the structural objects and loads, combine the loads, perform a structural analysis, check the results, and prepare the data for printing. For standards, the Eurocodes with the CEN settings are used.

With the Construction Stages Analysis (CSA) add-on, the construction process of structures can be considered in RFEM. Structural elements can be added, removed, and modified throughout the construction process. The application of loads and the combinatorics can also be considered across the construction stages.

This manual describes the Construction Stages Analysis (CSA) add-on for the program RFEM 6.

The Warping Torsion add-on (7 degrees of freedom) allows you to consider the cross-section warping as an additional degree of freedom in the global calculation of members in RFEM and RSTAB. Input and result evaluation are completely integrated in the user interface of the FEA program RFEM and the framework program RSTAB.

This manual describes the Warping Torsion add-on (7 degrees of freedom) for the programs RFEM 6 and RSTAB 9.

The Geotechnical Analysis add-on allows for the finite element analysis of soil solids with the appropriate material laws in RFEM 6. By integrating the geotechnical analysis into the FEA program, the soil-structure interaction can be represented completely in the overall model.

With the geotechnical analysis, stresses and deformations can be determined for the soil volume. The input and result evaluation are integrated in the user interface of the RFEM 6 program.

This manual describes the Geotechnical Analysis add-on for the program RFEM 6.

The dynamic analysis in RFEM 6 and RSTAB 9 is divided into several add-ons.

The 'Modal Analysis' add-on is the basic add-on that performs the natural vibration analysis for member, surface, and solid models. It is a prerequisite for all other dynamic add-ons.

The 'Response Spectrum Analysis' add-on allows you to perform a seismic analysis using the multimodal response spectrum analysis.

The add-ons 'Harmonic Frequency Response Analysis ',' Time History Analysis 'and' Pushover ' are still under development. You can find details about the planned content in the following chapter.

This manual describes the dynamic analysis add-ons for the RFEM 6 and RSTAB 9 programs.

The Stress-Strain Analysis add-on performs a general stress analysis by calculating the existing stresses and comparing them with limit stresses. Strains for surfaces and solids can also be determined.

During the stress analysis, the maximum stresses of solids, surfaces, and line welds (RFEM only) as well as members are determined. The governing internal forces are also documented for each member and each surface. In addition, there is the option of an automatic cross-section or thickness optimization including updating of the modified cross-sections or surface thicknesses in RFEM/RSTAB.

This manual describes the Stress-Strain Analysis add-on for the programs RFEM 6 and RSTAB 9.

The Multilayer Surfaces Add-on allows you to define the layer structure of any material models. In the case of orthotropic materials, the individual layers can be rotated by an angle ß, and thus it is possible to consider different stiffnesses in one direction. The add-on s is completely integrated in the user interface of the FEA program RFEM.

This manual describes the Multilayer Surfaces add-on for the RFEM 6 program.

The Steel Design add-on allows you to design steel members according to various design standards. Cross-section resistance, stability, and serviceability limit state designs can be performed. Input and result evaluation are completely integrated in the user interface of the FEA program RFEM and the framework program RSTAB.

This manual describes the Steel Design add-on for the RFEM 6 and RSTAB 9 programs.

It is possible to perform the ultimate limit state and serviceability limit state designs. Cross-section resistance, stability, and serviceability limit state designs can be performed. Input and result evaluation are completely integrated in the user interface of the FEM program RFEM and the framework program RSTAB.

This manual describes the Concrete Design add-on for the RFEM 6 and RSTAB 9 programs, whereas RSTAB 9 only allows you to perform framework design.

The Timber Design add-on allows you to design members made of timber according to various design standards. It is possible to perform designs of the cross -section resistance, stability and serviceability. Input and result evaluation are completely integrated in the user interface of the FEA program RFEM and the framework program RSTAB.

This manual describes the Timber Design add-on for the RFEM 6 and RSTAB 9 programs.

The Aluminum Design add-on allows you to design aluminum members according to various design standards. Cross-section resistance, stability, and serviceability limit state designs can be performed. Input and result evaluation are completely integrated in the user interface of the FEA program RFEM and the framework program RSTAB.

This manual describes the Aluminum Design add-on for the RFEM 6 and RSTAB 9 programs.

Web service is a programmable interaction system for RFEM/RSTAB. With the help of this technology, RFEM/RSTAB provides a server service that can be reached locally or via a network. It is possible to send requests and get responses from RFEM/RSTAB with this client-server communication.

This manual describes the web service technology for the programs RFEM 6 and RSTAB 9.

The program RSECTION determines the section properties for any thin-walled and massive cross-sections and performs a stress analysis.

This user manual describes the functions for modeling, calculation, and result evaluation.

RWIND 2 is a program (digital wind tunnel) for the numerical simulation of wind flows around any building geometries with determination of the wind loads on their surfaces. RWIND 2 is available as a Basic and Pro version.

RWIND 2 can be used as a stand-alone application or together with RFEM 6 or RSTAB 9 for a complete structural analysis and design.

Structural engineering FEA software RFEM is the basis of a modular software system. RFEM is used to define structures, materials, and loads for planar and spatial structural systems consisting of plates, walls, shells, members (beams), solids and contact elements.

The RWIND program is a separate application that is used externally to determine load cases and wind loads for the RFEM or RSTAB models. The software uses a numerical CFD model to apply a fluid-mechanics simulation of the flow around objects in a wind tunnel.

The RF-CONCRETE add-on module performs the required ultimate and serviceability limit state designs of reinforced concrete members and surfaces.

• RF-CONCRETE Surfaces designs plates, walls, planar structures, and shells for the ultimate and the serviceability limit state.

The RF-CONCRETE add-on module performs the required ultimate and serviceability limit state designs of reinforced concrete members and surfaces.

• RF-CONCRETE Members designs member elements of reinforced concrete structures.

The RF-/STEEL EC3 add-on module can carry out all characteristic designs of the ultimate limit state and fire resistance as well as stress and deformation analyses for steel members according to Eurocode 3.

All important National Annexes are integrated.

The add-on modules RF-JOINTS (for RFEM) and JOINTS (for RSTAB) combine the connection modules for member elements in a single user interface. Currently, the steel categories Column Base, Pinned, Rigid, Tower, DSTV, and Sikla, as well as the timber categories Steel to Timber and Timber to Timber are implemented. This manual describes the special features of each individual add-on module.

The RF-/LIMITS add‑on module analyses the load bearing capacity of members, member ends, nodes, nodal supports, and surfaces by means of a defined ultimate load capacity.

The extendable library covers timber fasteners (SIGHA, Sherpa, WÜRTH, Simpson StrongTie, KNAPP) as well as steel fasteners (standardised joints in steel structures according to EC 3, M‑connect).

The RF-MOVE Surfaces add‑on module for RFEM creates load cases on the basis of various positions of moving loads such as vehicles on bridges.

In addition, it is possible to create an enveloping result combination.

Dlubal Software supports the building information modeling by means of BIM (Building Information Modeling) using the BIM interfaces with Autodesk Revit and Tekla Structures. These interfaces are integrated into RFEM and RSTAB by default.