A wall-like beam is a component in reinforced concrete or timber structures that has a large cross-section depth for a short span. According to EN 1992-1-1, Section 5.3.1 (3), for example, a wall-like beam exists if the span length is less than three times the cross-section depth. Comparable provisions can also be found in ACI 318, Section 9.9, and CSA A23.3, Section 11.4. Examples of wall-like beams are window and door lintels, downstand beams, or slab steps. For each wall-like beam, RFEM generates a result beam that converts the surface internal forces into member internal forces by integration and enables design as a member.
To define a wall-like beam, right-click the Wall-Like Beams entry in the 'Building Model' category. Then, select the New Wall-Like Beam option in the context menu.
In the 'Wall-Like Beam' dialog, you can then define the properties of the components.
Assignable Objects
In most cases, a wall-like beam is described by surfaces and surface cells. If you want to define it via members, select the corresponding option in the list (see the image above).
Surfaces and Surface Cells / Members
Select the surfaces and surface cells or members graphically on the model using the
button. The numbers of the objects cannot be entered manually.
Segments
As a rule, only one segment with a result beam is generated for each surface or surface cell, integrating the internal forces of the surfaces, surface cells, or members. Connected objects, as in wall panels, are the exception.
Information / Options / Cross-Section
The other sections in this dialog correspond to those of the Wall Panels dialog.
Design Properties
The internal forces of the result beam can be checked via member design in some design add-ons, for example, in the course of concrete design. To do this, select the Design Properties check box in the corresponding section.
This adds several tabs to the dialog, where you can specify the conditions for the design.
If you select the 'Coupling Reinforcement' check box in the Base tab, another tab is added. There, you can specify the parameters of the diagonal reinforcement for seismic actions, as regulated, for example, in EN 1998-1, Section 5.5.3.5; ACI 318, Section 18.10.7, and CSA A23.3, Section 21.6.8.
In the ultimate configurations of the concrete design, it is possible to apply special construction rules for the vertical and horizontal reinforcement of wall-like beams.
The minimum reinforcement of the orthogonal mesh reinforcement of wall-like beams is regulated, for example, in EN 1992-1-1, Section 9.7, ACI 318, Section 9.9.3/9.9.4, and CSA A23.3, Section 11.4.