In the Construction Stages tab of the Load Cases and Combinations dialog box, you can assign load cases to the individual construction stages (CS) that affect the model according to the construction progress.
List
The List contains all construction stages that you have created for structural objects in the model. If necessary, you can add to the list or edit existing construction stages; see the chapter Construction Stages: Model.
To Calculate
You can skip a construction stage in the calculation by deselecting the To Calculate check box for the selected construction stage. Please note, however, that subsequent construction stages may also no longer be calculated.
Main
In the Main tab, you can change the timing of a construction stage in the construction process, if necessary. Here you also define the settings for the calculation in the add-on.
Previous Construction Stage
This section shows the sequence of construction stages in the construction process and allows you to adjust them; see the chapter Construction Stages: Model.
Analysis
You can analyze construction stages using “load combinations” or “load cases and result combinations with linear superposition.”
In the “Structural Analysis Settings” drop-down list, you can select a suitable analysis method for calculating the load case. For a description of the analysis types, refer to the chapter Structural Analysis Settings of the RFEM manual.
Times | Time-Dependent Analysis
The input boxes in this section are accessible if the Time-Dependent Analysis (TDA) add-on is activated in the model's Base Data (a license is required). This allows you to consider the effects of creep. The operating principle is described in the manual for the add-on.
Options I
The “Consider Imperfection” function allows you to assign an imperfection case (see the chapter Imperfection Cases of the RFEM manual) to the first construction stage, which is then taken into account in the subsequent construction stages.
The “Structure modification” check box provides the possibility to adjust stiffnesses and nonlinearities in a construction stage. For more information, see the chapter Structure Modifications of the RFEM manual.
The “Consider stability analysis” function is available if the analysis add-on Structure Stability add-on is activated (a license is required). The add-on allows you to determine buckling loads, critical load factors, and deformations. For a detailed description, refer to the manual of the add-on.