Form-Finding Add-on for RFEM 6

Form-Finding

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Form-Finding for RFEM 6

The Form-Finding add-on finds the optimal shape of members subjected to axial forces and tension-loaded surface models. The program determines the shape 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 available for you as a universally applicable initial state for further calculation of the entire structure.

Form-Finding of Membrane, Cable, and Beam Structures

The "Form-Finding" add-on finds the optimal shape of members subjected to axial forces and tension-loaded surface models. The resulting model shape with the active force conditions is used as a universally applicable initial state for the entire structural analysis.

The "Form-Finding" add-on was developed to search for the optimal shape of members subjected to an axial force and of surface models subjected to tension.
In the form-finding process, the program considers the equilibrium between the axial force in members or the membrane stress in surfaces and the specified boundary conditions.
This process creates a new model shape with an active force conditions.
The resulting model shape with active force conditions is available for you as a universally applicable initial state for further calculation of the entire structure.

Hardware and System Requirements

Form-Finding for RFEM 6

Form-Finding in RFEM 6

Form-Finding for RFEM 6

Form-Finding in RFEM 6

Form-Finding for RFEM 6

Your Advantages

Simulation of a mechanical and pneumatic prestress
Consideration of isotropic and orthotropic prestresses on cartesian or radial coordinate systems
Finding stress-harmonic planes, synclastic, anticlastic, or combined shapes

Simulation of multi-layer foil cushions, considering the ideal gas law between the layers
Provision of the form-found overall model geometry for determining the wind loads via an optional wind analysis in the digital RWIND wind tunnel

Designed with Form-Finding for RFEM 6

Tensile Membrane Structure

Download the model of a tensile membrane structure here and open it in the structural FEA software RFEM.

Stadium Roof Made of Membranes

On this page, you have the option to download the model of a stadium roof made of membranes and then to open it in the structural FEA software RFEM.

Inclined Unsymmetrical Conical Roof Supported by 3D Truss Mast + Cables

Conical Roof with Suspesion Cables

Download the model of a conical roof with suspension cables here and open it in the structural FEA software RFEM.

Form-Finding Fabric Tensile Structure

On this page, you can download a model of a form-finding fabric tension structure, and then open it in the RFEM finite element program.

Other Models

Input

By activating the Form-Finding add-on in the Base Data, a form-finding effect is assigned to load cases with the "Prestress" category in conjunction with form-finding loads from the member, surface, and solid load catalog. This prestress load case thus mutates into a form-finding analysis for the entire model with all defined member, surface, and solid elements.

The form-finding is performed by using special form-finding loads and regular load definitions. The form-finding loads describe the expected state of deformation or force after the form-finding, and the regular loads describe the external loading of the entire system.

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Calculation

The form-finding calculation is performed by displacing the mesh geometry using the Updated Reference Strategy (URS) method. This method generates the equilibrium shapes that comply almost exactly with the specified form-finding boundary conditions (sag, force, and prestress).

The integral approach of the URS considers regular forces, such as self-weight or pneumatic pressure, and thus allows for the calculation of anticlastic and synclastic shapes with planar or rotationally symmetric geometry. In fact, there are two methods available for selection: the tension method for planar shapes, and the projection method for conical shapes with horizontal restraints.

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Fantastic and Professional Support

I would just like to send a quick note to wish everyone at Dlubal well, in particular I would like to say thank you for the fantastic, thorough and professional support you provide.

Powerful, easy to use, easy to learn…

We adopted Dlubal in our work and haven't looked back. Powerful, easy to use, easy to learn, with mercifully simple output (once set up).

Properties

The Form-Finding add-on is an innovative tool for structural analysis and design of tensile membrane and cable structures subjected to tension and compression. Due to the effective iterative URS method, it is possible to search for the optimal shapes of the entire structural system.

It also supports the utilization of pneumatic prestress by means of gas pressure loads, and the use of an ideal gas in a membrane envelope. The geometric and force-based specifications for the form-finding of member components, as well as the isotropic and orthotropic surface prestresses, provide you with versatile design options.

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Form-Finding for Pneumatic Structures

The Form-Finding add-on in RFEM 6 enables realistic simulation of air-supported structures by determining their shape based on the equilibrium between internal prestress and external pressure loads.

It allows engineers to define initial prestress conditions, apply internal pressure, and generate the natural equilibrium shape of membrane surfaces. These calculated geometries are then used for the full structural analysis, including load combinations and construction stages.

See it in action in our free webinar on pneumatic structure design – from form-finding to final analysis!

Watch the Webinar

Features

The Form-Finding add-on is a powerful tool for stable form-finding of conical structures. It organizes the requirements in a load condition, uses isotropic and orthotropic materials with different prestresses, includes nonlinear material models, and allows for multi-stage form-finding processes.

The result is a universally applicable initial state with forced deformations, including the graphical evaluation of the shape using the colored coordinate and inclination plots. The initial state is assigned automatically, and the results are displayed in the original and the deformed state.

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