Application Areas

For a structural analysis of planar and spatial structures made of various materials, such as reinforced concrete, prestressed concrete, steel, aluminum, timber, masonry, and other materials, you need reliable software that you can rely on without hesitation. The structural FEA software RFEM and the structural frame & truss analysis software RSTAB are predestined right for this task.

RFEM or RSTAB by your side enable you to carry out design checks according to Eurocodes (EN) as well as a large number of international standards – uncomplicated and absolutely reliable.

The finite element analysis, also known as the finite element method or FEM analysis, is a computer-aided process. It is used, for example, in civil engineering and mechanical engineering. The FEM analysis allows you to calculate deformations, internal forces, stresses, and any natural vibrations of structural components.

The flagship software RFEM by Dlubal is perfectly suited for these tasks. As the ultimate FEA software, RFEM is a reliable partner for all kinds of FEM calculations.

The wind simulation program RWIND 2 is a stand-alone program from the Dlubal software family. No matter whether your project includes complex or simple model shapes.

A modifiable digital wind tunnel uses the cutting-edge CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulation to give you an insight into how realistic wind flows affect the structures you have planned. RWIND 2 can calculate the wind loads individually as well as import them into the main programs RFEM and RSTAB.

For stress calculations, you need an exact and reliable structural analysis and design program. With the FEA software RFEM and the frame & truss analysis software RSTAB, we offer you two strong partners that help you with the work on your project. Use these two Dlubal Software programs to easily perform a stress analysis for planar and spatial structures.

While RSTAB specializes in member cross-sections, RFEM provides a broader range of options. In addition to member cross-sections, RFEM can also perform calculations for surfaces and solids. Both programs cover the calculation of normal and shear stresses, but you can also calculate contact stresses in RFEM.

Are you looking for a way to calculate nonlinearities? Our structural analysis programs RFEM and RSTAB allow you to consider member nonlinearities (for example, failure at compression/tension, slippage, tearing, creeping) as well as support and release nonlinearities, such as failure, creeping, friction support, and more.

In addition to the standard linear static analysis and second-order analysis, large deformation analysis is also available. This can be applied, for example, to design cables. Moreover, the Dlubal Software flagship program RFEM provides you with material nonlinearities, such as plastification or cracked concrete (state II), to complete the calculations of your project.

Appropriate stability analyses are ceaseless, especially for the structural components subjected to compression and bending. In RFEM 6 and RSTAB 9, you can perform the stability analysis in the respective add-on for the relevant building material. For example, you can find the stability analysis of steel members in the Steel Design add-on for RFEM 6 / RSTAB 9.

Are you looking for a way to carry out more complicated stability analysis, such as buckling design? Also in this case, there are powerful add-ons available for RFEM and RSTAB. We help your project to become more stable.

RFEM can do a lot more than you might think at first glance. RFEM allows you to perform linear as well as nonlinear buckling analyses using the finite element method.

RFEM works with the Geometric and Material Nonlinear Analysis including Imperfections (GMNIA) in order to model the "real" load-bearing behavior.

The most beautiful things are rarely straight and symmetrical. Are you planning to use unsymmetric cross-sections in your project? Then we have a recommendation for you. Especially for unsymmetric steel cross‑sections (for example, channel sections, angle sections, and so on), you can perform flexural-torsional and lateral‑torsional buckling design according to the second‑order analysis with 7 degrees of freedom. Does that sound like music to your ears? Then read more about it here.

Typical application areas for dynamic analysis are seismic design, vibration design of buildings, calculation of machine foundations as well as natural frequency analysis of bridges and chimneys.

Do you want to realize such a project? Then take a closer look here. Dlubal Software provides you with a range of powerful add-on modules for both the structural FEA software RFEM and the structural frame & truss analysis software RSTAB. Therefore, dynamic analyses can be performed without any problems in the Dlubal structural analysis programs.

The ravages of time gnaw at everything we build. Nowadays, however, such influences can be calculated in advance. In RFEM and RSTAB, you can perform nonlinear dynamic analyses of structures for a time history analysis. For this task, you can use the nonlinear analysis method. 

Among others, you can consider nonlinear member types (tension and compression members as well as cables), member nonlinearities (failure, yielding, and so on), support nonlinearities (failure, friction, and so on), and release nonlinearities.

A pushover analysis is a nonlinear structural calculation that is used for seismic analysis of structures. For this, the load pattern is inferred from the dynamic calculation of equivalent loads. These loads are increased incrementally until global failure of the structure occurs. The nonlinear behavior of a building is usually represented in the program by using plastic hinges.

In RFEM, you can find the plastic hinges according to the definition of FEMA 356 for the material of steel. Together with the load increment option and calculation diagrams, RFEM allows you to easily generate pushover curves.

Structural analysis software RFEM and RSTAB provide you with various options for form‑finding and cutting patterns of membrane structures. Also for the form-finding and calculation of cable structures, RFEM and RSTAB are your reliable digital partners. Both programs calculate your project according to the large deformation analysis.

Numerous spectacular cable, tensile, and membrane structures were analyzed with the Dlubal structural analysis programs.

Are you planning a project with steel connections? Use the powerful add-ons and add-on modules your design of steel connections in RFEM and RSTAB.

Analyze steel connections using an FE model or design rigid and hinged beam connections, column bases, hollow sections, and tower connections in steel structures according to Eurocode 3. All of this and much more is available in the add-ons and add-on modules for RFEM / RSTAB.

For thousands of years, timber has been a raw material that has shaped the world history. That has barely changed to this day. You can use the RFEM and RSTAB add-on modules for the design of timber connections to design, among other things, the connections where timber members are connected indirectly with steel plates or directly with slant screws. Thus, the Dlubal programs give your timber project the necessary stability for a long, safe life.

BIM (Building Information Modeling) is the up-to-date solution for the planning and realization of buildings. All participants in the building process are networked with each another. The relevant building data can be recorded digitally in a three-dimensional building model. This model then goes through all planning processes. Therefore, no different models are used in CAD and structural analysis programs. There is a direct transfer.

Dlubal Software also allows for such a planning according to BIM with the programs RFEM and RSTAB. Numerous interfaces included in both RFEM and RSTAB ensure that your planning according to BIM is possible without any problems.

The application possibilities of the Dlubal Software programs are diverse. RFEM, RSTAB, RSECTION, and other programs are the perfect partners at your side if you deal with the following other application areas of structural engineering: