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Home Support & Learning Learning Videos Design of Steel and Membrane Structures | RFEM | Info Day Online | 15.12.2020 | 1/4
Design of Steel and Membrane Structures | RFEM | Info Day Online | 15.12.2020 | 1/4
Video
First Steps with RFEM
21 December 2020
002118
Description
In the first part of the Dlubal Info Day Online recording, Andreas Niemeier shows how to model and design a tennis court roof.
The following topics are included:
- Tennis court roof modeling
- Loads
- Wind load generation based on CFD
- Load case combinations
- Stability analysis
- Generation of imperfections
- Member and surface components design
Keywords
Tennis court roof Steel structures Eurocode 3 Membrane structure Membrane surface Wind loads of curved roofs CFD simulation RF-LIMITS Limits
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Videos
Models to Download
Knowledge Base Articles

Cutting Pattern of Membranes and Cable Elements
Cable and tensile membrane structures are regarded as very slender and aesthetic building constructions. The partly very complex double-curved shapes can be found using suitable form-finding algorithms. A possible solution is, for example, to search the form via the equilibrium between the surface stress (provided prestress and an additional load such as self-weight, pressure, etc.) and the given boundary conditions.
Screenshots
Product Features Articles

Display of Topology on Deformed Structure
With the activated option "Topology on form-finding shape" in the Project Navigator - Display, the model display is optimized based on the form-finding geometry. For example, the loads are displayed in relation to the deformed system.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Are the models and presentations from Info Day 2020 freely available, and can you send them to me?
- I get the error "The stiffness matrix is singular!" for a calculation in RF‑FORM‑FINDING, what can I do?
- How do I get the actual member length of cables, for example, after the calculation in RF‑FORM‑FINDING?
- How is it possible to create the cutting pattern geometry for a decorative sticker on a biaxially curved membrane roof?
- How are the properties of the elasticity and shear modulus of a membrane fabric with the usual force/length syntax transformed into the general force/surface syntax to be entered in RFEM?
- Why is the membrane constricted so much during the form-finding? I obtain very large deformation values.
- When modeling a building, there is a location where I have a wall on a ceiling that is not supported underneath. What are the modeling options for this?
- How are riggings processed in RF‑FORM‑FINDING, concerning the prestress load to be applied. Is it necessary to assign a prestressing force to the riggings?
- How do I model a tent roof with two cone tips?
- Why do I get large differences for the design of a longitudinally stiffened buckling panel in comparison with the German and Austrian National Annex?
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