1079x
002828
2019-12-06

Question

Why does the "Calculate All" command not calculate the results for the load cases with the "Form-Finding" action category?


Answer:
The form-finding process in RFEM searches for shapes in equilibrium, considering the surface prestress and the given boundary conditions. The surface stress for this analysis is defined in the relevant element property definitions. The program can also consider additional loads during the form-finding calculation in the load cases defined with the "Form-Finding" action category.

Since RFEM runs the form-finding analysis before the calculation of all other load cases and load combinations while considering the form-finding settings in the element properties and loads in the load cases with the "Form-Finding" action category, the calculation of the load cases with the "Form-Finding" category for the determined shape provides no relevant information for the structural design. The load cases with the "Form-Finding" category are only provided as an input for the form-finding analysis. The given loads will be "memorized" in the model for the form-finding calculation.

Therefore, the "Calculate All" command neglects these special load cases with the "Form-Finding" category and only calculates the load cases which will be applied on the final shape of the structure.