Which Dlubal Software programs can I use to calculate and design timber structures?
Answer
RFEM provides you with the most extensive options; in addition to the general structural elements in timber construction, you can also use the RF‑LAMINATE add-on module to process laminates or cross-laminated timber elements. Furthermore, it is possible to design curved beams, and for the JOINTS Timber - Steel to Timber add-on module, it is possible to design semi-rigid fasteners with RFEM.
With RF‑/TIMBER Pro, you can perform a stress or stability analysis for members according to the equivalent member method or the second-order analysis in RFEM or RSTAB. Furthermore, you can use it to demonstrate the serviceability limit state and fire resistance. Cross-sections can be optimized automatically.
The individual RX‑TIMBER stand-alone programs allow you to design glued-laminated timber beams, continuous beams, timber columns, coupled purlins and continuous beams, three-hinged frames with finger-jointed frame joints, stiffening bracings, or monopitch and duopitch roofs.
Main Programs RFEM or RSTAB
The main programs RFEM or RSTAB are used to define structures, materials, and actions.Available Standards
- RF-/TIMBER Pro (with fire resistance) according to EN 1995‑1‑1 (Eurocode 5) and SIA 265 (Swiss standard)
- RF-/TIMBER AWC (with fire resistance) according to ANSI/AWC NDS‑2018 (US standards)
- RF-/TIMBER CSA according to CSA O86‑14 (Canadian standard)
- RF-/TIMBER NBR according to NBR 7190:1997 (Brazilian standard)
- RF-/TIMBER SANS according to SANS 10163‑1:2003 and SANS 10163‑2:2001 (South African standards)
Add-on Modules
- RF-LAMINATE (RFEM only)
Stress and deflection analysis of laminate surfaces (for example, cross-laminated timber panels) - RF-/JOINTS Timber - Steel to Timber
for indirect connections with steel plates and steel dowels - RF-/JOINTS Timber - Timber to Timber
for direct connection of members with slant screws - RF-/LIMITS
analyzes the load-bearing capacity of members, member ends, nodes, nodal supports, and surfaces by means of a defined ultimate load capacity. - RWIND Simulation
Complex analysis of any structures in the digital wind tunnel with the transfer of load cases to RFEM or RSTAB for further processing
Dynamic Analysis
Interfaces
- Building Information Modeling (BIM)
An extensive collection of interfaces allows for data exchange with other programs.
Keywords
Timber Timber structure Timber design Cross-laminated timber Fire resistance Joint Roof purlin Continuous beam CLT Glued-laminated timber beam Glued-laminated beam Timber columns Coupled purlins Three-hinged frame Stiffening bracing Monopitch roof Duopitch roof
Links
- RFEM
- RSTAB
- RF-/TIMBER Pro | Design According to EC 5 and SIA 265
- RF-/JOINTS Timber - Steel to Timber
- RF-/JOINTS Timber - Timber to Timber
- RF-LAMINATE | Design of Laminate Surfaces in RFEM
- RX-TIMBER | Stand-Alone Programs for Timber Components
- RWIND Simulation | Wind Simulations in Digital Wind Tunnel
- Contact Our Sales Team
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Recommended Events
Eurocode 5 | Timber structures according to EN 1995-1-1
Online Training 17 March 2021 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM CET
Eurocode 3 | Steel structures according to DIN EN 1993-1-1
Online Training 18 March 2021 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM CET
Eurocode 3 | Steel structures according to DIN EN 1993-1-1
Online Training 6 May 2021 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Eurocode 2 | Concrete structures according to DIN EN 1992-1-1
Online Training 11 May 2021 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Eurocode 5 | Timber structures according to DIN EN 1995-1-1
Online Training 20 May 2021 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
RFEM | Structural dynamics and earthquake design according to EC 8
Online Training 2 June 2021 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Stability Design in Steel Construction with RFEM and RSTAB
Webinar 1 December 2020 2:00 PM - 2:45 PM CET
Videos
Models to Download
Knowledge Base Articles

New
Modeling Downstand Beams in Cross-Laminated Timber Constructions with Ribs
This time, we want to look at modeling downstand beams by means of ribs.
Screenshots
Product Features Articles

- General stress analysis
- Graphical and numerical results of stresses and stress ratios fully integrated in RFEM
- Flexible design with different layer compositions
- High efficiency due to few entries required
- Flexibility due to detailed setting options for calculation basis and extent
- Based on the selected material model and the layers contained, a local overall stiffness matrix of the surface in RFEM is generated. The following material models are available:
- Orthotropic
- Isotropic
- User-defined
- Hybrid (for combinations of material models)
- Option to save frequently used layer structures in a database
- Determination of basic, shear and equivalent stresses
- In addition to the basic stresses, the required stresses according to DIN EN 1995-1-1 and the interaction of those stresses are available as results.
- Stress analysis for structural parts of almost any shape
- Equivalent stresses calculated according to different approaches:
- Shape modification hypothesis (von Mises)
- Maximum shear stress criterion (Tresca)
- Maximum principal stress criterion (Rankine)
- Principal strain criterion (Bach)
- Calculation of transversal shear stresses according to Mindlin, Kirchhoff, or user-defined specifications
- Serviceability limit state design by checking surface displacements
- User-defined specifications of limit deflections
- Possibility to consider layer coupling
- Detailed results of individual stress components and ratios in tables and graphics
- Results of stresses for each layer in the model
- Parts list of designed surfaces
- Possible coupling of layers entirely without shear
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- How can I create a curved or arched section?
- How are the signs for the release results of a line release and line hinges interpreted?
- After the design with RF‑/TIMBER Pro, I optimized a cross-section. Why is the utilization of the optimized cross-section exceeded now?
- Is it possible to design the support pressure or the compression perpendicular to the grain in RX‑TIMBER?
- Why are the stresses of the 90 ° orientation not displayed in RF-LAMINATE for a layer with the orthotropic direction 90 ° for σb, 90?
- How can I get the member end forces to design the connections?
- I design timber components. The deformations of load combinations deviate from the manual calculation exactly by the factor of the material partial safety factor. Why?
- How can I run the RX‑TIMBER Frame plugin? I did not find it in the Add-on Modules menu nor in Project Navigator - Data.
- I have a question about the results of the serviceability limit state design: How is the increment of the dead load by the factor 1.8 and the imposed load by 1.48 explained in the result combinations for the SLS design?
- Where can I adjust the effective length lef according to Table 6.1 of Eurocode 5 in the TIMBER Pro add-on module?
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