The structural analysis software RFEM 6 is the basis of a modular software system. The main program RFEM 6 is used to define structures, materials, and loads of planar and spatial structural systems consisting of plates, walls, shells, and members. The program also allows you to create combined structures as well as to model solid and contact elements.
RSTAB 9 is a powerful analysis and design software for 3D beam, frame, or truss structure calculations, reflecting the current state of the art and helping structural engineers meet requirements in modern civil engineering.
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In RFEM, it is possible to define a surface of the Membrane type (see the image). The calculation is then done automatically according to the large deformation analysis.
For the modeling of membrane structures, we recommend the Form-Finding add-on (for RFEM 6) or the RF-FORM-FINDING add-on module (for RFEM 5).
This is not possible in RFEM 5 or the RF‑STAGES add-on module. However, it is possible in the new program generation. In the Construction Stage Analysis add-on for RFEM 6, you can now modify the properties of structural elements.
The warping of a cross-section can be displayed in the "full mode". For this, it is reasonable to increase the display factor for torsional warping in the control panel; see Image 01.
Furthermore, you can select the value of the local deformation ω [1/m] in the Results navigator; see Image 02.
The warping stiffness can be deactivated by cross-section in the "Edit Cross-Section" dialog box; see the image.
Both support forces and loads are assumed for the calculation with warping torsion in the centroid. Accordingly, an asymmetric cross-section would automatically receive torsion; see the image.
After activating Torsional Warping in the Base Data, you can define warping springs and warping restraints. For this, select the Transverse Stiffeners option in the "Edit Member" dialog box; see Image 01.
In the "Transverse Stiffener" tab, you can create several transverse member stiffeners and define the necessary parameters using the "New Transverse Member Stiffener" button. For the "End plate" stiffener type, the resulting warp spring is determined automatically; see Image 02.
In addition to other variants, you can also define a rigid warping restraint or user-defined warping spring stiffness under the "Warping restraint" stiffness type.
As an alternative, you can create member transverse stiffeners using the Data navigator or the menu bar "Insert", "Types for Members", "Member Transverse Stiffeners". In this case, you can use the select function in the "New Member Transverse Stiffness" dialog box to assign them to the corresponding members.
Releases for warping are at each member end by default. Splitting members leads to a warping release.
If you do not want to have a warping release there, but rather continuous warping, you need to define a member set. When activating the "Torsional Warping" add-on, the warping is transferred automatically. If this is not desired for the member set, select the "Discontinuous torsional warping" option; see the image.
First of all, it would be reasonable to check the boundary conditions for the design again. This includes, among other things, the selected load introduction, checking the transverse stiffeners, and the transitions between the members. It is also useful to check the analysis method without the second-order analysis due to large rotations.
However, it is also particularly important that RFEM requires an FE mesh distribution for the warping torsion.You can check the FE mesh settings and the graphical display of the member FE mesh.
The main programs RFEM 6 and RSTAB 9 are distinguished by their clarity. The entire input in the program is set up in such a way that you always obtain a clear result for each calculation task. The design of objects is organized in a similar way. In the input, the program shows the necessary properties for each design object, including the corresponding loads, and outputs a clear result for this object after the analysis.
If you want to determine your own design results for the entire model for different load levels, the "Construction Stages Analysis (CSA)" add-on provides a solution. In addition to the basic simulation of the construction process (the object rise), the program also allows for parallel simulation of models with a constant number of objects. In this special case, the base model is internally juxtaposed several times, and can thus be transferred to the design with different loads.
To do this, proceed as follows:
1) In the material library, set the region to “All” and the material type to “Fabric” in the filter. Select any one of the fabric materials from the list.
2) Activate the “User-defined material” option and specify the user-defined name.
3) Under the Material Values tab, revise the fictitious thickness, density, and so on. The strengths and basis weight (ms) do not affect the calculation and can be disregarded.
4) To specify the modulus of elasticity and shear modulus in terms of force/area, select the Orthotropic Linear Elastic (Surfaces) tab and enter the values there. Note: Changing the thickness in Step 3 affects the values entered in this tab.
To access the user-defined materials and sections for future models, a template can be created. This is shown in FAQ 005109 .