# Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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• ### How to set the calculation parameters using the COM interface?

New FAQ 004184 EN

#### Answer

The following code shows how to get different calculation parameters via the COM interface. It also demonstrates how to specify a setting for deactivating shear stiffness:

'   get model interface
Set iApp = iModel.GetApplication()
iApp.LockLicense

'   get calculation interface
Dim iCalc As RFEM5.ICalculation2
Set iCalc = iModel.GetCalculation

'   get surface bending theory
Dim calc_bend As RFEM5.BendingTheoryType
calc_bend = iCalc.GetBendingTheory

'   get settings for nonlinearities
Dim calc_nl As RFEM5.CalculationNonlinearities
calc_nl = iCalc.GetNonlinearities

'   get precision and tolerance settings
Dim calc_prec As RFEM5.PrecisionAndTolerance
calc_prec = iCalc.GetPrecisionAndTolerance

'   get calculation settings
Dim calc_sets As RFEM5.CalculationSettings
calc_sets = iCalc.GetSettings

'get calculate options
Dim calc_opts As RFEM5.CalculationOptions
calc_opts = iCalc.GetOptions

'   set ShearStiffness to false
calc_opts.ShearStiffness = False
iCalc.SetOptions calc_opts

In the annex, there is an EXCEL macro to download.
• ### Displaying the result values is too inaccurate. Where can I adjust displaying of more result values for the member internal forces?

New FAQ 004130 EN

#### Answer

In the 'Global Calculation Parameters', there is the setting 'Number of Member Divisions for Result Diagrams'.

By default, this value is preset to '10'.

If members with very different lengths are used in a model, it may happen that the preset value of '10' is too small. This is then reflected, for example, by the fact that the parabolic moment diagram is not displayed correctly for the shorter members.

To avoid this problem, enter a higher value, e.g. '50'.

Thus, a parabolic moment diagram is also displayed on the shorter members.

The length of the sections results from the length of the longest member in the structure divided by the defined number of member divisions. The finer division of members applies to all members of the model.

• ### I have used the RF-/DYNAM Pro add-on module to generate the governing result combinations of seismic loads. What is the next way to perform a design of the individual components?

New FAQ 003598 EN

#### Answer

With the Equivalent Loads and Forced Vibrations add-on modules, you can create result combinations that contain the governing combinations of seismic loads. To perform a design with them, they have to be combined further on the basis of the extraordinary combination. This combination is defined, for example, in EN 1990 Art. 6.4.3.4:

${\mathrm E}_{\mathrm d}\;=\;\underset{}{\sum_{}^{}\;{\mathrm G}_{\mathrm k,\mathrm j}\;+\;\mathrm P\;+\;{\mathrm A}_{\mathrm{Ed}}\;+\;}\overset{}{\underset{}{\sum{\mathrm\psi}_{2,\mathrm i}\;{\mathrm Q}_{\mathrm k,\mathrm i}}}$

This accidental combination has to be defined manually in RFEM. Make sure that (for a direction combination with the 100/30% rule), both created result combinations from RF-/DYNAM Pro have to be added with the "Or" condition. A combination like this is displayed in Figure 02.

This accidental combination can then be used for further design. It is possible to evaluate the governing internal forces as well as to import and calculate this combination in the design modules.
• ### How to create a diagnostic report in the Admin Control Center?

New FAQ 003593 EN

#### Answer

It is necessary to perform the following steps on the server:

1. Start a web browser of your choice
2. Enter http://localhost:1947 in the address bar of the browser
3. In the Admin Control Center, select the "Diagnostics" option
4. Select "Generate Report" at the bottom of the screen in the diagnostic display
5. Save the diagnostic report or print it as a PDF.
Note:

To create the diagnostic report for the server, you need access to the server. The access can be made via RemoteControl or directly.
• ### When opening a DXF file, I get a message saying that access to this file is denied. How can I open this file?

FAQ 003579 EN

#### Answer

The message displayed in Figure 1 appears when trying to open a DXF file using the File → Open menu option or the corresponding toolbar button. To import the DXF file, select File → Import from the menu (Figure 2). Importing a DXF file is demonstrated in the video.
• ### For some time, I have to cope with display problems in RSTAB and RFEM that make it difficult to work with the software. It mainly affects the display of results. Depending on the zoom in and out, the lines are extended, dotted or absolutely not displayed.Do you have any idea how to solve this problem?

FAQ 003545 EN

#### Answer

It might be advisable to (de)activate the hardware acceleration.

In RSTAB and RFEM, you can activate or deactivate the hardware acceleration (OpenGL) by using the menu 'Options' → 'Program Options' in the 'Graphics' dialog tab.
In addition, an improved smoothing (antialiasing) can be set in the same dialog box to prevent the edge effect. Both options are only activated after restarting the program.

It could also be a problem that the graphics card driver is outdated. Under certain circumstances, this may lead to problems when using RSTAB and RFEM. I would, therefore, ask you to update the driver.

• ### I have purchased the programs RFEM and RSTAB. In My Account on the Dlubal extranet site, however, it is possible to see only RFEM (or only RSTAB) in the download area. Why is that?

FAQ 003337 EN

#### Answer

Whether or not the download for RFEM or RSTAB is displayed in the download area of the Dlubal account depends on whether or not you have concluded a service contract for the respective product.

If a service contract has been concluded for the respective product, the links for this product are visible.

If no service contract has been concluded, no links are visible.

If you purchase RFEM or RSTAB without a service contract at a specific time, you are entitled to use this program version. If you need the download link for the purchased program version, you can download it on our homepage in the 'Previous Program Versions' section.

See the link to 'Download Previous Versions' below:

• ### In the Admin Control Center, the product names are not displayed. What can I do?

FAQ 003281 EN

#### Answer

As soon as the network dongle is operated on another server, it is necessary to save the current product information on the new server.

To do this, proceed as follows:
1. Stop the 'Sentinel LDK License Manager' service on the server, see Figure No.
2. Download the *. *XML file. http://download.dlubal.com/?file=48521.xml
3. Save the file on the server as C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Aladdin Shared\HASP\vendors (if the folder 'Vendors' does not exist, create it manually)
4. Start the 'Sentinel LDK License Manager' service on the server, see Figure No.
Caution: Please only perform these steps if no licenses are currently in use!

• ### How can I graphically visualize the different surface supports and display them in the printout report?

FAQ 003226 EN

#### Answer

In the Project Navigator - Display, select the option Colors in Graphic according to -> Visibility (see Figure 1).
Furthermore, in the Project Navigator - Views, you have to set the Visibility for Surfaces by Supports (see Figure 2).
Then, you can display the table with the surface supports as well as the colored representation of the surface supports including the legend in the printout report (see Figure 3).

• ### I used RCs for the calculation of my reinforced concrete surfaces. However, in the "Surfaces - Local Deformations" table, the "Corresponding Load Cases" are not displayed. Is there any way to find them?

FAQ 003066 EN

#### Answer

It is correct that no corresponding load cases are displayed in Table 4.13 "Surfaces - Local Deformations."

However, you can find them in Table 4.4 "Members - Local Deformations," for example. See Figure 01.

If you want to see the corresponding load cases for the max. deformations of a RC on an certain surface, it is possible to integrate a member into this surface. In order to prevent this member to influence the surface stiffness, it is recommended to use a very small cross-section, for example.

If the member has been integrated or correctly in the surface, you obtain the table shown in Figure 01. Figure 02 shows the corresponding deformation in the surface component.

Optionally, right-click the row in Table 4.4 that contains the desired result (for example, max uz). In the shortcut menu, the "Generate CO Acc. Selected Row" option is available, which you can use to generate a CO that contains the corresponding load cases for the selected value. See Figure 03.

When using this command, you obtain a CO from a RC with the corresponding load cases. See Figure 04 with the results of the generated CO and the max. deformations in the considered area.

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#### First Steps

We provide hints and tips to help you get started with the main programs RFEM and RSTAB.

#### Wind Simulation & Wind Load Generation

With the stand-alone program RWIND Simulation, wind flows around simple or complex structures can be simulated by means of a digital wind tunnel.

The generated wind loads acting on these objects can be imported to RFEM or RSTAB.

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