Designing Foundations
Tips & Tricks
This article was translated by Google Translator
New
26 January 2021
000566
In RFEM 5 and RSTAB 8, you can design foundations according to EN 1992‑1‑1 and EN 1997‑1 in the RF‑/FOUNDATION Pro add‑on module.
The following types of foundations are available:
- bucket foundation with smooth bucket sides
- bucket foundation with rough bucket sides
- Foundation plate
- block foundation with rough bucket sides
In practice, these types of foundations cover a great number of design purposes.
It can, however, happen that you need other foundations with forms deviating from the options provided in RF‑/FOUNDATION Pro. For such special design purposes, RFEM and the available add‑on modules allow you to carry out a viable and economical design. Here, this is shown by an example of a foundation which is not covered by the types of foundations available in RF‑/FOUNDATION Pro.
Consider the following exemplary situation: We want to design a foundation for a lattice tower structure. The corner posts of the tower are applied to four bases that protrude from a concrete slab. The loads are specified manually by support forces from the design of the lattice tower structure. The individual load combinations can either be generated by RFEM or created manually.
For the design of the foundation plate, we use RF‑CONCRETE Surfaces for the bending design and the crack width check. The rising bases can be designed with RF-CONCRETE Members. The punching shear design of the individual bases on the plate is carried out with the RF‑PUNCH module. The geotechnical checks can be performed manually via the output of the existing bearing pressure. With the RF‑SOILIN module, you can enter the soil parameters from a soil investigation report to determine the foundation coefficients and consider them in the RFEM calculation.
The figure above shows the rendering of the modeled foundation plate with rising components, as well as the result values for the lower layer of the bending reinforcement.
Author

Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Paul Kieloch
Product Engineering & Customer Support
As technical support, Mr. Kieloch answers the questions of Dlubal Software customers, and is responsible for the development of the add-on modules for reinforced concrete structures.
Keywords
Foundation pad footing Foundation plate Geotechnics Floor Slab
Links
Contact us
Do you have questions or need advice?
Contact our free e-mail, chat, or forum support or find various suggested solutions and useful tips on our FAQ page.
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
KB000610 | Automatically Dimensioning the Foundation Slab Geometry with RF-/FOUNDATION Pro
Length 0:40 min
KB 000674 | Defining Mandrel Diameter for Foundation Reinforcement in RF-/FOUNDATION Pro
Length 0:36 min
KB 000605 | Setting the Concrete Cover in RF-/FOUNDATION Pro According to EN 1992-1-1
Length 0:32 min
Models to Download
Knowledge Base Articles

New
Using Modified Stiffnesses for Dynamic Calculations
In RFEM, it is possible to modify stiffnesses for materials, cross -sections, members, load cases, and load combinations in many places.
Screenshots
Product Features Articles

Material Model Orthotropic Masonry 2D
The material model Orthotropic Masonry 2D is an elastoplastic model that additionally allows softening of the material, which can be different in the local x- and y-direction of a surface. The material model is suitable for (unreinforced) masonry walls with in-plane loads.
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?
- Is it possible to manually specify a longitudinal reinforcement for design in RF‑PUNCH Pro?
- Can I simulate the cracked state of a concrete cross-section for a bending beam with the "Isotropic Nonlinear Elastic 1D" material model?
- Why is the deflection of the reinforced concrete floor sometimes greater when selecting a larger basic reinforcement?
- How can I view the depth of the concrete compression zone in RF‑/CONCRETE?
- I have a question about the message No. 47 in RFEM. What is the exact meaning of the word "integrate"? What is the resulting effect?
-
If I do not specify any basic reinforcement in RF‑CONCRETE Surfaces, I obtain the value X as an additionally required reinforcement. If I enter this value X as the provided basic reinforcement, I correctly do not get any additional required reinforcement.
However, if I enter a lower value than the determined required total reinforcement as the basic reinforcement, the additionally required reinforcement is increased in such a way that the originally required reinforcement content is exceeded. Why? - Why does the RF‑CONCRETE Surfaces add-on module not increase the amount of reinforcement until the SLS designs have a design ratio of 1.0?
- How can I get the member end forces to design the connections?
Customer Projects
Associated Products