Hints for the Equivalent Load Method
Mr. Frenzel is responsible for developing products for dynamic analysis. He also provides technical support for customers of Dlubal Software.
Product Feature
Product Feature
Product Feature
![Reduction of Building to Cantilever Structure: The individual mass points represent the floors. The deflection due to the normal compression forces shown in (a) is (b) converted into equivalent moments of displacement or shear forces [2].](/en/webimage/009762/2420261/01-en-png-12-png.png?mw=350&hash=dd36dc43123116724231958668ad6cdcb13a0169)
- Design of five types of seismic force-resisting systems (SFRS) includes Special Moment Frame (SMF), Intermediate Moment Frame (IMF), Ordinary Moment Frame (OMF), Ordinary Concentrically Braced Frame (OCBF), and Special Concentrically Braced Frame (SCBF)
- Ductility check of the width-to thickness ratios for webs and flanges
- Calculation of the required strength and stiffness for stability bracing of beams
- Calculation of the maximum spacing for stability bracing of beams
- Calculation of the required strength at hinge locations for stability bracing of beams
- Calculation of the column required strength with the option to neglect all bending moments, shear, and torsion for overstrength limit state
- Design check of column and brace slenderness ratios
The seismic design result is categorized into two sections: member requirements and connection requirements.
The "Seismic Requirements" include the Required Flexural Strength and the Required Shear Strength of the beam-to-column connection for moment frames. They are listed in the ‘Moment Frame Connection by Member’ tab. For braced frames, the Required Connection Tensile Strength and the Required Connection Compressive Strength of the brace are listed in the ‘Brace Connection by Member’ tab.
The program provides the performed design checks in tables. The design check details clearly display the formulas and references to the standard.
Using the "Damper" member type, you can define a damping coefficient, a spring constant, and a mass. This member type extends the possibilities within the Time History Analysis.
With regard to viscoelasticity, the "Damper" member type is similar to the Kelvin-Voigt model, which consists of the damping element and an elastic spring (both connected in parallel).
For calculation diagrams, the "2D | Hinge" is available. These hinge diagrams show the hinge response of load situations for nonlinear hinges.
For calculations with several load situations, such as is the case with pushover analyzes and time history analysis, you can evaluate the state of the hinge in each load step.
Main Program
The new generation of 3D FEA software is used for the structural analysis of members, surfaces, and solids.
Add-On
The Modal Analysis add-on allows for the calculation of eigenvalues, natural frequencies, and natural periods for member, surface, and solid models.
Add-On
The Response Spectrum Analysis add-on performs seismic analysis using multi-modal response spectrum analysis. The spectra required for this can be created in compliance with the standards or can be user-defined. The equivalent static forces are generated from them. The add-on includes an extensive library of accelerograms from seismic zones that can be used to generate the response spectra.
Add-On
Using the Pushover Analysis add-on, you can analyze the seismic actions on a particular building, and thus assess whether the building can withstand an earthquake.
Add-On
The Time-Dependent Analysis (TDA) add-on allows you to consider the time-dependent material behavior of members. The long-term effects, such as creep, shrinkage, and aging, can influence the distribution of internal forces, depending on the structure.
Add-On
The Concrete Design add-on allows for various design checks according to international standards. You can design members, surfaces, and columns, as well as perform punching and deformation analyses.
Add-On
The Steel Design add-on performs the ultimate and serviceability limit state design checks of steel members according to various standards.
Add-On
The Timber Design add-on performs the ultimate, serviceability, and fire resistance limit state design checks of timber members according to various standards.
Add-On
The Masonry Design add-on for RFEM allows you to design masonry using the finite element method. It was developed as part of the research project titled DDMaS – Digitizing the Design of Masonry Structures. The material model represents the nonlinear behavior of the brick-mortar combination in the form of macro-modeling.
Add-On
The Aluminum Design add-on performs the ultimate and serviceability limit state design checks of aluminum members according to various standards.
Main Program
The modern 3D structural analysis and design program is suitable for the structural and dynamic analysis of beam structures as well as the design of concrete, steel, timber, and other materials.
Add-On
The Modal Analysis add-on allows for the calculation of eigenvalues, natural frequencies, and natural periods for member, surface, and solid models.
Add-On
The Response Spectrum Analysis add-on performs seismic analysis using the multi-modal response spectrum analysis. The spectra required for this can be created in compliance with the standards or can be user-defined. The equivalent static forces are generated from them. The add-on includes an extensive library of accelerograms from seismic zones that can be used to generate response spectra.
Add-On
Earthquakes may have a significant impact on the deformation behavior of buildings. A pushover analysis allows you to analyze the deformation behavior of buildings and compare them with seismic actions. Using the Pushover Analysis add-on, you can analyze the seismic actions on a particular building, and thus assess whether the building can withstand the earthquake.
Add-On
Concrete Design add-on allows for various design checks of members and columns according to international standards.
Add-On
The Steel Design add-on performs the ultimate and serviceability limit state design checks of steel members according to various standards.
Add-On
The Timber Design add-on performs the ultimate, serviceability, and fire resistance limit state design checks of timber members according to various standards.
Add-On
The Aluminum Design add-on performs the ultimate and serviceability limit state design checks of aluminum members according to various standards.