CFD calculations are in general very complex. An accurate calculation of wind flow around complicated structures is very demanding on time and computational costs. In many civil engineering applications, high accuracy is not needed and our CFD program RWIND 2 enables in such cases to simplify the model of a structure and reduce the costs significantly. In this article, some questions about the simplification are answered.
In order to be able to carry out a pushover analysis, it is necessary to transform the determined capacity curve into a simplified form. The N2 method is described in Eurocode EN 1998. This article should help to explain what a bilinearization according to the N2 method involves.
Both the determination of natural vibrations and the response spectrum analysis are always performed on a linear system. If nonlinearities exist in the system, they are linearized and thus not taken into account. They are caused by, for example, tension members, nonlinear supports, or nonlinear hinges. This article shows how you can handle them in a dynamic analysis.
The events of recent years remind us of the importance of earthquake engineering in seismic regions. For you as an engineer, the design of structures in earthquake-prone areas is a constant trade-off between economic efficiency – the financial possibilities – and structural safety. If a collapse is inevitable, engineers must estimate how it will affect the structure. This article aims to provide you with an option on how to perform this estimation.
The goal of using the RFEM 6 and Blender with the Bullet Constraints Builder add-on is to obtain a graphical representation of the collapse of a model based on real data of physical properties. RFEM 6 serves as the source of geometry and data for the simulation. This is another example of why it is important to maintain our programs as so-called BIM Open, in order to achieve collaboration across software domains.
A standard scenario in timber member construction is the ability to connect smaller members by means of bearing on a larger girder member. Additionally, member end conditions may include a similar situation where the beam is bearing on a support type. In either scenario, the beam must be designed to consider the bearing capacity perpendicular to the grain according to NDS 2018 Sec. 3.10.2 and CSA O86:19 Clauses 6.5.6 and 7.5.9. In general structural design software, it is typically not possible to carry out this full design check, as the bearing area is unknown. However, in the new generation RFEM 6 and Timber Design add-on, the added 'design supports' feature now allows users to comply with the NDS and CSA bearing perpendicular to the grain design checks.
With the release of the structural analysis programs RFEM 6, RSTAB 9, RSECTION 1, and RWIND 2, Dlubal Software introduces a new generation of structural analysis programs. True to the motto "Structural analysis that is fun ...", the program provides users with universal tools with which they can meet all the requirements in structural engineering. Find out more about the latest developments at Dlubal Software in this article.
Imperfections in construction engineering are associated with production-related deviation of structural components from their ideal shape. They are often used in a calculation to determine the equilibrium of forces for structural components on a deformed system.
The new RFEM software generation provides the option to perform stability design of tapered timber members in line with the equivalent member method. According to this method, the design can be performed if the guidelines of DIN 1052, Section E8.4.2 for variable cross-sections are met. In various technical literature, this method is also adopted for Eurocode 5. This article demonstrates how to use the equivalent member method for a tapered roof girder.
The calculation of complex structures by means of finite element analysis software is generally performed on the entire model. However, the construction of such structures is a process carried out in multiple stages where the final state of the building is achieved by combining the separate structural parts. To avoid errors in the calculation of overall models, the influence of the construction process must be considered. In RFEM 6, this is possible using the Construction Stages Analysis (CSA) add-on.
The new generation of RFEM software is an intuitive, powerful, and easy-to-handle 3D FEA program that meets all the latest demands in modeling, calculation, and structural design. The modern design concept, as well as the introduction of new features, make the program even more innovative and user-friendly. The main differences between RFEM 6 and its previous version, RFEM 5, are discussed in the following text.
This article deals with rectilinear elements of which the cross-section is subjected to axial compressive force. The purpose of this article is to show how very many parameters defined in the Eurocodes for concrete column calculation are considered in the RFEM 5 structural analysis software.
In the age of BIM, data exchange between the various disciplines of structural engineering is becoming increasingly important. Since each software has its own specifications with regard to the description of cross-sections and materials, RFEM and RSTAB offer a conversion table (mapping file).
This article deals with the determination of the concrete reinforcement for a beam stressed by tension only according to EN 1992-1-1. The aim is to show the tensile load of a member-type element (without imposed deformations) and to define the concrete reinforcement in accordance with the standard's construction rules and provisions using the RFEM structural analysis software.
It may become necessary to analyze pipe cross‑sections as surface models in plant engineering in particular, but also when analyzing details of structural systems. For this purpose, RFEM offers the option to create pipe cross‑sections automatically by means of a line.
With the SHAPE‑THIN cross‑section properties software, you can create any thin‑walled cross‑section and use it in RFEM or RSTAB as a member cross‑section. SHAPE‑THIN can give all relevant cross‑section values of any cross‑section for a design and stress analysis.
This article deals with the protection of reinforcement against corrosion defined according to EN 1992-1-1, also called concrete cover. The purpose of this article is to show how very many parameters defined in the Eurocodes for concrete reinforcements are considered in the RFEM structural analysis software.
In RFEM 5 and RSTAB 8, you can view detailed information on the currently used license and installed dongle driver. In case of any problems with the license, you can send the created text file to the Dlubal Software hotline, which allows us to provide you with a fast and efficient analysis. To create the file, select "Help" → "Authorization" → "Diagnostics".
Before creating a structural model, every user gives thought to the boundary parameters of the system and how best to represent the model. Special attention should be paid to the orientation of the global coordinate system. In engineering, the global Z‑axis is usually oriented downwards (in the direction of the dead load), while it tends to be upwards in architecture. These differences can often lead to complications during modeling; for example, when you replace global models or DXF layers.
If the geometry of a surface for which you must remove some of the existing boundary lines changes subsequently, you do not need to redefine the surface.
The network-capable Project Manager controls the projects of all Dlubal Software applications in one central location. The projects are linked to the folders on the hard disk.
Until now, the prestress load type had always been an initial prestress in Dlubal Software programs. The defined load magnitude was applied and, depending on the stiffness of the surrounding system, prestress remained more or less as an axial force in the cable.
In the world of construction engineering, the word "imperfections" has a specific meaning. In general, it describes the incompleteness of a structure or the deviation of a structural component from an ideal shape caused by the production.
RF-MOVE Surfaces facilitates the generation of load cases from different positions of moving loads. Based on the load positions of the moving load, the program generates separate load cases for RFEM 5. Optionally, an enveloping result combination of all load positions is created.
"A good tool is half the job done": This proverb could be applied equally to the software industry. The more a program is task-tailored, the more efficiently the tasks can be solved. The variety and complexity of today's problems, especially in structural engineering, require specifically tailored solutions. Creating your own programs by means of textual programming requires in-depth knowledge and a great ability to abstract. Understandably, only very few engineering offices face this challenge. For this reason, there are additional software solutions providing the user with a visual development environment.
Structures are naturally three-dimensional. However, because it was impossible to perform calculations on three-dimensional models easily in the past, the structures were simplified and broken down into planar subsystems. With the increasing performance of computers and related software, it is often possible to do without these simplifications. Digital trends such as Building Information Modeling (BIM) and new options for creating realistic visualized models reinforce this trend. But do 3D models really offer an advantage, or are we just following a trend? The following text presents some arguments for working in 3D models.