52 Results
View Results:
Sort by:
Defining the appropriate effective length is crucial in obtaining the correct member design capacity. For X-bracing that is connected at the center, engineers often wonder if the full end-to-end length of the member shall be used, or whether using half of the length to where the members are connected is sufficient. This article outlines the recommendations given by the AISC and provides an example on how to specify the effective length of the X-braces in RFEM.
In Germany, DIN EN 1991-1-4 with the National Annex DIN EN 1991-1-4/NA regulates the wind loads. The standard applies to civil engineering works up to an altitude of 300 m.
The design of a torsional loaded beam according to AISC Design Guide 9 will be shown, based on a verification example. The design will be performed with the RF‑STEEL AISC add-on module and the RF‑STEEL Warping Torsion module extension with 7 degrees of freedom.
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.
Windbreak structures are special types of fabric structures which protect the environment from harmful chemical particles, abate wind erosion, and help to maintain valuable sources. RFEM and RWIND are used for wind-structure analysis as one-way fluid-structure interaction (FSI).
This article demonstrates how to structural design windbreak structures using RFEM and RWIND.
- 001530
- Modeling | Loading
- RFEM 5
-
- RSTAB 8
- RX-TIMBER Glued-Laminated Beam 2
- RX-TIMBER Roof 2
- RX-TIMBER Continuous Beam 2
- RX-TIMBER Purlin 2
- RX-TIMBER Frame 2
- RX-TIMBER Column 2
- RX-TIMBER Brace 2
- Buildings
- Concrete Structures
- Steel Structures
- Timber Structures
- Process Manufacturing Plants
- Temporary Structures
- Structural Analysis & Design
- Eurocode 1
- Eurocode 0
In Germany, DIN EN 1991-1-3 with National Annex DIN EN 1991-1-3/NA regulates snow loads. The standard applies to civil engineering works at altitudes of up to 1,500 m above sea level.
The Steel Joist Institute (SJI) previously developed Virtual Joist tables to estimate the section properties for Open Web Steel Joists. These Virtual Joist sections are characterized as equivalent wide-flange beams which closely approximate the joist chord area, effective moment of inertia, and weight. Virtual Joists are also available in the RFEM and RSTAB cross-section database.
In RF-/FOUNDATION Pro, you can also consider the concrete cover for the foundation according to EN 1992-1-1.
In RF-/FOUNDATION Pro, the foundation design requires the definition of the corresponding loading (load cases, load combinations, or result combinations) for different design situations (STR, GEO, UPL, or EQU).
After running an analysis in RF-/STEEL AISC, the mode shapes for sets of members can be viewed graphically in a separate window. Select the relevant set of members in the result window and click the [Mode Shapes] button.
In RFEM and RSTAB, different graphical representations of the foundation dimensions are available.
Sometimes a structure needs reinforcement in cases where a new floor is being added, or when an existing member is found to be under design due to a hard-to-predict loading assumption. In many cases, the structural member may not be easily replaced, and reinforcement is implemented to meet the new loading requirement.
Using RF-CONCRETE Members, concrete column design is possible according to ACI 318-14. Accurately designing concrete column shear and longitudinal reinforcement is important for safety considerations. The following article will confirm the reinforcement design in RF-CONCRETE Members using step-by-step analytical equations as per the ACI 318-14 standard, including required longitudinal steel reinforcement, gross cross-sectional area, and tie size/spacing.
Plate girder is an economical choice for long spans construction. I-section steel plate girder typically has a deep web to maximize its shear capacity and flange separation, yet thin web to minimize the self-weight. Due to its large height-to-thickness (h/tw) ratio, transverse stiffeners may be required to stiffen the slender web.
The elastic deformations of a structural component due to a load are based on Hooke's law, which describes a linear stress-strain relation. They are reversible: After the relief, the component returns to its original shape. However, plastic deformations lead to irreversible deformations. The plastic strains are usually considerably larger than the elastic deformations. For plastic stresses of ductile materials such as steel, yielding effects occur where the increase in deformation is accompanied by hardening. They lead to permanent deformations - and in extreme cases to the destruction of the structural component.
There are several options for calculating a semi-rigid composite beam. They differ primarily in the type of modeling. Whereas the Gamma method ensures simple modeling, additional efforts are required when using other methods (for example, shear analogy) for the modeling which are, however, offset by the much more flexible application compared to the Gamma method.
The same structures are often needed in several projects, such as the purlin with columns and braces in this example. The dimensions can be changed directly in RFEM or RSTAB by shifting the nodes.
Modal analysis is the starting point for the dynamic analysis of structural systems. You can use it to determine natural vibration values such as natural frequencies, mode shapes, modal masses, and effective modal mass factors. This outcome can be used for vibration design, and it can be used for further dynamic analyses (for example, loading by a response spectrum).
Lateral-Torsional Buckling (LTB) is a phenomenon that occurs when a beam or structural member is subjected to bending and the compression flange is not sufficiently supported laterally. This leads to a combination of lateral displacement and twisting. It is a critical consideration in the design of structural elements, especially in slender beams and girders.
- 001555
- Modeling | Loading
- RFEM 5
-
- RSTAB 8
- RF-TIMBER AWC 5
- TIMBER AWC 8
- RF-TIMBER CSA 5
- TIMBER CSA 8
- RF-TIMBER Pro 5
- TIMBER Pro 8
- RF-JOINTS Timber | Timber to Timber 5
- JOINTS Timber | Timber to Timber 8
- RF-JOINTS Timber | Steel to Timber 5
- JOINTS Timber | Steel to Timber 8
- RF-LIMITS 5
- LIMITS 8
- RF-LAMINATE 5
- Timber Structures
- Laminate and Sandwich Structures
- Structural Analysis & Design
- Finite Element Analysis
- Steel Connections
- Eurocode 0
- Eurocode 5
- ANSI/AISC 360
- SIA 260
- SIA 265
In addition to determining loads, some particularities concerning the load combinatorics in timber design have to be considered. Contrary to steel structures, where the largest loading results from all unfavorable actions, in timber construction, the strength values depend on the load duration and timber humidity. Special characteristics have to be considered as well for the serviceability limit state design. The following article discusses the effects on the design of wooden elements and how this is possible with RSTAB and RFEM.
To be able to evaluate the influence of local stability phenomena of slender structural components, RFEM 6 and RSTAB 9 provide you with the option of performing a linear critical load analysis on the cross-section level. The following article explains the basics of the calculation and the result interpretation.
When optimizing cross-sections in the add-on modules, you can also select arbitrarily defined cross-section favorites lists - in addition to the cross-sections from the same cross-section series as the original cross-section.
The effects due to snow load are described in the American standard ASCE/SEI 7-16 and in Eurocode 1, Parts 1 through 3. These standards are implemented in the new RFEM 6 program and the Snow Load Wizard, which serves to facilitate the application of snow loads. In addition to this, the most recent generation of the program allows the construction site to be specified on a digital map, thus allowing the snow load zone to be imported automatically. These data are, in turn, used by the Load Wizard to simulate the effects due to the snow load.
In RF-/FOUNDATION Pro, the user can freely select the proportion of the relieving soil pressure by means of the factor kred.
- 000487
- Modeling | Structure
- RFEM 5
-
- RF-STEEL 5
- RF-STEEL AISC 5
- RF-STEEL AS 5
- RF-STEEL BS 5
- RF-STEEL CSA 5
- RF-STEEL EC3 5
- RF-STEEL GB 5
- RF-STEEL HK 5
- RF-STEEL IS 5
- RF-STEEL NBR 5
- RF-STEEL NTC-DF 5
- RF-STEEL SANS 5
- RF-STEEL SIA 5
- RF-STEEL SP 5
- RF-ALUMINUM 5
- RF-ALUMINUM ADM 5
- RSTAB 8
- STEEL 8
- STEEL AISC 8
- STEEL AS 8
- STEEL BS 8
- STEEL CSA 8
- STEEL EC3 8
- STEEL GB 8
- STEEL HK 8
- STEEL IS 8
- STEEL NBR 8
- STEEL NTC-DF 8
- STEEL SANS 8
- STEEL SIA 8
- STEEL SP 8
- ALUMINUM 8
- ALUMINUM ADM 8
- Steel Structures
- Process Manufacturing Plants
- Stairway Structures
- Structural Analysis & Design
- Eurocode 3
- ANSI/AISC 360
- SIA 263
- IS 800
- BS 5950-1
- GB 50017
- CSA S16
- AS 4100
- SP 16.13330
- SANS 10162-1
- ABNT NBR 800
- ADM
The support conditions of a beam subjected to bending are essential for its resistance to lateral-torsional buckling. If, for example, a single-span beam is held laterally in the middle of the span, the deflection of the compressed flange can be prevented, and a two-wave eigenmode can be enforced. The critical lateral-torsional buckling moment is increased significantly by this additional measure. In the add-on modules for member design, different types of lateral supports on a member can be defined using the "Intermediate supports" input window.
RF-CONCRETE Members for RFEM or CONCRETE for RSTAB propose an automatically created reinforcement to the user if the "Design the provided reinforcement" option is selected in Window 1.6 "Reinforcement".
When a concrete slab is set upon the top flange, its effect is like a lateral support (composite construction), preventing problems of torsional buckling stability. If there is a negative distribution of the bending moment, the bottom flange is subjected to compression and the top flange is under tension. If the lateral support given by the stiffness of the web is insufficient, the angle between the bottom flange and the web intersection line is variable in this case so that there is a possibility of distortional buckling for the bottom flange.
In RF‑/FOUNDATION Pro, you now have the option to design a foundation at one or several nodes of the model.
- 000945
- Add-on Modules
- RF-FRAME-JOINT Pro 5
-
- JOINTS Steel | Column Base 8
- JOINTS Steel | DSTV 8
- JOINTS Steel | Pinned 8
- JOINTS Steel | Rigid 8
- JOINTS Steel | SIKLA 8
- JOINTS Steel | Tower 8
- JOINTS Timber | Steel to Timber 8
- JOINTS Timber | Timber to Timber 8
- RF-JOINTS Steel | SIKLA 5
- RF-JOINTS Steel | Column Base 5
- RF-JOINTS Steel | DSTV 5
- RF-JOINTS Steel | Pinned 5
- RF-JOINTS Steel | Rigid 5
- RF-JOINTS Steel | Tower 5
- RF-JOINTS Timber | Steel to Timber 5
- RF-JOINTS Timber | Timber to Timber 5
- FRAME-JOINT Pro 8
- Steel Structures
- Timber Structures
- Steel Connections
- Eurocode 3
- Eurocode 5
In addition to the result tables, you can create three-dimensional graphics in RF‑/FRAME‑JOINT Pro and RF‑/JOINTS. This is a realistic representation of a connection to scale.
When introducing and transferring horizontal loads such as wind or seismic loads, increasing difficulties arise in 3D models. To avoid such issues, some standards (for example, ASCE 7, NBC) require the simplification of the model using diaphragms that distribute the horizontal loads to structural components transferring loads, but cannot transfer bending themselves (called "Diaphragm").