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.
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.
The design of cold-formed steel members according to the AISI S100-16 is now available in RFEM 6. Design can be accessed by selecting “AISC 360” as the standard in the Steel Design add-on. “AISI S100” is then automatically selected for the cold-formed design (Image 01).
The stability checks for the equivalent member design according to EN 1993-1-1, AISC 360, CSA S16, and other international standards require consideration of the design length (that is, the effective length of the members). In RFEM 6, it is possible to determine the effective length manually by assigning nodal supports and effective length factors or, on the other hand, by importing it from the stability analysis. Both options will be demonstrated in this article by determining the effective length of the framed column in Image 1.
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 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.
For crane runways with large spans, the horizontal load from skewing is often relevant for the design. This article describes the origin of these forces and the correct input in CRANEWAY. The practical implementation and the theoretical background are discussed.
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.
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.