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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.
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.
In the existing standard, there were no regulations for the distribution of snow loads for elevated solar thermal and photovoltaic systems on roofs. Only distribution of the loads was advised. It was only with the National Annex DIN EN 1991-1-3/NA: 2019-04 that specific regulations were made for this.
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, 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.
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.
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.
- 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.
Compliance with building codes, such as Eurocode, is essential to ensure the safety, structural integrity, and sustainability of buildings and structures. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) plays a vital role in this process by simulating fluid behavior, optimizing designs, and helping architects and engineers meet Eurocode requirements related to wind load analysis, natural ventilation, fire safety, and energy efficiency. By integrating CFD into the design process, professionals can create safer, more efficient, and compliant buildings that meet the highest standards of construction and design in Europe.
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 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.
With RF-/STEEL EC3, you can utilize nominal temperature-time curves in RFEM and RSTAB. The standard time-temperature curve (ETK), the external fire curve and the hydrocarbon fire curve are implemented. Moreover, the program provides the option to directly specify the final temperature of steel.
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.
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.
If a canopy roof (for example, a filling station roof) should be designed, a load determination with regard to Section 7.3 of EN 1991-1-4 is required. This article shows the design of a slightly inclined troughed roof, with an example.
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.
- 001819
- Design
- Aluminum Design for RFEM 6
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- Aluminum Design for RSTAB 9
- Concrete Design for RFEM 6
- Concrete Design for RSTAB 9
- Steel Design for RFEM 6
- Steel Design for RSTAB 9
- Timber Design for RFEM 6
- Timber Design for RSTAB 9
- Concrete Structures
- Steel Structures
- Timber Structures
- Structural Analysis & Design
- Eurocode 0
- Eurocode 2
- Eurocode 3
- Eurocode 5
- Eurocode 9
- ADM
- ANSI/AISC 360
For the serviceability of a structure, the deformations must not exceed certain limit values. This article describes an example that shows how to analyze the deflection of members using Dlubal's design add-ons.
In RFEM 5 as well as RSTAB 8 in RF-/FOUNDATION Pro, you can save the foundation dimensions for all five foundation types as foundation templates in a user-defined database and use them later in other models.
In the case of open cross-sections, the torsional load is removed mainly via secondary torsion, since the St. Venant torsional stiffness is low compared to the warping stiffness. Therefore, warping stiffeners in the cross-section are particularly interesting for the lateral-torsional buckling analysis, as they can significantly reduce the rotation. For this, end plates or welded stiffeners and sections are suitable.