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.
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).
For a quick overview of the cross‑sections used, you can show the members in color sorted by cross‑section. Use the right mouse button in the work window to select "Colors in Graphics According to" → "Cross -Sections" from the shortcut menu. In the current program versions, you can use a panel with an editable color scale for this.
A PDF version of the printout report can be created in two ways. The most common way is to use a PDF printer that must be previously installed. The printer will be controlled like a real printer.
When updating within a version series (for example, RFEM 5.01.01 to 5.01.02), the old program files are removed and replaced by new ones. The project data, of course, remain unchanged. When updating to the next version series (for example, RFEM 5.02.01), the new version is installed in parallel. The program files are located in different directories, so the previous version is still available.
As of the program version X.11, the filter options of small compression forces or moments for stability analysis in RF‑/STEEL EC3 have been revised. The revision of these filter options in the "Stability" tab of the "Details" dialog box allows you to work in the module transparently, since they are now independent of the design.
With program version RFEM 5.06, you can edit several tendons in the RF‑TENDON add‑on module simultaneously. To do this, it is necessary to select the corresponding tendons in the tendon arrangement table.
As of program version 5.06, you can use the option to adjust the effective concrete tensile strength fct,eff,wk at the time of cracking. At the start of the SLS design, the program checks whether the internal forces can cause cracks in the concrete. For this, the effective concrete tensile strength at the time of cracking is applied. You can adjust the strength via the factor. The calculation details display the adjusted value.
In RF-/DYNAM Pro – Equivalent Loads, a signed result option in accordance with the dominant eigenmode has been available since version X.06.3039. For the modal combination of results corresponding to the single eigenvalues, a quadratic combination rule has to be used. In RFEM and RSTAB, the SRSS and the CQC rule are available. Only results, not loads, are allowed to be combined directly. The reason is the mode shapes, which are arbitrarily scaled and signed.