In many frame and truss structures, it is no longer sufficient to use a simple member. You often have to consider cross-section weakenings or openings in solid beams. In such cases, you can use the "Surface Model" member type. It can be integrated into the model like any other member and offers all the options of a surface model. The present technical article shows the application of such a member in an existing structural system and describes the integration of member openings.
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.
RFEM 6 offers the Aluminum Design add-on for the design of aluminum members. This article shows how class 4 sections are designed according to Eurocode 9 in the program.
This article will show you the design of cold-formed steel cross-sections according to EN 1993-1-3, Section 6.1.6 in RFEM 6. Since the topic is still under development, the currently available options will be presented.
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.
This article will show you how to use the Torsion Warping (7 DOF) add-on in combination with the Structure Stability add-on to consider cross-section warping as an additional degree of freedom when performing the stability analysis.
The stand-alone program RSECTION is at your disposal for determining section properties and performing stress analysis for thin-walled and massive cross-sections. The program can be connected to both RFEM and RSTAB so that sections from RSECTION are also available in the RFEM and RSTAB library. Likewise, internal forces from RFEM and RSTAB can be imported into RSECTION.
You can use the stand-alone program RSECTION to determine the section properties for any thin-walled and massive cross-sections, as well as to perform a stress analysis. The previous Knowledge Base article titled "Graphical/Tabular Creation of User-defined Cross-sections in RSECTION 1" discussed the basis of defining cross-sections in the program. This article, on the other hand, is a summary of how to determine the section properties and perform a stress analysis.
Using the Concrete Design add-on, concrete column design is possible according to ACI 318-19. The following article will confirm the reinforcement design of the Concrete Design add-on using step-by-step analytical equations as per the ACI 318-19 standard, including the required longitudinal steel reinforcement, gross cross-sectional area, and tie size/spacing.
RSECTION 1 is a stand-alone program for determining section properties for both thin-walled and massive cross-sections, as well as for performing a stress analysis. In addition, the program can be connected to both RFEM and RSTAB: sections from RSECTION are available in the RFEM/RSTAB libraries, and internal forces from RFEM/RSTAB can be imported into RSECTION.
The design of cross-sections according to Eurocode 3 is based on the classification of the cross-section to be designed in terms of classes determined by the standard. The classification of cross-sections is important, since it determines the limits of resistance and rotation capacity due to local buckling of cross-section parts.
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.
This technical article presents some basics for using the Torsional Warping add-on (7 DOF). It is fully integrated into the main program and allows you to consider the cross-section warping when calculating member elements. In combination with the Stability Analysis and Steel Design add-ons, it is possible to perform the lateral-torsional buckling design with internal forces according to the second-order analysis, taking imperfections into account.
Rolled sections, the most common cross‑section type in RFEM and RSTAB, can also have user‑defined parameters. To do this, select the cross‑section to be modified in the cross‑section library and click the [Parametric Input...] button.
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 RFEM and RSTAB, parametrization provides you with many options, especially for recurring structural elements. Within the parametrization tool, you can access the internal values of a model; for example, the values of a selected cross‑section. The following example shows how this can work.
The number of National Annexes for Eurocode 2 with regard to the design of reinforced concrete cross-sections has been extended since SHAPE-MASSIVE 6.54. Therefore, the following NAs of EN 1992-1-1:2004 + AC:2010 are available:
A member's boundary conditions decisively influence the elastic critical moment for lateral-torsional buckling Mcr. The program uses a planar model with four degrees of freedom for its determination. The corresponding coefficients kz and kw can be defined individually for standard-compliant cross-sections. This allows you to describe the degrees of freedom available at both member ends due to the support conditions.
If you define a parametric cross-section in the library using its dimensions, the geometric properties are coded in the cross-section description; for example, "TO 200/100/10/10/10/10".
The reinforced concrete design for fire situations is carried out according to the simplified method based on EN 1992-1-2, Clause 4.2. The "zone method" described in Annex B.2 is used: The cross-section is subdivided into a number of parallel zones of equal thickness, and their temperature-dependent compressive strength is determined. The reduced load-bearing capacity in the event of fire exposure is thus represented by a reduced structural component's cross-section with reduced strengths.
The material allocation for hybrid SHAPE‑THIN cross‑sections can be selected easily in RFEM and RSTAB. The prerequisite for this is the allocation of different materials to the cross‑section elements in SHAPE‑THIN.
Cross-section properties in RFEM and RSTAB include different types of shear areas. This technical article explains the calculation and meaning of various values.
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).
The RF‑/STEEL EC3 add-on module can perform the design of fillet welds for all parametric, welded cross-sections of the cross-section library. For this, the option must be activated in the detail settings of the module. As an alternative, you can also use a surface model for the design.
The German Annex to EN 1992‑1‑1, the National Addition NCI to Article 9.2.1.2 (2), recommends to dispose the tension reinforcement in the flange plate of T‑beam cross‑sections on a maximum of one width corresponding to the half of a computed effective flange width beff,i according to Expression (5,7a).
In RFEM, if you want to insert a tapered member with intermediate nodes into an existing model, the issue often arises how to determine the individual cross-section depths of the tapered members quickly. The "Connect Lines or Members" command comes in handy for this purpose.
General thin-walled cross-sections often have asymmetrical geometries. The principal axes of such sections are then not parallel to the horizontally and vertically aligned axes Y and Z. When determining the cross-section properties, the angle α between the center-of-gravity axis y and the principal axis u is determined in addition to the principal axis-related moments of inertia.
The SHAPE‑THIN and SHAPE‑MASSIVE cross-section programs are suitable for determining the cross-section properties of common thin-walled or thick-walled sections. These cross-section properties are also available for further analyses in RSTAB and RFEM.