Using the Timber Design add-on, timber column design is possible according to the 2018 NDS standard ASD method. Accurately calculating timber member compressive capacity and adjustment factors is important for safety considerations and design. The following article will verify the maximum critical buckling strength calculated by the Timber Design add-on using step-by-step analytical equations as per the NDS 2018 standard including the compressive adjustment factors, adjusted compressive design value, and final design ratio.
The three types of moment frames (Ordinary, Intermediate, Special) are available in the Steel Design add-on of RFEM 6. The seismic design result according to AISC 341-22 is categorized into two sections: member requirements and connection requirements.
The National Building Code of Canada (NBC) 2020 Article 4.1.8.7 provides a clear procedure for earthquake methods of analysis. The more advanced method, the Dynamic Analysis Procedure in Article 4.1.8.12, should be used for all structure types except those that meet the criteria set forth in 4.1.8.7. The more simplistic method, the Equivalent Static Force Procedure (ESFP) in Article 4.1.8.11, can be used for all other structures.
RWIND 2 and RFEM 6 can now be used to calculate wind loads from experimentally measured wind pressures on surfaces. Basically, two interpolation methods are available to distribute pressures measured in isolated points across the surfaces. The desired pressure distribution can be achieved using the appropriate method and parameter settings.
To evaluate whether it is also necessary to consider the second-order analysis in a dynamic calculation, the sensitivity coefficient of interstory drift θ is provided in EN 1998‑1, Sections 2.2.2 and 4.4.2.2. It can be calculated and analyzed using RFEM 6 and RSTAB 9.
For the ultimate limit state design, EN 1998‑1, Sections 2.2.2 and 4.4.2.2 require a calculation considering the second‑order theory (P‑Δ effect). This effect may be neglected only if the interstory drift sensitivity coefficient θ is less than 0.1.
The Steel Design add-on in RFEM 6 now offers the ability to perform seismic design according to AISC 341-16 and AISC 341-22. Five types of seismic force-resisting systems (SFRS) are currently available.
The three types of moment frames (Ordinary, Intermediate, Special) are available in the Steel Design add-on of RFEM 6. The seismic design result according to AISC 341-16 is categorized into two sections: member requirements and connection requirements.
Using an example of a steel fiber-reinforced concrete slab, this article describes how the use of different integration methods and of a different number of integration points affects the calculation result.
When it comes to wind loads on building type structures as per ASCE 7, numerous resources can be found to supplement design standards and aid engineers with this lateral load application. However, engineers may find it more difficult to find similar resources for wind loading on non-building type structures. This article will examine the steps to calculate and apply wind loads as per ASCE 7-22 on a circular reinforced concrete tank with a dome roof.
In order to correctly design a downstand beam or a T-beam in RFEM 6 using the Concrete Design add-on, it is essential to determine the flange widths for the rib members. This article describes the input options for a two-span beam and the calculation of the flange dimensions according to EN 1992-1-1.
CFD calculations are in general very complex. An accurate calculation of wind flow around complicated structures is very demanding on time and computational costs. In many civil engineering applications, high accuracy is not needed and our CFD program RWIND 2 enables in such cases to simplify the model of a structure and reduce the costs significantly. In this article, some questions about the simplification are answered.
In this article, a heavy cargo box is calculated according to the guidelines of the German Bundesverband Holzpackmittel (HPE). The load cases for Handling by Crane and Sea Transport are calculated.
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.
When calculating regular structures, data input is often not complicated but time-consuming. Input automation can save valuable time. The task described in the present article is to consider the stories of a house as single construction stages. Data is entered using a C# program so that the user does not have to enter the elements of the individual floors manually.
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.
Large-scale models are models which contain multiple dimensional scales and thus are demanding on computational power. This article will show you how to simplify and optimize the calculation of such models with respect to the desired results.
In RFEM 6, the results for the FE mesh nodes are determined using the finite element method. For the distribution of internal forces, deformations, and stresses to be continuous, these nodal values are smoothed through an interpolation process. This article will introduce and compare the different types of smoothing that you can use for this purpose.
Surfaces in building models can be of many different sizes and shapes. All surfaces can be considered in RFEM 6 because the program allows to define different materials and thicknesses as well as surfaces with different stiffness and geometry types. This article focuses on four of these surface types: rotated, trimmed, without thickness, and load transfer.
Spreadsheet programs like MS EXCEL are very popular with engineers because they allow you to simply automatize your calculations and quickly output the results. Therefore, combining MS EXCEL used as a graphical interface with Dlubal's WebService API is an obvious choice. By using the free xlwings library for Python, you can control EXCEL, and read and write values. The functionality is described in the following, using an example.
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.
This article will show you the Building Model add-on, which has been enhanced with one important advantage: calculating the center of mass and center of rigidity.
RWIND 2 is a program for generating wind loads based on CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics). The wind flow numerical simulation is generated around any building, including irregular or unique geometry types, to determine the wind loads on surfaces and members. RWIND 2 can be integrated with RFEM/RSTAB for the structural analysis and design or as a stand-alone application.
This article will show you how to use the Combination Wizard in RFEM 6 to reduce the number of load combinations to be analyzed, thus reducing the calculation effort and increasing the calculation efficiency.
This article shows you how to define different types of member transverse stiffeners in RFEM 6 and RSTAB 9. It also shows you how to consider them in the design as well as the calculation of members with 7 degrees of freedom.
In RFEM 6, it is possible to define line welds between surfaces and calculate the weld stresses using the Stress-Strain Analysis add-on. This article will show you how to do it.