When wind-induced surface pressures on a building are available, they can be applied on a structural model in RFEM 6, processed by RWIND 2, and used as wind loads for static analysis in RFEM 6.
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. The coefficient θ is calculated as follows:$$\mathrm\theta\;=\;\frac{\displaystyle{\mathrm P}_\mathrm{tot}\;\cdot\;{\mathrm d}_\mathrm r}{{\mathrm V}_\mathrm{tot}\;\cdot\;\mathrm h}\;$$
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.
Wind direction plays a crucial role in shaping the outcomes of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations and the structural design of buildings and infrastructures. It is a determining factor in assessing how wind forces interact with structures, influencing the distribution of wind pressures, and consequently, the structural responses. Understanding the impact of wind direction is essential for developing designs that can withstand varying wind forces, ensuring the safety and durability of structures. Simplified, the wind direction helps in fine-tuning CFD simulations and guiding structural design principles for optimal performance and resilience against wind-induced effects.
Given that realistic determination of the soil conditions significantly influences the quality of the structural analysis of buildings, the Geotechnical Analysis add-on is offered in RFEM 6 to determine the soil body to be analyzed.
The way to provide data obtained from field tests in the add-on and use the properties from soil samples to determine the soil massifs of interest was discussed in Knowledge Base article “Creation of the Soil Body from Soil Samples in RFEM 6”. This article, on the other hand, will discuss the procedure to calculate settlements and soil pressures for a reinforced concrete building.
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.
Often in RFEM, only part of a surface must be loaded, not an entire surface. A typical case of this is soil pressure. For this purpose, there is the option of defining free surface loads. They are surface-independent and are displayed in defined coordinate dimensions in the graphic.
A fluid with a constant density in a homogeneous gravity field exerts a hydrostatic pressure on its comprehensive container wall according to Pascal's law.
Concrete on its own is characterized by its compressive strength. An important part of reinforced concrete is reinforcing steel, which contributes to both the compressive and the tension resistance of the concrete. Welded wire fabric is generally located in the tension areas of the beams or surface elements (hollow core ceiling, wall, shell) to transfer the tensile forces induced by external loading.
RF‑/FOUNDATION Pro allows you to check the allowable eccentricity of the soil pressure resultants. According to DIN EN p;1997‑1/NA, this design is to be carried out with characteristic or representative loads.
In addition to the basic combination rules of EN 1990, there are other combination conditions for actions on road bridges specified in EN 1991‑2 that must be taken into account. RFEM and RSTAB provide automatic combinatorics that can be activated in the General Data when selecting the standard EN 1990 + EN 1991‑2. The partial safety factors and combination coefficients depending on the action category are preset when selecting the respective National Annex.
With the RF-STABILITY and RSBUCK add-on modules for RFEM and RSTAB, it is possible to perform eigenvalue analyses for member structures in order to determine the effective length factors. The effective length coefficients can then be used for the stability design.
The following study compares the wind pressure on a tall building obtained by RWIND Simulation with the results published by Dagnew et al. at the 11th Americas Conference on Wind Engineering in June, 2009. In this paper, the Commonwealth Advisory Aeronautical Council (CAARC) building is used as a model, and the results of several different numerical methods are compared with experimental data obtained from wind tunnels.
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.
The fire resistance design can be performed according to EN 1993-1-2 in RF-/STEEL EC3. The design is carried out according to the simplified calculation method for the ultimate limit state. Claddings with different physical properties can be selected as fire protection measures. You can select the standard temperature-time curve, the external fire curve, and the hydrocarbon curve to determine the gas temperature.
Performing serviceability limit state design also includes taking into account the allowable deformation. Calculating the deformation of reinforced concrete components depends on whether or not the observed cross-section cracks under the applied loading. The governing control parameter in RF-CONCRETE Deflect is the distribution coefficient ζ.
If the wind load for buildings or structures is to be determined by the simultaneous assumption of aerodynamic pressure and suction coefficients on the windward and leeward sides of the building, the correlation of the wind pressure on zones D and E of the wall surfaces may be taken into account.
Piping systems are exposed to a variety of loads. One of the most decisive is internal pressure. This article will, therefore, deal with the stresses and deformations resulting from a pure internal compression load in the pipe wall or for the pipe.
You can apply nominal temperature‑time curves in RFEM or RSTAB using RF‑/STEEL EC3. For this, the standard time-temperature curve (ETK), the external fire curve and the hydrocarbon fire curve are implemented in the program. Based on these temperature curves, the add‑on module can calculate the temperature in the steel cross‑section and thus perform the fire design using the determined temperatures. This article explains the thermal behavior of structural steel, as this has a direct impact on the calculation of component temperatures in RF‑/STEEL EC3.
Cable and tensile membrane structures are regarded as very slender and aesthetic building structures. The partly very complex double-curved shapes can be found using suitable form-finding algorithms. One possible solution is to search for the form via the equilibrium between the surface stress (provided prestress and an additional load such as self-weight, pressure, and so on) and the given boundary conditions.
Using RF-/STEEL EC3, you can apply nominal temperature-time curves in RFEM or RSTAB. For this, the standard time-temperature curve (ETK), the external fire curve and the hydrocarbon fire curve are implemented in the program. Based on these diagrams, the add-on module can calculate the temperature in the steel cross-section and thus perform the fire design. This article explains the behavior of protected and unprotected steel cross‑sections.
Wind is the only climatic load acting on every type of structure in every country in the world, unlike snow. The wind speed depends on the geographic location of the building. Currently, this is one of the main reasons for the necessity of regional division (wind zone) and consideration of the altitude stipulated within the official standards; the variation of the dynamic pressures according to the height above the ground for a "normal" site deprived of masking effect should be taken into account as well.
This article describes the determination of force coefficients using a wind load and the calculation of a stability factor due to lateral-torsional buckling.
Heat loss due to external components without thermal decoupling of the internal components is enormous. For this reason, external structural components are thermally separated from the building envelope using a special built-in component. For the connection of a balcony slab with a reinforced concrete floor, Schöck Isokorb® or HALFEN HIT Insulated Connection can be used, for example. For the design of such built-in components, the respective technical approval must be taken into account. The following article shows an example of considering Schöck Isokorb® in the FEM calculation.
In addition to the reinforced concrete design according to EN 1992‑1‑1, RF-/FOUNDATION Pro allows you to perform geotechnical designs according to EN 1997‑1. In RF-/FOUNDATION Pro, the design of the allowable soil pressure is performed as a ground failure resistance design. If you select CEN as National Annex, you have two options for defining the ground failure resistance. First, you can directly specify the allowable characteristic value of the soil pressure σRk. Second, there is also the option to analytically determine the bearing capacity according to [1], Annex D.