A network dongle is the appropriate solution to ensure security for licensing within companies working with several RFEM and/or RSTAB licenses. First, the dongle is placed on a central server. The licenses are then requested by RFEM and RSTAB, as well as all other stand-alone programs, from this dongle via the network.
As requested by many customers, the nodes are now represented by cubes after export using the direct interface to AutoCAD or in a DXF file. If you want to reuse the AutoCAD data in RFEM or RSTAB, make sure not to import all the layers when specifying the settings for the import.
In RFEM and RSTAB, you can create a combination scheme in the combinatorics of load cases and combinations. This scheme can be used for other projects by transferring it to other computers using the Export/Import function. Thus, multiple people working on a project can use the same scheme.
In RFEM and RSTAB, you can now rotate nodal loads or apply them on member axes. Thus, inclined members can also be loaded with nodal loads perpendicularly or along the member axis.
In RFEM and RSTAB, you can create nodes not only by means of coordinates, but also by means of existing nodes. You can use the "Node Between Two Points" function to create a node located on an imaginary line connecting two nodes. You can enter the distance as a percentage or according to the relative lengths.
You can now also create concentrated member and line loads in RFEM and RSTAB. This is an extension of the original member/line load function. From now on, you can create several concentrated loads with uniform or user-defined load distribution on a member or a line.
With the RFEM 5.04.0024 and RSTAB 8.04.0024 versions, you can define the antenna ice loads in RF‑/TOWER Loading. The program provides the values from the manufacturer databases. In addition, you can define the ice loads manually or use the calculation based on simplified geometry.
The new RF‑/DYNAM Pro - Natural Vibrations module has been available since RFEM version 5.04.xx and RSTAB version 8.04.xx were released. Masses can now be imported directly from load cases and load combinations.
With RSTAB version 8.04.0058 and later versions, you can consider loads due to rotary motion. This load type is especially useful for crane designs (see the simplified crane in the image).
In RFEM and RSTAB, you can now create a video file of the results of all load cases, load combinations, and result combinations. Thus, you can very easily create a visual presentation of a moving load crossing a bridge, for example. This function is available under "Tools" → "Create Video File".
In the RFEM 5.04.0024 and RSTAB 8.04.0024 versions, there is a new feature in RF‑/TOWER Loading that allows you to define additional surface loads in a load case for dead loads; for example, from grids on platforms.
In RFEM and RSTAB, the internal forces of individual load combinations are determined according to the second-order analysis by default. If you use the RF‑CONCRETE add‑on module for stability analysis of reinforced concrete columns, you can change the calculation method of LCs to the linear static analysis, since the effects of the second‑order analysis are already considered in the calculation according to the model column method in RF‑CONCRETE Columns (nominal curvature method).
In RF-/DYNAM Pro - Natural Vibrations, you can import axial forces and stiffness modifications from any Load Case (LC) or Load Combination (CO). You can modify material, cross‑section, member, and surface properties and activate these modifications in the LC/CO calculation parameters.
Dlubal Software Programs provide a materials library. This library covers almost all materials commonly used in civil engineering, including the corresponding parameters for calculation and design.
As of version X.04.0096, RF‑/TIMBER Pro also allows you to design other material categories such as softwood, hardwood, and glulam timber as a member in compliance with EN 1995‑1‑1. The design spectrum has been expanded for the material categories LVL, Plywood, OSB, Particleboard, and Fiberboard. In order to facilitate the selection in the materials library, there is another function for targeted filtering by plate or wall stress.
The interface between RFEM/RSTAB and Autodesk Revit has been improved: You can now transfer results from RFEM/RSTAB to Revit and display them there graphically. This option is available in a new tab when importing a file.
You can define nonlinear supports in RFEM and RSTAB. In RFEM, these are represented by nodal, line, and surface supports. Many customers contact us because of nonlinearities that are apparently not acting as desired. For example, there is a failing line support in a model. Since the structure is statically determined as supported, a linear nodal support is usually added. If the nodal support rests at the start or the end of a nonlinearly supported line, there is no clear definition of the degrees of freedom, so the nonlinearity cannot be considered properly. In this case, RFEM displays a warning message.
RF-LAMINATE allows free definition of materials. Thus, you can combine any compositions of different materials. The combination of concrete and timber is possible as well. However, the rigid composite must be provided when defining such a composition. In RF-LAMINATE, you can consider full shear coupling or no shear coupling at all.
In the RFEM and RSTAB work window, four display modes are available for the results of members. They can be selected in the Display Navigator under "Results" → "Members".
In RFEM and RSTAB, there are several ways to select a part of the structural model for further processing. The most frequently used selection option is definitely "selection using window". Depending on the size of the structure, the simultaneous selection of several areas of the structure using this option may be time-consuming, since the unwanted model parts are selected as well.
The "Info About Member" feature is available in RFEM and RSTAB. allows you to quickly read the member properties and results in a graphic. When you move the mouse over a member, the information about the member is displayed in the corresponding window.
In addition to bending, torsional, longitudinal, and strain loads, you can define and analyze the internal pressure of members with circular hollow cross‑sections in RFEM and RSTAB. The following perimeter and axial stresses resulting from the internal pressure load are analyzed using Barlow's formula and transferred to design modules in order to superimpose the remaining stresses due to internal forces.
You can select an object in RFEM or RSTAB by simply clicking it. However, only the last object clicked will stay selected. In order to select several objects at a time, press the Control key while clicking. Since this procedure is not always possible, you can use the "Add to Selection" function in the toolbar or in the "Edit" → "Select" menu.
RFEM and RSTAB include an extensive materials library, which can be extended by user‑defined materials. Starting with version X.05, the materials library provides a convenient full‑text search. This way, you can find materials more quickly.
Starting with version X.05.0018, you can also analyze moment-resistant beam-column connections in RF‑/JOINTS Steel - DSTV. Both single-sided and double-sided connections are possible. In compliance with the DSTV guidelines, the program checks (with respect to the loading) whether the existing column cross‑section is dimensioned sufficiently. Optionally, you can transfer the rotational stiffness and the eccentricity of the connection to RFEM or RSTAB.
Modern buildings are designed with spaces tailored to personal desires and dreams, expressing individual lifestyles. These requirements often include ceilings - whether in houses, office buildings, or public buildings - that have an enormous span and no support, allowing optimal use of the space below. However, this requires a very high stability level for load‑bearing capacity and serviceability reasons. By extending the size of beam or plate cross-sections, you can increase the stability, but the cost effectiveness decreases because of the additional consumption of material. One common solution for these large spans is to use timber or steel downstand beams.
In RFEM and RSTAB, you can specify user-defined views and visibilities. The remaining or hidden structure is displayed in the background by default. This may be useful when processing complex structures, but it can also be disruptive when displaying the structure in detail.
In RFEM and RSTAB, you can arrange the labeling of lines, members, and sets of members in a user‑defined way. To do this, open the dialog box in "Display Properties", where you can define the position of the information about the relative distance from the member start.
In RFEM and RSTAB, there are two predefined unit profiles available by default. These profiles cover the metric and the imperial systems of measurement. You can individually adjust the units predefined by Dlubal Software, including the decimal places used. To avoid losing the changes you have made, you can save a new profile for the units (see Item [1] in the picture). The stored profile can be loaded again (see Item [2] in the picture) or transferred from PC to PC. To do this, simply copy the content of the "Units" folder in the RFEM or RSTAB file directory from one PC to another (see Item [3] in the picture). In this way, you can achieve an office standard regarding the units used in all your workplaces.