If you want to consider guide objects in the overall view (F8 key or double-click on the mouse wheel) or, for example, in a particular direction of the views, you can enable this option in the settings of the particular guide objects (guidelines, background layers, line grids).
Designing vertical insulating glass requires assigning different loads on the individual layers of the entire glass unit. This occurs, for example, with simultaneous actions from wind loads and fall protection.
The additional loads from self‑weight are usually composed of several layers; for example, classic floor and ceiling layers in buildings, or road coatings for bridge constructions. When defining load definitions in RFEM and RSTAB, you can use the multi-layer load to define the individual layers with thickness and specific weight.
For designing glass in the RF‑GLASS add‑on module, you can use one of two calculation methods: a 2D or a 3D calculation. The main difference between these design options is the automatic modeling of the layers in a temporary model. In a 2D calculation, each layer is generated as a surface element (plate theory); in a 3D calculation, it is generated as a solid. Depending on the selected layer composition, you can either select an option or find it preselected by the program.
DXF layers of ground plans cannot be used directly in FEA programs because only the outer contours of the elements (walls, ceilings, and so on) are available in the drawing. The FEM programs require system axes, but only the outer contours of the elements (walls, ceilings, and so on) are available in the DXF drawing.
Before creating a structural model, every user gives thought to the boundary parameters of the system and how best to represent the model. Special attention should be paid to the orientation of the global coordinate system. In engineering, the global Z‑axis is usually oriented downwards (in the direction of the dead load), while it tends to be upwards in architecture. These differences can often lead to complications during modeling; for example, when you replace global models or DXF layers.
In RFEM and RSTAB, you can use many interfaces to simplify the modeling of your structure. From background layers, to the import of IFC objects that can be converted into members or surfaces, to the import of the entire structural system from Revit or Tekla. Regardless of the performance of the selected interface, further utilization also depends on the accuracy of the imported data.
RFEM and RSTAB offer different options to model bored piles. One option is to display bored piles as single-valued supports or hinged columns. Another option is realistic modeling while taking the soil into account by means of applying a member elastic foundation. The two following examples will describe it in detail. However, pile base resistance, skin friction, and soil layers are not considered in this technical article.
For the serviceability limit state design according to Section 6.6 of Eurocode EN 1997‑1, settlement has to be calculated for spread foundations. RF-/FOUNDATION Pro allows you to perform the settlement calculation for a single foundation. For this, you can chose between an elastic and a solid foundation. By defining a soil profile, it is possible to consider several soil layers under the foundation base. The results of the settlement, foundation tilting, and vertical soil contact stress distribution are displayed graphically and in tables to provide a quick and clear overview of the calculation performed. In addition to the design of the foundation settlement in RF-/FOUNDATION Pro, the structural analysis determines the representative spring constants for the support and can be exported to the structural model of RFEM or RSTAB.
In RFEM and RSTAB, you can import background layers from a DXF file. If the main nodes of the model have already been set, it can be useful to deactivate the snap mode of the background layer.
As of program version x.06.1103, you can enter a soil profile in RF‑/FOUNDATION Pro. This gives you the advantage of setting several soil layers with different soil parameters above and below the foundation base. To enter the soil layers, there is a library with various soil types that can also be extended with user‑defined soils. The user-defined soil profile is shown in an interactive information graphic. Any change (for example, a soil thickness modification) is reflected in the graphic immediately.
DXF files can be imported as background layers in RFEM and RSTAB. They can have one to three dimensions. For this, you can use DXF files from other programs as well as DXF files exported from RFEM or RSTAB.
RF‑CONCRETE Surfaces performs the ultimate and the serviceability limit state design of slabs, plates, folded plates, and shells. In RFEM 5, the reinforcement resulting from this design can be displayed graphically on the surfaces of the structure using isolines. For the reinforcement design, it may be useful to export the results as isoline distribution in a DXF file in order to open them in a CAD application as background layers.
In addition to manually entering values, you can enter line loads in the "Member Load" dialog box using the "Multi-Layer Composition" function. This is a library that contains the compositions of several layers for applying loads. You can freely specify the layer structure using the parameters of description, thickness, density, or surface load, and comment for each layer.
Plan changes, even at an advanced stage of planning, or modifications of existing buildings are part of the daily routine of many structural engineers.
In RF‑LAMINATE, you can also design curved quadrangle surfaces. In the example in the figure, the cross-laminated timber layers of a chair are designed.
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.