The data exchange between RFEM 6 and Allplan can be done using various file formats. This article describes the data exchange of a determined surface reinforcement using the ASF interface. This allows you to display the RFEM reinforcement values as level curves or colored reinforcement images in Allplan.
In order to be able to carry out a pushover analysis, it is necessary to transform the determined capacity curve into a simplified form. The N2 method is described in Eurocode EN 1998. This article should help to explain what a bilinearization according to the N2 method involves.
With the Steel Design add-on, you can design structural steel components in the event of fire using the simple design methods according to Eurocode 3. The component temperature at the time of the design check can be determined automatically according to the temperature-time curves specified in the standard. In addition to considering a cladding for fire protection, it is also possible for you to take account of the beneficial properties of hot-dip galvanization.
The "Mapped Mesh Preferred" option has an influence on the mesh generation of surfaces with curved and folded outlines. The program tries to align the FE mesh with the boundary lines of the surfaces.
The RF‑/STEEL EC3 add-on module automatically transfers the buckling line to be used for the flexural buckling analysis for a cross-section from the cross-section properties. The assignment of the buckling line can be adjusted manually in the module input for general cross-sections in particular, as well as for special cases.
For cross‑laminated structures with large spans, downstand beams or hybrid structures are often used. They can be modeled in RFEM 5 by using surfaces and member cross‑sections. In both structural systems, curved downstand beams are also possible without any problems. In the case of the curved surface, the member is always appropriately generated by means of the automatic member eccentricity with the thickness distance of the surface and the member. The downstand beam can also be connected flexibly by means of a line release.
The classification of cross-sections according to EN 1993‑1‑1 and EN 1993‑1‑5 can be carried out automatically in the RF‑/STEEL EC3 add-on module. The maximum c/t ratios are specified in the standard for straight cross-section parts. There are no normative specifications for curved cross-section parts; therefore, the cross-section classification cannot be performed for these cross-section parts.
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 ASCE 7-16 standard requires both balanced and unbalanced snow load case scenarios for a structure's design consideration. While this may be more intuitive for flat or even gable/hip type roofs, the determination of snow loads is increasingly difficult for arch roofs due to complex geometry. However, with guidance from ASCE 7-16 on snow load calculations for curved roofs and RFEM's efficient load application tools, it is possible to consider both balanced and unbalanced snow loads for a reliable and safe structure design.
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.
RFEM offers the possibility to model also curved beams. To do this, a curved line must be created first (see Figure 01). This line can then be assigned a beam with a cross-section. The advantages over modeling with beam segments are easier handling during the modeling, as well as a clearer result output of the internal forces.
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.
Using RF-/STEEL EC3, you can apply nominal temperature-time curves in RFEM or 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. This steel temperature can be calculated using the parametric temperature-time curve, as described in the Annex to DIN EN 1992-1-2. The different fire exposures are explained in this article.
Pushover analysis is a nonlinear structural calculation for seismic analysis of structures. The load pattern is inferred from the dynamic calculation of equivalent loads. These loads are increased incrementally until global failure of the structure occurs. The nonlinear behaviour of a building is usually represented by using plastic hinges.
In addition to arcs and circles, SHAPE-THIN 8.xx allows you to model the following curved cross-section parts: ellipses, elliptical arcs, parabolas, hyperbolas, splines, NURBS (non-uniform rational B-Spline).
If a section is not on a straight line but on a curved or angled line, this line has to be defined accordingly as a polyline or a curved line. You can define the section along a line using the "Create Section Numerically" function.
If you want to connect members tangentially to a curved member or a curved surface in RFEM, it is necessary to define the member rotation of the connected members. In order to avoid manual determination, you can display the center point of the curved line and place a node on it. Then, you can select the "Member Rotation via Help node" option and specify the relevant help nodes. Thus, the members are rotated automatically in the defined plane (x-z in our example) and the top edge of the rotated cross-section is parallel to the tangent of the curved line.
RFEM facilitates modeling by the automatic integration of objects into surfaces. However, it is impossible to integrate the objects automatically in the case of curved surfaces. For manual integration, select the relevant surfaces and click the "Edit Surfaces" option in the shortcut menu; then, in the "Integrated" tab, you can integrate the relevant objects using the "Select" function. This way, you can avoid error messages caused by non‑integrated objects when starting the calculation.
The last part of my post deals with the consideration of forces resulting from the imposed deformation of a cross‑laminated timber plate when designing a structure with imposed loads.
This part explains the determination of forces arising when screwing a straight cross-laminated timber plate to a curved glulam beam. For this, a glulam beam with a curved member was modeled in RFEM. The member has a precamber of 12 cm, since the preliminary design showed that the applied precamber of 6 cm will never be sufficient to maintain l/300. The dimensions of the bottom chord are 12 cm wide by 32 cm high. The plate was selected in RF‑LAMINATE as a three‑layer plate with a thickness of 8 cm.
Our client had the exciting task of modeling a cross‑laminated timber plate with a precamber such that, in the case of a span of more than ten meters, the deformation was below the limit value of l/300 = 3.3 cm. The idea was to screw the plate on a glulam beam and then put it together with a glue approved by the building authorities in order to create a rigid bond between the plate and the member.
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.
In RFEM, if you want to display a curved geometry (preferably in one continuous line), you can use splines or NURBS, for example. When modeling, you should pick the individual nodes one after another. If a mistake is made, you can go back using the special Undo function in the "New Spline Line" window. Thus, it is not necessary to enter the entire continuous line again.