A wide range of available sections, such as rolled I-sections; channel sections; T-sections; angles; rectangular and circular hollow sections; round bars; symmetrical and asymmetrical, parametric I-, T-, and angle sections; built-up cross-sections (suitability for design depends on the selected standard)
Design of general RSECTION cross-sections (depending on the design formats available in the respective standard); for example, equivalent stress design
Design of tapered members (design method depending on the standard)
Adjustment of the essential design factors and standard parameters is possible
Flexibility due to detailed setting options for basis and extent of calculations
Fast and clear results output for an immediate overview of the result distribution after the design
Detailed output of the design results and essential formulas (comprehensible and verifiable result path)
Numerical results clearly arranged in tables and graphical display of the results in the model
Integration of the output into the RFEM/RSTAB printout report
Design of tension, compression, bending, shear, torsion, and combined internal forces
Tension design with consideration of a reduced section area (for example, hole weakening)
Automatic classification of cross-sections to check local buckling
Internal forces from the calculation with Torsional Warping (7 DOF) are taken into account by means of the equivalent stress check (currently not for the design standards AISC 360‑16 and GB 50017).
Design of cross-sections of Class 4 with effective cross-section properties according to EN 1993‑1‑3 (licenses for RSECTION and Effective Sections are required for the RSECTION cross-sections)
Shear buckling check according to EN 1993‑1‑5 with consideration of transverse stiffeners
Design of stainless steel components according to EN 1993‑1‑4
Stability analyses for flexural buckling, torsional buckling, and flexural-torsional buckling under compression
Import of the effective lengths from the calculation using the Structure Stability add-on
Graphical input and check of the defined nodal supports and effective lengths for stability analysis
Lateral-torsional buckling analysis of the structural components subjected to moment loading
Depending on the standard, a choice between user-defined input of Mcr, analytical method from the standard, and use of internal eigenvalue solver
Consideration of a shear panel and a rotational restraint when using the eigenvalue solver
Graphical display of a mode shape if the eigenvalue solver was used
Stability analysis of structural components with the combined compression and bending stress, depending on the design standard
Comprehensible calculation of all necessary coefficients, such as the factors for considering moment distribution or interaction factors
Alternative consideration of all effects for the stability analysis when determining internal forces in RFEM/RSTAB (second-order analysis, imperfections, stiffness reduction, possibly in combination with the Torsional Warping (7 DOF) add-on)
You enter the structural system and calculate the internal forces in the programs RFEM and RSTAB. You have full access to the extensive material and cross-section libraries. Did you know? You can also use the RSECTION program to create general cross-sections.
You find Steel Design fully integrated in the main programs. They automatically take into account the structure and the available calculation results. You can assign further entries for the aluminum design, such as effective lengths, cross-section reductions, or design parameters, to the objects to be designed. At many places of the program, you can easily select the elements graphically using the [Select] function.
Was your design successful? Just sit back and relax. The program gives you the performed design checks in tables. All result details are displayed for you and you can easily follow them using the clearly arranged design formulas.
The design checks are carried out at all governing locations of the members. A graphical display is provided as a result diagram. Furthermore, you have access to detailed graphics, such as the stress distribution on a cross-section or the governing mode shape, available in the result output.
All input and result data are part of the RFEM/RSTAB printout report. You can select the report contents and extent specifically for the individual design checks.
Simple definition of construction stages in the RFEM structure including visualization
Adding, removing, modifying, and reactivating member, surface, and solid elements and their properties (for example, member and line hinges, degrees of freedom for supports, and so on)
Automatic and manual combinatorics with load combinations in the individual construction stages (for example, to consider mounting loads, mounting cranes, and other loads)
Consideration of nonlinear effects such as tension member failure or nonlinear supports
Have you created the entire structure in RFEM? Very well, now you can assign the individual structural components and load cases to the corresponding construction stages. In each construction stage, you can modify release definitions of members and supports, for example.
You can thus model structural modifications, such as those that occur when bridge girders are successively grouted or when columns are settled. Then, assign the load cases created in RFEM to the construction stages as permanent or non-permanent loads.
Did you know that The combinatorics allows you to superimpose the permanent and non-permanent loads in load combinations. In this way, it is possible for you to determine the maximum internal forces of different crane positions or to consider temporary mounting loads available in one construction stage only.
If there are geometry differences arising between the ideal and the deformed structural system from the previous construction stage, they are compared in the program. The next construction stage is built on top of the stressed system from the previous construction stage. This calculation is nonlinear.
Was the calculation successful? Now you can view the results of the individual construction stages graphically and in tables in RFEM. Moreover, RFEM allows you to consider the construction stages in the combinatorics and include it in further design.
Have you activated the Time-Dependent Analysis (TDA) add-on? Very well, now you can add time data to load cases. After you have defined the start and end of the load, the influence of creep at the end of the load is taken into account. The program allows you to model creep effects for frame and truss structures made of reinforced concrete.
In this case, the calculation is performed nonlinearly according to the rheological model (Kelvin and Maxwell model).
Was the calculation successful? You can now display the determined internal forces in tables and graphics, and consider them in the design.
Once you activate the Form-Finding add-on in the Base Data, a form-finding effect is assigned to the load cases with the load case category "Prestress" in conjunction with the form-finding loads from the member, surface, and solid load catalog. This is a prestress load case. It thus mutates into a form-finding analysis for the entire model with all member, surface, and solid elements defined in it. You reach the form-finding of the relevant member and membrane elements amid the overall model by using special form-finding loads and regular load definitions. These form-finding loads describe the expected state of deformation or force after the form-finding in the elements. The regular loads describe the external loading of the entire system.
Do you know exactly how the form-finding is performed? First, the form-finding process of the load cases with the load case category "Prestress" shifts the initial mesh geometry to an optimally balanced position by means of iterative calculation loops. For this task, the program uses the Updated Reference Strategy (URS) method by Prof. Bletzinger and Prof. Ramm. This technology is characterized by equilibrium shapes that, after the calculation, comply almost exactly with the initially specified form-finding boundary conditions (sag, force, and prestress).
In addition to the pure description of the expected forces or sags on the elements to be formed, the integral approach of the URS also enables a consideration of regular forces. In the overall process, this allows, for example, for a description of the self-weight or a pneumatic pressure by means of corresponding element loads.
All these options give the calculation kernel the potential to calculate anticlastic and synclastic forms that are in an equilibrium of forces for planar or rotationally symmetric geometries. In order to be able to realistically implement both types individually or together in one environment, the calculation provide you with two ways to describe the form-finding force vectors:
Tension method - description of the form-finding force vectors in space for planar geometries
Projection method - description of the form-finding force vectors on a projection plane with fixation of the horizontal position for conical geometries
The form-finding process gives you a structural model with active forces in the "prestress load case" This load case shows the displacement from the initial input position to the form-found geometry in the deformation results. In the force or stress-based results (member and surface internal forces, solid stresses, gas pressures, and so on), it clarifies the state for maintaining the found form. For the analysis of the shape geometry, the program offers you a two-dimensional contour line plot with the output of the absolute height and an inclination plot for the visualization of the slope situation.
Now, a further calculation and structural analysis of the entire model is performed. For this purpose, the program transfers the form-found geometry including the element-wise strains into a universally applicable initial state. You can now use it in the load cases and load combinations.
Compared to the RF‑/STAGES add-on module (RFEM 5), the following new features have been added to the Construction Stages Analysis (CSA) add-on for RFEM 6:
Consideration of construction stages at RFEM level
Integration of the construction stage analysis into the combinatorics in RFEM
Additional structural elements, such as line hinges, are supported
Analysis of alternative construction processes in a model
Compared to the RF-FORM-FINDING add-on module (RFEM 5), the following new features have been added to the Form-Finding add-on for RFEM 6:
Specification of all form-finding load boundary conditions in one load case
Storage of form-finding results as initial state for further model analysis
Automatic assignment of the form-finding initial state via combination wizards to all load situations of a design situation
Additional form-finding geometry boundary conditions for members (unstressed length, maximum vertical sag, low-point vertical sag)
Additional form-finding load boundary conditions for members (maximum force in member, minimum force in member, horizontal tension component, tension at i-end, tension at j-end, minimum tension at i-end, minimum tension at j-end)
Material types "Fabric" and "Foil" in material library
Parallel form-findings in one model
Simulation of sequentially building form-finding states in connection with the Construction Stages Analysis (CSA) add-on
Compared to the RF‑/STEEL EC3 add-on module (RFEM 5 / RSTAB 8), the following new features have been added to the Steel Design add-on for RFEM 6 / RSTAB 9:
In addition to Eurocode 3, other international standards are integrated (such as AISC 360, CSA S16, GB 50017, SP 16.13330)
Consideration of hot-dip galvanizing (DASt guideline 027) in the fire protection design according to EN 1993‑1‑2
Input option for transverse stiffeners that can be taken into account in the shear buckling analysis
Lateral-torsional buckling can also be checked for hollow sections (for example, relevant for slender, high rectangular hollow sections)
Automatic detection of members or member sets valid for the design (for example, automatic deactivation of members with invalid material or members already contained in a member set)
Design settings can be adjusted individually for each member
Graphical display of the results in the gross section or the effective section
Output of the used design check formulas (including a reference to the used equation from the standard)
Compared to the RF‑/TIMBER Pro add-on module (RFEM 5 / RSTAB 8), the following new features have been added to the Timber Design add-on for RFEM 6 / RSTAB 9:
In addition to Eurocode 5, other international standards are integrated (SIA 265, ANSI/AWC NDS, CSA O86, GB 50005)
Design of compression perpendicular to grain (support pressure)
Implementation of eigenvalue solver for determining the critical moment for lateral-torsional buckling (EC 5 only)
Definition of different effective lengths for design at normal temperature and fire resistance design
Evaluation of stresses via unit stresses (FEA)
Optimized stability analyses for tapered members
Unification of the materials for all national annexes (only one "EN" standard is now available in the material library for a better overview)
Display of cross-section weakenings directly in the rendering
Output of the used design check formulas (including a reference to the used equation from the standard)
With Dlubal Software, you always have an overview, regardless of whether your projects are from the reinforced concrete, steel, timber, aluminum, or other industry. The program clearly displays the design check formulas used in your design (including a reference to the used equation from the standard). These design check formulas can also be included in the printout report.
For each load case, the deformations can be displayed at the end time.
These results are also documented for you in the printout report of RFEM and RSTAB. You can select the report contents and extent specifically for the individual design checks.