In the Construction Stages Analysis (CSA) add-on, you can use built-up cross-sections by means of what are known as phase sections. This allows you to activate and deactivate the parts of the "Parametric - Massive II" section type throughout the construction stages.
In the Geotechnical Analysis add-on, the Hoek-Brown material model is available. The model shows linear-elastic ideal-plastic material behavior. Its nonlinear strength criterion is the most common failure criterion for stone and rocks.
You can enter the material parameters using
- Rock parameters directly, or alternatively via
- GSI classification.
Detailed information about this material model and the definition of the input in RFEM can be found in the respective chapter Hoek-Brown Model of the online manual for the Geotechnical Analysis add-on.
Among others, the following cross-laminated timber manufacturers are available in the layer structure library:
- Binderholz (USA)
- KLH (USA, CAN)
- Kalesnikoff (USA, CAN)
- Nordic Structures (USA, CAN)
- Mercer Mass Timber
- SmartLam
- Sterling Structural
- Superstructures listed in Lignatec Edition 32 "Cross-Laminated Timber of Swiss Production"
By importing a structure from the layer structure library, all relevant parameters are adopted automatically. The library is continually updated.
A library for cross-laminated timber panels is implemented in RFEM, from which you can import the manufacturer's layer structures (for example, Binderholz, KLH, Piveteaubois, Södra, Züblin Timber, Schilliger, Stora Enso). In addition to the layer thicknesses and materials, there is also the information about stiffness reductions and the narrow side bonding.
Go to Explanatory VideoA graphical and tabular output of the results for deformations, stresses, and strains helps you when determining the soil solids. To achieve this, use the special filter criteria for targeted selection of results.
The program doesn't leave you alone with the results. If you want to graphically evaluate the results in the soil solids, you can use the guide objects. For example, you can define clipping planes. This allows you to view the corresponding results in any plane of the soil solid.
And not just that. The utilization of result sections and clipping boxes facilitates the precise graphical analysis of the soil solid.
You already know that it is possible to model and analyze a soil and a structure in the entire model. As a result, you have explicitly taken into account the soil-structure interaction. By modifying a component, you achieve the immediate correct consideration in the analysis as well as in the results for the entire system of the soil and structure.
Are you ready for the evaluation? Use the calculation diagrams, which show the distribution of a specific result during the calculation.
You can freely define the layout of the vertical and horizontal axes of the calculation diagram. This allows you, for example, to consider the settlement distribution of a certain node, depending on the load.
Your data are always documented in a multilingual printout report. You can adjust the content at any time and save it as a template. You can also add graphics, texts, MathML formulas, and PDF documents to your report with just a few clicks.
Enter and model a soil solid directly in RFEM. You can combine the soil material models with all common RFEM add-ons.
This allows you to easily analyze the entire models with a complete representation of the soil-structure interaction.
All parameters required for the calculation are automatically determined from the material data that you have entered. The program then generates the stress-strain curves for each FE element.
Did you know? You can enter the soil layers that you have obtained from the subsoil expertises done in the locations into the program in the form of soil samples. Assign the explored soil materials, including their material properties, to the layers.
For the definition of the samples, you can enter the data in tables as well as in the respective editing dialog box. Furthermore, you can also specify the groundwater level in the soil samples.
The soil solids that you want to analyze are summarized in soil massifs.
Use the soil samples as a basis for a definition of the respective soil massif. This way, the program allows for user-friendly generation of the massif, including the automatic determination of the layer interfaces from the sample data, as well as the groundwater level and the boundary surface supports.
Soil massifs provide you with the option to specify a target FE mesh size independently of the global setting for the rest of the structure. You can thus consider the various requirements of the building and soil in the entire model.
Do you want to model and analyze the behavior of a soil solid? To ensure this, special suitable material models have been implemented in RFEM.
You can use the modified Mohr-Coulomb model with a linear-elastic ideal-plastic model or a nonlinear elastic model with an oedometric stress-strain relation. The limit criterion, which describes the transition from the elastic area to that of the plastic flow, is defined according to Mohr-Coulomb.
The stress and strain results by surface can be output in the surface result table according to the thickness layer.
Did you know that To calculate masonry structures, a nonlinear material model has been implemented in RFEM. It is based on the approach of Lourenco, a composite yield surface according to Rankine and Hill. This model allows you to describe and model the structural behavior of masonry and the different failure mechanisms.
The limit parameters were selected in such a way that the design curves used correspond to a normative design curve.
RFEM allows you to use a special line hinge to model the special properties of the connection between the reinforced concrete slab and masonry wall. This limits the transferable forces of the connection depending on the specified geometry. You guess right: This means that the material cannot be overloaded.
The program develops interaction diagrams that are applied automatically. They represent the various geometric situations and you can use them to determine the correct stiffness.
The calculation of masonry is carried out in compliance with the nonlinear-plastic material law. If the load at any point is higher than the possible load to be resisted, redistribution takes place within the system. This have the simple purpose of restoring the equilibrium of forces. With the successful completion of the calculation, the stability analysis is provided.
Building stone on stone has a long tradition in construction. The Masonry Design add-on for RFEM allows you to design masonry using the finite element method. It was developed as part of the research project DDMaS - Digitizing the Design of Masonry Structures. Here, the material model represents the nonlinear behavior of the brick-mortar combination in the form of macro-modeling. Do you want to find out more?
Do you have great respect for the ravages of time? After all, it eventually gnaws at your construction projects. Use the Time-Dependent Analysis (TDA) add-on to consider the time-dependent material behavior of members. Long-term effects, such as creep, shrinkage, and aging, can influence the distribution of internal forces, depending on the structure. Prepare for this optimally with this add-on.
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.
Compared to the RF-/STEEL Warping Torsion add-on module (RFEM 5 / RSTAB 8), the following new features have been added to the Torsional Warping (7 DOF) add-on for RFEM 6 / RSTAB 9:
- Complete integration into the environment of RFEM 6 and RSTAB 9
- 7th degree of freedom is directly taken into account in the calculation of members in RFEM/RSTAB on the entire system
- No more need to define support conditions or spring stiffnesses for calculation on the simplified equivalent system
- Combination with other add-ons is possible, for example for the calculation of critical loads for torsional buckling and lateral-torsional buckling with stability analysis
- No restriction to thin-walled steel sections (it is also possible to calculate ideal overturning moments for beams with massive timber sections, for example)
Compared to the RF‑SOILIN add-on module (RFEM‑5), the following new features have been added to the Geotechnical Analysis add-on for RFEM 6:
- Creation of the layered soil as a 3D model from the entirety of the defined soil samples
- Recognized material law according to Mohr-Coulomb for soil simulation
- Graphical and tabular output of stresses and strains at any depth of the soil
- Optimal consideration of the soil-structure interaction on the basis of an overall model
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
- Reactivation of elements
- Stress determination using an elastic-plastic material model
- Design of masonry disc structures for compression and shear on the building model or single model
- Automatic determination of stiffness of a wall-slab hinge
- An extensive material database for almost all stone-mortar combinations available on the Austrian market (the product range is continuously being expanded, for other countries as well)
- Automatic determination of material values according to Eurocode 6 (ÖN EN 1996‑X)
- Option to create pushover analysis
You enter and model the structure directly in RFEM. You can combine the masonry material model with all common RFEM add-ons. This enables you to design the entire building models in connection with masonry.
The program automatically determines for you all parameters required for the calculation by using the material data that you have entered. Then, it finally generates the stress-strain curves for each FE element.
Was your design successful? Then just sit back and relax. You benefit from the numerous functions in RFEM also here. The program gives you the maximum stresses of the masonry surfaces, whereby you can display the results in detail at each FE mesh point.
Moreover, you can insert sections in order to carry out a detailed evaluation of the individual areas. Use the display of the yield areas to estimate the cracks in the masonry.
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.
- 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
- Interaction with other add-ons, such as Nonlinear Material Behavior, Structure Stability, Form-Firnding, and so on.
- Display of results numerically and graphically for individual construction stages
- Detailed printout report with documentation of all structural and load data for each construction stage
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.