The Steel Joints add-on provides you with the option to define several ribs on a member or a plate at the same time. The distribution can be carried out according to an orthogonal and a polar pattern.
In the Modal Analysis add-on, you have the option to automatically increase the sought eigenvalues until reaching a defined effective modal mass factor. All translational directions activated as masses for the modal analysis are taken into account.
Thus, it is possible to easily calculate the required 90% of the effective modal mass for the response spectrum method.
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.
In the Construction Stages Analysis (CSA) add-on, you can use built-up cross-sections by means of what are known as phase sections. Parts of a cross-section of the type "Parametric - Massive II" can be activated or deactivated gradually throughout the construction stages.
You can use the "Plate Cut" component to cut plates (for example, gusset plates, fin plates, and so on). There are various cutting methods available:
Plane: The cut is performed on the closest surface to the reference plate.
Surface: Only the intersecting parts of plates are cut.
Bounding Box: The outermost dimension consisting of width and height is cut out of the plate as a rectangle.
Convex Hull: The outer hull of the cross-section is used for the plate cut. If there are fillets at the corner nodes of the cross-section, the cut is adapted to them.
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.
Automatic generation of FE analysis models: The add-on automatically creates a finite element model (FE) of the steel connection in the background.
Consideration of all internal forces: The calculation and design checks include all internal forces (N, Vy, Vz, My, Mz, MT) and are not limited to planar loading.
Automatic load transfer: All load combinations are automatically transferred to the FE analysis model of the connection. The loads are transferred directly from RFEM, so manual data input is not necessary.
Efficient modeling: The add-on saves you time when modeling complex connection situations. You can also save the created FE analysis model and use it further for your own detailed analyses.
Extensible library: An extensive and extensible library with predefined steel connection templates is available.
Wide applicability: The add-on is suitable for connections of any type and shape, compatible with almost all rolled, welded, built-up, and thin-walled cross-sections.
You have several options available to define masses for a modal analysis. While the masses due to self-weight are considered automatically, you can consider the loads and masses directly in a load case of the modal analysis type. Do you need more options? Select whether to consider full loads as masses, load components in the global Z-direction, or only the load components in the direction of gravity.
The program offers you an additional or alternative option for importing masses: A manual definition of load combinations as of which are the masses considered in the modal analysis. Have you selected a design standard? You can then create a design situation with the Seismic Mass combination type. Thus, the program automatically calculates a mass situation for the modal analysis according to the preferred design standard. In other words: The program creates a load combination on the basis of the preset combination coefficients for the selected standard. This contains the masses used for the modal analysis.
You can now insert a cap plate in Steel Joints with just a few clicks. You can enter the data using the known definition types "Offsets" or "Dimensions and Position". By specifying a reference member and the cutting plane, it is also possible to omit the Member Cut component.
This component allows you to easily model cap plates on column ends, for example.
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.
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.
Automatic consideration of masses from self-weight
Direct import of masses from load cases or load combinations
Optional definition of additional masses (nodal, linear, or surface masses, as well as inertia masses) directly in the load cases
Optional neglect of masses (for example, mass of foundations)
Combination of masses in different load cases and load combinations
Preset combination coefficients for various standards (EC 8, SIA 261, ASCE 7,...)
Optional import of initial states (for example, to consider prestress and imperfection)
Structure Modification
Consideration of failed supports or members/surfaces/solids
Definition of several modal analyses (for example, to analyze different masses or stiffness modifications)
Selection of mass matrix type (diagonal matrix, consistent matrix, unit matrix), including user-defined specification of translational and rotational degrees of freedom
Methods for determining the number of mode shapes (user-defined, automatic - to reach effective modal mass factors, automatic - to reach the maximum natural frequency - only available in RSTAB)
Determination of mode shapes and masses in nodes or FE mesh points
Results of eigenvalue, angular frequency, natural frequency, and period
Output of modal masses, effective modal masses, modal mass factors, and participation factors
Masses in mesh points displayed in tables and graphics
Visualization and animation of mode shapes
Various scaling options for mode shapes
Documentation of numerical and graphical results in printout report
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
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.
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
In the modal analysis settings, you have to enter all data that are necessary for the determination of the natural frequencies. These are, for example, mass shapes and eigenvalue solvers.
The Modal Analysis add-on determines the lowest eigenvalues of the structure. Either you adjust the number of eigenvalues or let them determined automatically. Thus, you should reach either effective modal mass factors or maximum natural frequencies. Masses are imported directly from load cases and load combinations. In this case, you have the option to consider the total mass, load components in the global Z-direction, or only the load component in the direction of gravity.
You can manually define additional masses at nodes, lines, members, or surfaces. Furthermore, you can influence the stiffness matrix by importing axial forces or stiffness modifications of a load case or load combination.
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.
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.
Do you want to consider other loads as masses in addition to the static loads? The program allows that for nodal, member, line and surface loads. For this, you need to select the Mass load type when defining the load of interest. Define a mass or mass components in the X, Y, and Z directions for such loads. For nodal masses, you have an additional option to also specify moments of inertia X, Y, and Z in order to model more complex mass points.
Using the "Rib" component, you can define any number of longitudinal ribs on a member plate. By defining a reference object, you can automatically specify welds on it.
The "Rib" component can also be arranged on circular hollow sections. This requires an additional definition of the angle between the ribs.
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.
The "Base Plate" component allows you to design base plate connections with cast-in anchors. In this case, plates, welds, anchorages, and steel-concrete interaction are analyzed.