The "Results by Story" table of a building model shows the center of gravity for load cases and load combinations. In addition to the self-weight, the vertical loads of the respective load cases and load combinations are also taken into account.
You can also use the "Center of Gravity and Information About Selected Objects" dialog box to display the center of gravity, taking into account the selected loading.
When modeling stories, you can use the "Semi-Rigid Diaphragm" option for slabs.
In principle, this modeling option selects the same approach as for the "Rigid Diaphragm" modeling of stories. In contrast to the rigid diaphragm, no nodal coupling is carried out from the center of gravity to each FE node. This way, it is possible to take into account the flexibility of the slab.
You can neglect openings with a certain area in the building model calculation. This function can be activated in the global settings of the building stories. A warning message appears saying that the openings have been neglected.
Global 3D calculation of the global model, where the slabs are modeled as a rigid plane (diaphragm) or as a bending plate
Local 2D calculation of the individual floors
After the calculation, the results of the columns and walls from the 3D calculation and the results of the slabs from the 2D calculation are combined in a single model. This means that there is no need to switch between the 3D model and the individual 2D models of the slabs. The user only works with one model, saves valuable time, and avoids possible errors in the manual data exchange between the 3D model and the individual 2D ceiling models.
The vertical surfaces in the model can be divided into shear walls and opening lintels. The program automatically generates internal result members from these wall objects, so they can be designed as members according to any standard in the Concrete Design add-on.
Shear walls and deep beams of a building model are available as independent objects in the design add-ons. This allows for faster filtering of the objects in results, as well as better documentation in the printout report.
The Modal Analysis add-on provides you with the option to automatically increase the sought eigenvalues until a defined effective modal mass factor is reached. 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.
The building story generator in the Building Model add-on provides you with the option to automatically create building stories, depending on the topology of the model.
The Concrete Design add-on allows you to perform the seismic design of reinforced concrete members according to EC 8. This includes, among other things, the following functionalities:
Seismic design configurations
Differentiation of the ductility classes DCL, DCM, DCH
Option to transfer the behavior factor from a dynamic analysis
Check of the limit value for the behavior factor
Capacity design checks of "Strong column - weak beam"
Detailing and particular rules for curvature ductility factor
Detailing and particular rules for local ductility
Several modeling tools are available for elements in building models:
Vertical line
Column
Wall
Beam
Rectangular floor
Polygonal floor
Rectangular floor opening
Polygonal floor opening
This feature allows you to define the element on the ground plane (for example, with a background layer) with the associated multiple element creation in space.
Using the "Load Transfer Only" story type, you can consider slabs without stiffness effects in and out of the plane in the Building Model add-on. This element type collects the loads on the slab and transfers them to the supporting elements of a 3D model. Thus, you can simulate secondary components, such as grillage and similar load distribution elements, without any further effect in the 3D model.
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.
Have you activated the Building Model add-on? Very good! This allows you to display the center of rigidity in tabular and graphical form. Use it for your dynamic analysis, for example.
Have you already discovered the tabular and graphical output of masses in mesh points? That's right, this is also part of the modal analysis results in RFEM 6. This way, you can check the imported masses that depend on various settings of the modal analysis. They can be displayed in the Masses in Mesh Points tab of the Results table. The table provides you with an overview of the following results: Mass - Translational Direction (mX, mY, mZ), Mass - Rotational Direction (mφX, mφY, mφZ), and the Sum of Masses. Would it be best for you to have a graphical evaluation as quickly as possible? Then you can also graphically display the masses in mesh points.
As you've already learned, the results of a Modal Analysis load case are displayed in the program after a successful calculation. You can thus immediately see the first mode shape graphically or as an animation. You can also easily adjust the representation of the mode shape standardization. Do this directly in the Results navigator, where you have one of four options for the visualization of the mode shapes available for the selection:
Scaling the value of the mode shape vector uj to 1 (considers the translation components only)
Selecting the maximum translational component of the eigenvector and setting it to 1
Considering the entire eigenvector (including the rotation components), selecting the maximum, and setting it to 1
Setting the modal mass mi for each mode shape to 1 kg
You can find a detailed explanation of the mode shape standardization here:
Online Manual
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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.