In the Steel Joint add-on, you can use not only the usual member types of "Beam", "Truss", and so on, but also the member type of "Result Beam", as well as cross-sections from surface elements. You should select a suitable cross-section for the result beam and then define any member openings in the surface model using the member editor.
The "Surface Contact" component in the Steel Joints add-on allows you to take into account a pressure contact between two parallel plates/member plates. Furthermore, you can optionally consider the friction between the surfaces.
The "Stub" component is available to you in the Steel Joints add-on. It allows you to extend a member using a purlin joint with another member (stub) and to connect it to a reference component.
In the Steel Joint add-on, you can arrange plates in various geometry shapes. In addition to the "Rectangle" and "Circle" shapes, the "Polygon" shape is also available. The polygonal shape is defined by entering the point coordinates.
In the Concrete Design add-on for RFEM 6, you can perform the fire design of reinforced concrete slabs and walls according to the simplified table method (EN 1992‑1‑2, Section 5.4.2 and Tables 5.8 and 5.9).
In the Steel Joint add-on, you can define several ribs at the same time on one member or plate. The distribution can be carried out according to an orthogonal and a polar pattern.
You can use the "Plate Cut" component to cut plates (for example, gusset plates, fin plates, and so on). Various cutting methods are 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.
The program does a lot of work for you. For example, the load or result combinations required for the serviceability limit state are generated and calculated in RFEM/RSTAB. You can select these design situations for the deflection analysis in the Aluminum Design add-on. Depending on the specified precamber and reference system, the program determines the deformation values at each location of a member. They are then compared to the limit values.
You can specify the deformation limit value individually for each structural component in Serviceability Configuration. In this case, you define the maximum deformation depending on the reference length as the allowable limit value. By defining design supports, you can segment the components. In this way, you can determine the corresponding reference length automatically for each design direction.
And that's not all. Based on the position of the assigned design supports, the program allows you to automatically determine the distinction between beams and cantilevers. The limit value is thus determined accordingly.
You can find the serviceability limit state design checks in the result tables of the Aluminum Design add-on. They are already fully integrated there. You have the option to display the design results with all the details at each location of the designed members. You can also use graphics with the result diagrams of the design ratios.
You can integrate all result tables and graphics into the global printout report of RFEM/RSTAB as a part of the aluminum design results. RFEM/RSTAB also allows you to display and document the deformations of the entire structure independently of the 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.
When calculating the deflection limit, you have to consider certain reference lengths. You can define these reference lengths and the segments to be checked independently of each other, depending on the direction. For this, define design supports at the intermediate nodes of a member and assign them to the respective direction for the deformation analysis. Thus, the segments are created where you can define a precamber for each direction and segment.
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.