In the Stress-Strain Analysis add-on, you can define a component-dependent limit stress cycle and consider it for the design.
For a response spectrum analysis of building models, you can display the sensitivity coefficients for the horizontal directions by story.
These key figures allow you to interpret the sensitivity to stability effects.
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.
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
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 VideoIn RFEM 6, it is possible to define line welds between surfaces and to calculate the weld stresses using the Stress-Strain Analysis add-on.
The following joint types are available:
- Butt Joint
- Corner joint
- Lap Joint
- T-joint
Depending on the selected joint type, you can select the following weld types:
- Single Square
- Double Square
- Double Bevel
- Single V
- Double V
- Single U
- Double U
- Single J
- Double J
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?
You can be sure that costs are an important factor in the structural planning of any project. It is also essential to adhere to the provisions on emissions estimation. The two-part add-on Optimization & Costs/CO2 Emission Estimation makes it easier for you to find your way through the jungle of standards and options. It uses the artificial intelligence technology (AI) of the particle swarm optimization (PSO) to find the right parameters for parameterized models and blocks that guarantee the compliance with the usual optimization criteria. This add-on also estimates the model costs or CO2 emissions by specifying unit costs or emissions per material definition for the structural model. With this add-on, you are on the safe side.
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-/DYNAM Pro - Equivalent Loads add-on module (RFEM 5 / RSTAB 8), the following new features have been added to the Response Spectrum Analysis add-on for RFEM 6 / RSTAB 9:
- Response spectra of numerous standards (EN 1998, DIN 4149, IBC 2018, and so on)
- User-defined response spectra or those generated from accelerograms
- Direction-relative response spectrum approach
- Results are stored centrally in a load case with underlying levels to ensure clarity
- Accidental torsional actions can be taken into account automatically
- Automatic combinations of seismic loads with the other load cases for use in an accidental design situation
Compared to the RF‑/STEEL add-on module (RFEM 5 / RSTAB 8), the following new features have been added to the Stress-Strain Analysis add-on for RFEM 6 / RSTAB 9:
- Treatment of members, surfaces, solids, welds (line welded joints between two and three surfaces with subsequent stress design)
- Output of stresses, stress ratios, stress ranges, and strains
- Limit stress depending on the assigned material or a user-defined input
- Individual specification of the results to be calculated through freely assignable setting types
- Non-modal result details with prepared formula display and additional result display on the cross-section level of members
- Output of the design check formulas used
- Artificial intelligence technology (AI): Particle swarm optimization (PSO)
- Structure optimization according to the minimum weight or deformation
- Use of any number of optimization parameters
- Specification of variable ranges
- Optimization of cross-sections and materials
- Parameter definition types
- Optimization | Ascending or Optimization | Descending
- Application of parametric models and blocks
- Code-based JavaScript parametrization of blocks
- Optimization taking into account the design results
- Tabular display of the best model mutations
- Real-time display of the model mutations in the optimization process
- Model cost estimation by specifying unit prices
- Determination of the global warming potential GWP when realizing the model by estimating the CO2 equivalent
- Specification of weight-, volume-, and area-based units (price and CO2e)
Did you know? The structural optimization in the programs RFEM and RSTAB is a completion of the parametric input. It is a parallel process beside the actual model calculation with all its regular calculation and design definitions. The add-on assumes that your model or block is built with a parametric context and is controlled in its entirety by global control parameters of the "optimization" type. Therefore, these control parameters have a lower and upper limit and a step size to delimit the optimization range. If you want to find optimal values for the control parameters, you have to specify an optimization criterion (for example, minimum weight) with the selection of an optimization method (for example, particle swarm optimization).
You can already find the cost and CO2 emission estimation in the material definitions. You can activate both options individually in each material definition. The estimation is based on a unit for unit cost or unit emission for members, surfaces, and solids. In this case, you can select whether to specify the units by weight, volume, or area.
There are two methods that you can use for the optimization process, with which you can find optimal parameter values according to a weight or deformation criterion.
The most efficient method with the littlest calculation time is the near-natural particle swarm optimization (PSO). Have you heard or read about it? This artificial intelligence (AI) technology has a strong analogy to the behavior of flocks of animals, looking for a resting place. In such swarms, you can find many individuals (cf. optimization solution - for example, weight) who like to stay in a group and follow the group movement. Let's assume that each individual swarm member has a need to rest at an optimal resting place (cf. best solution - for example, lowest weight). This need increases as the resting place is approached. Thus, the swarm behavior is also influenced by the properties of the space (cf. result diagram).
Why the excursion into biology? Quite simply – the PSO process in RFEM or RSTAB proceeds in a similar way. The calculation run starts with an optimization result from a random assignment of the parameters to be optimized. It repeatedly determines new optimization results with varied parameter values, which are based on the experience of the previously performed model mutations. The process continues until the specified number of possible model mutations is reached.
As an alternative to this method, the program also offers you a batch processing method. This method attempts to check all possible model mutations by randomly specifying the values for the optimization parameters until a predetermined number of possible model mutations is reached.
After calculating a model mutation, both variants also check the respective activated design results of the add-ons. Furthermore, they save the variant with the corresponding optimization result and value assignment of the optimization parameters if the utilization is < 1.
You can determine the estimated total costs and emission from the respective sums of the individual materials. The sums of the materials are composed of the weight-based, volume-based, and area-based partial sums of the member, surface, and solid 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