Did you know that you can also display the moment-axial force interaction diagrams (M‑N diagrams) graphically? This allows you to display the cross-section resistance in the case of an interaction of a bending moment and an axial force. In addition to the interaction diagrams related to the cross-section axes (My‑N diagram and Mz‑N diagram), you can also generate an individual moment vector to create an Mres‑N interaction diagram. You can display the section plane of the M‑N diagrams in the 3D interaction diagram. The program displays the corresponding value pairs of the ultimate limit state in a table. The table is dynamically linked to the diagram so that the selected limit point is also displayed in the diagram.
In the case of rectangular cross-sections, you can usually achieve a direct connection by using welds. However, you can also connect them to other cross-sections in the same way. Furthermore, other components such as end plates help you to connect the rectangular cross-sections to other structural components.
With Dlubal Software, you always have an overview, regardless of whether your projects are from the reinforced concrete, steel, timber, aluminum, or other industry. The program clearly displays the design check formulas used in your design (including a reference to the used equation from the standard). These design check formulas can also be included in the printout report.
In the Steel Joint add-on, you can design the connections of members with composite cross-sections. Furthermore, you can perform joint design checks for almost all thin-walled cross-sections in the RFEM library.
When performing a design according to EN 1993‑1‑3, it is possible to graphically display a mode shape for the distortional buckling of a cross-section, and for the RSECTION cross-sections.
The mode shape can also be output in RSECTION 1 for library cross-sections.
Design of a frame connection with taper and stiffened members. A stress analysis and a buckling stability analysis were carried out for the connection. To display the buckling results, the connection was converted into a separate model.
Here, the weld design becomes child's play. Using the specially developed material model "Orthotropic | Plastic | Weld (Surfaces)", you can calculate all stress components plastically. The stress τperpendicular is also considered plastically.
Using this material model you can design welds closer to reality and more efficiently.
The program supports you: It determines the bolt forces on the basis of the FE analysis model and evaluates them automatically. The add-on performs the standard-compliant design of bolt resistance for failure cases, such as tension, shear, hole bearing, and punching, and clearly displays all required coefficients.
Do you want to perform weld design? The welds are modeled as elastic-plastic surface elements, and their stresses are read out from the FE analysis model. The plasticity criteria is set in the way that they represent failure according to AISC J2-4, J2-5 (strength of welds), and J2-2 (strength of base metal). The design can be performed with the partial safety factors of the selected National Annex of EN 1993‑1‑8.
The plates in the connection are designed plastically by comparing the existing plastic strain to the allowable plastic strain. The default setting is 5% according to EN 1993‑1‑5, Annex C, but can be adjusted by user-defined specifications, as well as 5% for AISC 360.
Using the "Connecting Plate" component, you can additionally and automatically create a new gusset plate in the Steel Joints add-on. This saves you separate components, and the other elements, such as a cap plate and a slide plate, are thus automatically taken into account with their dimensions.
Reinforced concrete usually answers the question "How much can you carry?" simply with "Yes". Nevertheless, you need a three-dimensional moment-moment-axial force interaction diagram for the graphical output of the ultimate limit state of reinforced concrete cross-sections. The Dlubal structural analysis software offers you just that.
With the additional display of the load action, you can easily recognize or visualize whether the limit resistance of a reinforced concrete cross-section is exceeded. Since you can control the diagram properties, you can customize the appearance of the My-Mz-N diagram to suit your needs.
Do you work with the structural components consisting of slabs? In that case, you have to perform the shear force design with the requirements of punching shear design, for example, according to 6.4, EN 1992‑1‑1. In addition to floor slabs, you can also design foundation slabs in this way.
In the Ultimate Configuration for concrete design, you can define the punching design parameters for the selected nodes.
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 that 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 in the OnlineManual here.
Time-dependent concrete properties, such as creep and shrinkage, are very important for your calculation. You can define them directly for the material in the structural analysis program. In the input dialog box, the time course of the creep or shrinkage function is displayed to you graphically. You can easily select the modification of the applied concrete age, for example, due to a temperature treatment.
Graphical display of the connection geometry that is updated in parallel with the input
The Steel Joints Template included in the add-on allows you to select from several connection types and, and once selected, it will be applied to your model.
Wide range of cross-section shapes: Includes I-sections, channel sections, angles, T-sections, built-up cross-sections, RHS (rectangular hollow sections), and thin-walled sections
The Template covers connections from three general categories: Rigid, Pinned, Truss
Automatic adaptation of the connection geometry, even if the structural components are subsequently edited, based on the relative relation of the components
Is the calculation finished? The results of the modal analysis are then available both graphically and in tables. Display the result tables for the load case or the load cases of the modal analysis. Thus, you can see the eigenvalues, angular frequencies, natural frequencies, and natural periods of the structure at first glance. The effective modal masses, modal mass factors, and participation factors are also clearly displayed.
Depending on the axial force N, you can generate a moment curvature line for any moment vector. The program also shows you the value pairs of the displayed diagram in a table. Furthermore, you can activate the secant stiffness and tangent stiffness of the reinforced concrete cross-section, belonging to the moment curvature diagram, as an additional diagram.
If a weld seam connects two plates with different materials, it is possible to select from a combo box in the Steel Joints add-on which one of both materials should be used for the weld seam.
The "Member Editor" component allows you to modify the individual or several member plates in the Steel Joints add-on.
You can use the chamfer, notch, rounding, and hole operations with multiple shapes. It is possible to apply both operations, "Notch" and "Chamfer", for several member plates.
In this way, you can notch flanges from I-sections, for example (see the image).
The design of cold-formed steel members according to the AISI S100-16 / CSA S136-16 is available in RFEM 6. Design can be accessed by selecting “AISC 360” or “CSA S16” as the standard in the Steel Design Add-on. “AISI S100” or “CSA S136” is then automatically selected for the cold-formed design.
RFEM applies the Direct Strength Method (DSM) to calculate the elastic buckling load of the member. The Direct Strength Method offers two types of solutions, numerical (Finite Strip Method) and analytical (Specification). The FSM signature curve and buckling shapes can be viewed under Sections.
The new steel sections according to the latest CISC Handbook (12th edition) are available in RFEM 6. The sections are listed in the Standardized library. In the filter, select “Canada” for the region and “CISC 12” for the standard. Alternatively, the section name can be directly entered in the search box located at the bottom of the dialog box.
You can display the existing stresses and strains of a concrete cross-section and the reinforcement as a 3D stress image or 2D graphic. Depending on which results do you select in the result tree of the design details, the stresses or strains are displayed to you in the defined longitudinal reinforcement under the load actions or the limit internal forces.
In the Concrete Design add-on, you can design any RSECTION cross-section. Define the concrete cover, shear force, and longitudinal reinforcement directly in RSECTION.
After importing the reinforced RSECTION cross-section into RFEM 6 or RSTAB 9, you can use it for design in the Concrete Design add-on.
You have the option to automatically design the existing surface reinforcement to cover the required reinforcement. You can also select whether to automatically define the reinforcement diameter or the member spacing.
The initial stiffness Sj,ini is a crucial parameter for evaluating whether a connection can be characterized as rigid, semi-rigid, or pinned.
In the "Steel Joints" add-on, you can calculate the initial stiffness Sj,ini according to Eurocode (EN 1993‑1‑8, Section 5.2.2) and AISC (AISC 360-16, Cl. E3.4) with regard to the internal forces N, My, and/or Mz.
The optional automatic transfer of initial stiffnesses allows for a directly transfer as member hinge stiffnesses in RFEM. The entire structure is then recalculated and the resulting internal forces are automatically adopted as loads in the analysis and design of the connection models.
This automated iteration process eliminates the need for manual export and import of data, reducing the amount of work and minimizing potential sources of error.
You can perform the calculation of the warping torsion on the entire system. Thus, you consider the additional 7th degree of freedom in the member calculation. The stiffnesses of the connected structural elements are automatically taken into account. It means, you don't need to define equivalent spring stiffnesses or support conditions for a detached system.
You can then use the internal forces from the calculation with warping torsion in the add-ons for the design. Consider the warping bimoment and the secondary torsional moment, depending on the material and the selected standard. A typical application is the stability analysis according to the second-order theory with imperfections in steel structures.
Did you know that The application is not limited to thin-walled steel cross-sections. Thus, it is possible for you, for example, to perform the calculation of the ideal overturning moment of beams with solid timber cross-sections.
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)