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.
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.
Do you want your structures to remain upright even in wind and snow? Then rely on the load wizards for plate and frame structures. You can now generate wind loads according to EN 1991‑1‑4 and snow loads according to EN 1991‑1‑3 (as well as other international standards). The load cases are generated depending on the roof shape.
Wind loads are also not a problem in your design. You can automatically generate wind loads as member loads or area loads (RFEM) on the following structural components:
- Vertical walls
- Flat roofs
- Monopitch roofs
- Duopitch/troughed roofs
- Vertical walls with duopitch roof
- Vertical walls with flat/monopitch roof
The following standards are available to you:
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EN 1991-1-4 (including National Annexes)
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ASCE 7
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CTE DB-SE-AE
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GB 50009
Do your structures also have to withstand snowfall? Use the Snow Load Wizard to generate snow loads as member loads or surface loads.
The following standards are available:
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EN 1991-1-3 (incl. National Annexes)
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ASCE 7
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NBC
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SIA 261
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CTE DB-SE-AE
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GB 50009
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IS 875
The material library already includes the Canadian types of concrete and reinforcing steel available for design. However, you can always define other materials for the design according to CSA A23.3.
The units used for the reinforced concrete design according to CSA A23.3 are adjusted to the metric system by default.
There are load generators available for beam structures, creating snow loads according to ASCE/SEI 7-10. The load cases are generated depending on the roof shape. Another generator creates coating loads (ice). You can save recurring load combinations as templates.
The first window shows the maximum design ratios including the corresponding design of each designed load case, load combination, or result combination.
The other result windows list all detailed results sorted by specific subject in extendable tree menus. All intermediate results along the members can be displayed at any location. In this way, you can easily retrace how the module has performed the individual designs.
The complete module data are part of the RFEM/RSTAB printout report. You can select the report contents and extent specifically for the individual designs.
It is necessary to enter material, load, and combination data in RFEM/RSTAB in compliance with the design concept specified by GB 50017. The RFEM/RSTAB material library already contains the relevant materials.
The RF-/STEEL GB add-on module requires members and sets of members, as well as load cases, load combinations, and result combinations to be designed.
In the subsequent input windows, you can adjust preset definitions of lateral intermediate supports and effective lengths. This setting is then used by the program to determine the critical loads and moments required for the stability analysis in these situations.
- Design of tension, compression, bending, shear, and combined internal forces
- Stability analysis for flexural buckling and lateral-torsional buckling
- Automatic determination of critical buckling loads and overall stability factors for lateral-torsional buckling according to Annex B
- Optional application of discrete lateral supports to beams
- Automatic local stability analysis and check of plastic design criteria of a cross-section
- Deformation analysis (serviceability)
- Cross-section optimization
- Wide range of cross-sections available, such as rolled I-sections, channel sections, rectangular hollow sections, angles, T-sections. Welded sections: I-shaped (symmetrical and asymmetrical about major axis), channel sections (symmetrical about major axis), rectangular hollow sections (symmetrical and asymmetrical about major axis), angles, round pipes, and round bars
- Clearly arranged result tables
- Detailed result documentation including references to design equations of the used standard
- Various filter and sorting options of results, including result lists by member, cross-sections, x-location, or by load case, load and result combination
- Result table of member slenderness and governing internal forces
- Parts list with weight and solid specifications
- Seamless integration in RFEM/RSTAB
The generated loads can be transferred easily to RFEM/RSTAB in order to superimpose other load cases. All module data is included in the RFEM/RSTAB printout report.
The report contents and the extent of the results can be selected specifically for the individual designs.
After generating the loads, you can check the results in clearly arranged tables. The output includes all information about the generated load cases and loads due to self-weight, wind load, and ice load. All loads are itemized in structural objects and equipment.
The RF-/TOWER Loading add-on module meets the requirements of EN 1991-1-4 / DIN EN 1993-3-1, DIN 1055-4, DIN 4131:1991-11, and DIN V 4131:2008-09. These standards include specifications of dead, wind, maintenance/technician and ice loads (ISO 12494 or DIN 1055-5), as well as variable loads. The standard specifications are preset or available in the libraries.
For the generation of wind loads according to Eurocode, the National Annexes (NA) of the following countries are available:
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DIN EN 1991-1-4 (Germany)
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CSN EN 1994-1-4 (Czech Republic)
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NA to CYS EN 1991-1-4 (Cyprus)
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DK EN 1991-1-4 (Denmark)
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NBN EN 1991-1-4 (Belgium)
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NEN EN 1991-1-4 (Netherlands)
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NF EN 1991-1-4 (France)
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SFS-EN 1991-1-4 (Finland)
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SIST EN 1991-1-4 (Slovenia)
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SR EN 1991-1-4 (Romania)
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SS EN 1991-1-4 (Singapore)
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SS-EN 1991-1-4 (Sweden)
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STN EN 1991-1-4 (Slovakia)
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UNI EN 1991-1-4 (Italy)
It is possible to generate individual load situations: You can set the wind pressure, wind direction, or ice loads manually, or import them from tables.
- Consideration of the self-weight of a tower, including equipment
- Wind load distribution to exposed and shaded tower faces, or user-defined distribution
- Determination of wind loads applied to tower and equipment, especially for structures prone to vibration (gust factor)
- Assignment of surface and concentrated loads to platforms
- Optional reduction of total wind load on selected objects
- Determination of ice loads for icing classes G and R with preset ice thickness and ice flag lengths of frost
- Generation of variable load cases with surface and maintenance loads
Snow loads can be generated as member loads on flat/monopitch roofs and duopitch roofs.
Additional snow loads such as drifted snow loads, snow overhangs, and snow guards can be taken into account as well.
The following standards are available:
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EN 1991-1-3 (incl. National Annexes)
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DIN 1055-5
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CTE DB-SE-AE
-
ASCE/SEI 7-16
Wind loads can be automatically generated as member loads on the following structural components (optional with internal pressure for open buildings):
- Vertical walls
- Flat roofs
- Monopitch roofs
- Duopitch/troughed roofs
- Vertical walls with roof
The following standards are available:
-
EN 1991-1-3 (incl. National Annexes)
-
DIN 1055-4
-
CTE DB-SE-AE
-
ASCE/SEI 7-16
The snow load generator can generate snow loads as member loads or surface loads.
Additional snow loads such as drifted snow loads, snow overhangs, and snow guards can be taken into account as well.
The following standards are available:
-
EN 1991-1-3 (incl. National Annexes)
-
DIN 1055-5
-
CTE DB-SE-AE
-
ASCE/SEI 7-16
Wind loads can be automatically generated as member loads or area loads on the following structural components (optional with internal pressure for open buildings):
- Vertical walls
- Flat roofs
- Monopitch roofs
- Duopitch/troughed roofs
- Vertical walls with roof
The following standards are available:
-
EN 1991-1-3 (incl. National Annexes)
-
DIN 1055-4
-
CTE DB-SE-AE
-
ASCE/SEI 7-16