You have the option to perform the fire resistance design of surfaces using the reduced cross-section method. The reduction is applied over the surface thickness. It is possible to perform the design checks for all timber materials allowed for the design.
For cross-laminated timber, depending on the type of adhesive, you can select whether it is possible for individual carbonized layer parts to fall off, and whether you can expect increased charring in certain layer areas.
Did you know? In the Design Supports, you can now define fully threaded screws as transversal compression stiffening elements for the "Compression Perpendicular to Grain" design. In this case, the pressing-in and buckling of the bolts is analyzed.
Moreover, the design shear resistance is checked in the plane of the screw tip. The angle of dispersal can be considered as linear under 45° or nonlinear (according to Bejtka, I. (2005). Verstärkung von Bauteilen aus holz mit vollgewindeschrauben. KIT Scientific Publishing.).
In RFEM and RSTAB, you can design members with the "Laminated Veneer Lumber" material type. The following manufacturers are available:
- Pollmeier (Baubuche)
- Metsä (Kerto LVL)
- STEICO
- Stora Enso
In the ultimate configuration, you can consider strength coefficients for increasing the strengths. The coefficients reducing the strengths are automatically taken into account regardless of this. Try it now!
Go to Explanatory VideoThe 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.
In the Timber Design add-on for RFEM, you can design members as well as surfaces according to Eurocode 5, SIA 265 (Swiss standard), CSA O86 (Canadian standard), or ANSI/AWC NDS (American standard); for example, cross-laminated timber, glued-laminated timber, softwood, mass timber, and so on.
Go to Explanatory Video- A wide range of cross-sections, such as rectangular sections, square sections, T‑sections, circular sections, built-up cross-sections, irregular parametric cross-sections, and many others (suitability for design depends on the selected standard)
- Design of cross-laminated timber (CLT)
- Design of timber-based materials and laminated veneer lumber according to EC 5
- Design of tapered and curved members (design method according to the standard)
- Adjustment of the essential design factors and standard parameters is possible
- Flexibility due to detailed setting options for basis and extent of calculations
- Fast and clear results output for an immediate overview of the result distribution after the design
- Detailed output of the design results and essential formulas (comprehensible and verifiable result path)
- Numerical results clearly arranged in tables and graphical display of the results in the model
- Integration of the output into the RFEM/RSTAB printout report
- Design of tension, compression, bending, shear, torsion, and combined internal forces
- Consideration of a notch
- Design of compression perpendicular to the grain on the end and intermediate supports with (EC 5) and without reinforcement elements (fully threaded screws)
- Optional shear force reduction at the support (see the Product Feature)
- Design of curved and tapered members
- Consideration of higher strengths for similar components that are close together (factor ksys according to EN 1995‑1‑1, 6.6(1)-(3))
- Option to increase shear resistance for softwood timber according to DIN EN 1995‑1‑1:NA NDP to 6.1.7(2)
- Stability analyses for flexural buckling, torsional buckling, and flexural-torsional buckling under compression
- Import of the effective lengths from the calculation using the Structure Stability add-on
- Graphical input and check of the defined nodal supports and effective lengths for stability analysis
- Determination of the equivalent member lengths for tapered members
- Consideration of Lateral-Torsional Bracing Position
- Lateral-torsional buckling analysis of the structural components subjected to moment loading
- Depending on the standard, a choice between user-defined input of Mcr, analytical method from the standard, and use of internal eigenvalue solver
- Consideration of a shear panel and a rotational restraint when using the eigenvalue solver
- Graphical display of a mode shape if the eigenvalue solver was used
- Stability analysis of structural components with the combined compression and bending stress, depending on the design standard
- Comprehensible calculation of all necessary coefficients, such as the factors for considering moment distribution or interaction factors
- Alternative consideration of all effects for the stability analysis when determining internal forces in RFEM/RSTAB (second-order analysis, imperfections, stiffness reduction, possibly in combination with the Torsional Warping (7 DOF) add-on)
- Arbitrary definition of the charring time
- Option to calculate with or without adhesion of the layer for surface structures (cross-laminated timber)
- Free user-defined specification of the fire parameters
- Consideration of Different Effective Lengths in Fire Resistance Design
- Optional design "Compression perpendicular to grain"
- Graphical result display integrated in RFEM/RSTAB, such as a design ratio
- Complete integration of the results into the RFEM/RSTAB printout report
RFEM/RSTAB also provides a range of functions for the case of a fire. The program allows for the automatic generation of load and result combinations for the accidental design situation of fire design. The members to be designed with the corresponding internal forces are imported directly from RFEM/RSTAB. Also, all information about the material and cross-section is stored. You don't need to do anything else.
You only define the parameters relevant for the fire resistance design by assigning a fire resistance configuration to the members and surfaces to be designed. Moreover, you can also make further detailed settings, such as the definition of the fire exposure on one side up to all sides.