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:
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.
It is necessary to enter material, load, and combination data in RFEM/RSTAB in compliance with the design concept specified by CSA S16. The RFEM/RSTAB material library already contains materials relevant for the Canadian standard.
RFEM/RSTAB automatically creates the corresponding load combinations according to the Canadian standard. However, you can also create all the combinations manually in RFEM/RSTAB. The RF-/STEEL CSA 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. In the case of continuous members, it is possible to define individual support conditions and eccentricities of each intermediate node of single members. A special FEA tool then determines the critical loads and moments required for the stability analysis in these situations.
Design of members and sets of members for tension, compression, bending, shear, combined internal forces, and torsion
Stability analysis of buckling, torsional, and flexural-torsional buckling
Automatic determination of critical buckling loads and critical buckling moments for general load applications and support conditions by means of a special FEA program (eigenvalue analysis) integrated in the module
Alternative analytical calculation of the critical buckling moment for standard situations
Optional application of discrete lateral supports to beams and continuous members
Automatic cross-section classification
Serviceability limit state design (deflection)
Cross-section optimization
A wide range of available cross-sections, such as rolled I-sections; channel sections; T-sections; angles; rectangular and circular hollow sections; round bars; symmetrical and asymmetrical, parametric I-, T-, and angle sections; double angles
Clearly arranged input and result windows
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 tables of member slenderness and governing internal forces
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
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:
DIN EN 1991-1-4 (Germany)
CSN EN 1994-1-4 (Czech Republic)
NA to CYS EN 1991-1-4 (Cyprus)
DK EN 1991-1-4 (Denmark)
NBN EN 1991-1-4 (Belgium)
NEN EN 1991-1-4 (Netherlands)
NF EN 1991-1-4 (France)
SFS-EN 1991-1-4 (Finland)
SIST EN 1991-1-4 (Slovenia)
SR EN 1991-1-4 (Romania)
SS EN 1991-1-4 (Singapore)
SS-EN 1991-1-4 (Sweden)
STN EN 1991-1-4 (Slovakia)
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.
The first result window shows the maximum design ratios including the corresponding design of each designed load case (load combination / result combination).
The other result windows list all detailed results sorted by specific subject in extendable tree menus. All intermediate results along a member 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.
Wind loads can be automatically generated as member loads or area loads on the following structural components (optional with internal pressure for open buildings):