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.
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
- Parts list with weight and solid specifications
- Seamless integration in RFEM/RSTAB
- Units metric and imperial
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
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.
The calculated stresses and settlements are displayed in result windows. In addition, it is possible to evaluate the results graphically. The graphic displays the position and the layer arrangement of the soil samples to clarify the results.
The final result window shows the elastic foundation coefficients. Graphical evaluation is possible as well.
Elastic foundation coefficients are calculated according to the non-linear iterative method. The module determines elastic foundation coefficients for each individual element. They are dependent on the deformation.
The definition of soil layers is performed in a clearly arranged input window. An extensible library facilitates the selection of soil properties.
The elasticity can be defined either by the stiffness modulus or the modulus of elasticity and the Poisson's ratio. It is possible to define any number of soil layers. You can assign the layers to the building graphically or by entering the relevant coordinates.
- Realistic representation of interaction between a building and soil
- Extensible library of soil properties
- Consideration of several soil samples (probes) at different locations, even outside the building
- Consideration of groundwater level as well as side effects due to excavation and lowest soil layer being solid
- Calculation of elastic foundation coefficients
- Determination and graphical display of stress diagrams and settlements in grid points
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
-
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