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.
- 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
- 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
Did you use the eigenvalue solver of the add-on to determine the critical load factor within the stability analysis? If so, you can then display the governing mode shape of the object to be designed as a result. The eigenvalue solver is available here for the lateral-torsional buckling analysis, depending on the design standard used.
If your design is successful, the relaxed part of your work follows. Because the program does many processes for you. For example, the performed design checks are displayed in a table. It shows you all the result details. Due to the clearly presented design formulas, you will be able to understand the results without any problems. There is no "black box" effect here.
The design checks are carried out at all governing locations of the members and displayed graphically as a result diagram. Furthermore, detailed graphics, such as the stress distribution on a cross-section or the governing mode shape, are available for you in the result output.
All input and result data are part of the RFEM/RSTAB printout report. You can select the report contents and extent specifically for the individual design checks.
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
-
CTE DB-SE-AE
-
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:
-
EN 1991-1-3 (incl. National Annexes)
-
ASCE 7
-
NBC
-
SIA 261
-
CTE DB-SE-AE
-
GB 50009
-
IS 875
The cross-section resistance design analyzes tension and compression along the grain, bending, bending and tension/compression as well as the strength in shear due to shear force.
The design of structural components at risk of buckling or lateral buckling is performed according to the Equivalent Member Method and considers the systematic axial compression, bending with and without compression force as well as bending and tension. The deflection of inner spans and cantilevers is compared to the maximum allowable deflection.
Separate design cases allow for a flexible and stability analysis of members, sets of members, and loads.
Design-relevant parameters such as such as stability analysis, load duration in case of fire, member slendernesses, and limit deflection can be adjusted as desired.
After opening the add-on module, it is necessary to select the members/sets of members, load cases, load or result combinations for the ultimate and the serviceability limit state design. The materials from RFEM/RSTAB are preset and can be adjusted in RF-/TIMBER CSA. Material properties listed in the respective standard are included in the material library.
When checking the cross-sections, you can specify whether to consider a cross-section selected in RFEM/RSTAB, or a modified cross-section. Then, you can define the load duration classes, the moisture service conditions, and timber treatment.
The deformation analysis requires the reference lengths of the relevant members and sets of members. Furthermore, you can define a specific direction of deflection, precamber and the beam type.
For fire resistance design, you can define the charring sides of a member or set of members.
- Design of members and continuous members for tension, compression, bending, shear, and combined internal forces
- Stability analysis for lateral-torsional buckling and buckling according to the equivalent member method or the second order analysis
- Serviceability limit state design by limitation of deflections
- Free configuration of charring time and charring rates, as well as free choice of charring sides for fire design
- Design of tapered and curved beams consisting of glulam timber
- Material and cross‑section library based on the Canadian standard
- User-defined entry of rectangular and circular cross-sections
- Automatic cross-section optimization
- Optional import of buckling lengths from the RF-STABILITY/RSBUCK module
- Detailed result documentation including references to design equations of the used standard
- Various filtering and sorting options of results
- Consideration of moisture service conditions
- Visualization of design criterion on RFEM/RSTAB model
- Data export to MS Excel
- Units metric and imperial
After the calculation, the module displays results in clearly arranged result tables. All intermediate values (for example, governing internal forces, adjustment factors, and so on) can be included in order to make the design more transparent. The results are sorted by load case, cross-section, set of members, and members. If the analysis fails, the affected cross-sections can be modified in an optimization process.
The design ratio is represented with different colors in the RFEM/RSTAB model. This way, you can quickly recognize critical or oversized areas of the cross-section. Furthermore, result diagrams displayed on the member or set of members ensure targeted evaluation.
In addition to the input and result data, including design details displayed in tables, you can add all graphics into the printout report. This way, comprehensible and clearly arranged documentation is guaranteed. You can select the report contents and extent specifically for the individual designs.
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
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:
-
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 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