In RFEM, the oriented strand board (OSB) material is available for the USA and Canada. The material parameters are taken from the "Panel Design Specification manual".
Using the "Beam Panel" thickness type, you can model timber panel elements in 3D space. You just specify the surface geometry and the timber panel elements are generated using an internal member-surface construct, including the simulation of the connection flexibility.
A "beam plate" offers you the following advantages:
Single-sided and double-sided cladding is possible
Automatic calculation of the semi-rigid coupling
Boarded sheeting
Stapled cladding
User-defined sheeting
Representation as a complete geometric 3D object (frame, crosstie, column, sheeting, staples), including eccentricity
Considering openings via surface cells
Design of the structural elements utilizing the Timber Design add-on
Independent of material (for example, drywall with cold-formed sections and gypsum fibreboards as covering)
A library for cross-laminated timber panels is implemented in RFEM, from which you can import the manufacturer's layer structures (for example, Binderholz, KLH, Piveteaubois, Södra, Züblin Timber, Schilliger, Stora Enso). In addition to the layer thicknesses and materials, there is also the information about stiffness reductions and the narrow side bonding.
Do you already know the editor for mesh refinement control? It is a great help for your work! Why? It's easy – it gives you the following options:
Graphic visualization of the areas with mesh refinements
Mesh refinement of zones
Deactivating the standard 3D solid mesh refinement with transversion into the corresponding manual 3D mesh refinements.
These options help you to formulate a suitable rule for meshing the entire model, even for the models with unusual dimensions. Use the editor to efficiently define small model details on large buildings or detailed meshing areas in the coating area of the model. You will be amazed!
Did you know? You can export all RFEM/RSTAB tables with the results individually or all at once directly into an Excel table or as a CSV file. There are several options available to you:
With table headers
Selected objects only
Filled rows only
Only filled tables
Export data as plain text
This way, the program allows you to control and clearly manage the exported data. You can export the stored formulas directly in the table or as a separate table, as in the case of the used parameters.
Have you ever wondered if you can render without a graphics card? We have the answer! Software rendering for alternative image synthesis without the support of a graphics card is possible. You can easily control this solution with the Windows command scripts:
Enable Software Renderer.cmd (switch on)
Disable Software Renderer.cmd (switch off)
in the program folder C:\Program Files\Dlubal\RFEM 6.02\bin.
The results for members can be displayed graphically, using the Member Hinges navigator category. The numerical results of member hinges can be found in the Results by Member table category. The Member Hinge Deformations and Member Hinge Forces tables are available for the analysis and documentation of the deformation and force results in the area of member hinges.
The table lists the deformations and forces of each member for the locations specified in the Results Table Manager. There, you can also control which extreme values are displayed.
Various design parameters of the cross-sections can be adjusted in the serviceability limit state configuration. The applied cross-section condition for the deformation and crack width analysis can be controlled there.
For this, the following settings can be activated:
Crack state calculated from associated load
Crack state determined as an envelope from all SLS design situations
Cracked state of cross-section - independent of load
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)
Did you know? In contrast to other material models, the stress-strain diagram for this material model is not antimetric to the origin. You can use this material model to simulate the behavior of steel fiber-reinforced concrete, for example. Find detailed information about modeling steel fiber-reinforced concrete in the technical article about Determining the material properties of steel-fiber-reinforced concrete.
In this material model, the isotropic stiffness is reduced with a scalar damage parameter. This damage parameter is determined from the stress curve defined in the Diagram. The direction of the principal stresses is not taken into account. Rather, the damage occurs in the direction of the equivalent strain, which also covers the third direction perpendicular to the plane. The tension and compression area of the stress tensor is treated separately. In this case, different damage parameters apply.
The "Reference element size" controls how the strain in the crack area is scaled to the length of the element. With the default value zero, no scaling is performed. Thus, the material behavior of the steel fiber concrete is modeled realistically.
Find more information about the theoretical background of the "Isotropic Damage" material model in the technical article describing the Nonlinear Material Model Damage.
WebService and API provide you various scope of application. We have summarized some ideas as to how WebService and API can support your company:
Creating additional applications for RFEM 6, RSTAB 9, and RSECTION 1
Possibility to make the workflows more efficient (for example, model definition and input) and to integrate RFEM 6, RSTAB 9, and RSECTION 1 into your company applications
Simulating and calculating several design options
Running optimization algorithms for size, shape, and/or topology
Accessing the calculation results
Generation of printout reports in the PDF format
The level of quality of the work is automatically increased not only by the algorithmic model definitions, but also by:
Extending / consolidating RFEM 6, RSTAB 9, and RSECTION 1 with your own controls
Increased interoperability between the individual software used to complete a project
During the cross-section design, you can directly control whether the concrete surface is applied behind the reinforcing bars or is subtracted from the concrete cross-section. You can use the design of the net concrete cross-section especially in the case you deal with a highly reinforced cross-section.
Reinforced concrete usually answers the question "How much can you carry?" simply with "Yes". Nevertheless, you need a three-dimensional moment-moment-axial force interaction diagram for the graphical output of the ultimate limit state of reinforced concrete cross-sections. The Dlubal structural analysis software offers you just that.
With the additional display of the load action, you can easily recognize or visualize whether the limit resistance of a reinforced concrete cross-section is exceeded. Since you can control the diagram properties, you can customize the appearance of the My-Mz-N diagram to suit your needs.
Do you work with steel connections? The Steel Joints add-on for RFEM supports you when analyzing steel connections by using an FE model. In this case, the modeling runs fully automatically in the background. Nevertheless, you can control this process via the simple and familiar input of components. You can then use the loads determined on the FE model for your design of the components according to EN 1993‑1‑8 (including National Annexes).
Webservice and API opens up a wide range of new possibilities for you. You can create your own desktop or web-based applications by controlling all objects included in RFEM 6 and RSTAB 9. By providing libraries and functions, you can develop your own design checks, effective modeling of parametric structures, as well as optimization and automation processes using the programming languages Python and C#. Does that sound exciting to you? Then find out more here!
Calculation of stationary incompressible turbulent wind flow using the SimpleFOAM solver from the OpenFOAM® software package
Numerical scheme according to the first and second order
Turbulence models RAS k-ω and RAS k-ε
Consideration of surface roughness depending on model zones
Model design via VTP, STL, OBJ, and IFC files
Operation via bidirectional interface of RFEM or RSTAB for importing model geometries with standard-based wind loads and exporting wind load cases with probe-based printout report tables
Intuitive model changes via drag & drop and graphical adjustment assistance
Generation of a shrink-wrap mesh envelope around the model geometry
Consideration of environmental objects (buildings, terrain, and so on)
Height-dependent description of the wind load (wind speed and turbulence intensity)
Automatic meshing depending on a selected depth of detail
Consideration of layer meshes near the model surfaces
Parallelized calculation with optimal utilization of all processor cores of a computer
Graphical output of the surface results on the model surfaces (surface pressure, Cp coefficients)
Graphical output of the flow field and vector results (pressure field, velocity field, turbulence – k-ω field, and turbulence – k-ε field, velocity vectors) on Clipper/Slicer planes
Display of 3D wind flow via animated streamline graphics
Definition of point and line probes
Multilingual user interface (German, English, Czech, Spanish, French, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, and Chinese)
Calculations of several models in one batch process
Generator for creating rotated models to simulate different wind directions
Optional interruption and continuation of the calculation
Individual color panel per result graphic
Display of diagrams with separate output of results on both sides of a surface
Output of the dimensionless wall distance y+ in the mesh inspector details for the simplified model mesh
Determination of the shear stress on the model surface from the flow around the model
Calculation with an alternative convergence criterion (you can select between the residual types pressure or flow resistance in the simulation parameters)
RWIND Basic uses a numerical CFD model (Computational Fluid Dynamics) to simulate wind flows around your objects using a digital wind tunnel. The simulation process determines specific wind loads acting on your model surfaces from the flow result around the model.
A 3D volume mesh is responsible for the simulation itself. For this, RWIND Basic performs an automatic meshing on the basis of freely definable control parameters. For the calculation of wind flows, RWIND Basic provides you with a stationary solve and RWIND Pro provides a transient solver for incompressible turbulent flows. Surface pressures resulting from the flow results are extrapolated onto the model for each time step.
Technology takes you further, also in your daily work with RFEM / RSTAB. The new API technology Webservice allows you to create your own desktop or web-based applications by controlling all objects included in RFEM 6 / RSTAB 9. Entire libraries and numerous functions are available to you. Thus, you can easily perform your own design checks, effective modeling of parametric structures, and optimization and automation processes using the programming languages Python and C#. Dlubal Software makes your work easier and more convenient. Check it out now!
Also, on the rendered model, you see your results in a clear color display. This allows you to precisely recognize the deformation or internal forces of a member, for example. If you want to set the colors and value ranges, you can do so in the control panel.
The model is rendered photorealistically (optionally with textures). This gives you the advantage that you always have immediate control of the input. You can freely adjust the display colors and save them separately for the screen as well as for the printout.
Effective Sections is an extension of the section properties program RSECTION. Compared to the RF‑/STEEL Cold-Formed Sections add-on module for RFEM 5 / RSTAB 8, the following new features have been added to Effective Sections:
Consideration of the effects of distortional buckling of sections via eigenvalue method
Definition of stiffeners and buckling panels no longer necessary
Compared to the RF‑/ALUMINUM add-on module (RFEM 5 / RSTAB 8), the following new features have been added to the Aluminum Design add-on for RFEM 6 / RSTAB 9:
In addition to Eurocode 9, the US standard ADM 2020 is integrated.
Consideration of the stabilizing effect of purlins and sheets by rotational restraints and shear panels
Graphical display of the results in the gross section
Output of the used design check formulas (including a reference to the used equation from the standard)
Did you know? The structural optimization in the programs RFEM and RSTAB is a completion of the parametric input. It is a parallel process beside the actual model calculation with all its regular calculation and design definitions. The add-on assumes that your model or block is built with a parametric context and is controlled in its entirety by global control parameters of the "optimization" type. Therefore, these control parameters have a lower and upper limit and a step size to delimit the optimization range. If you want to find optimal values for the control parameters, you have to specify an optimization criterion (for example, minimum weight) with the selection of an optimization method (for example, particle swarm optimization).
You can already find the cost and CO2 emission estimation in the material definitions. You can activate both options individually in each material definition. The estimation is based on a unit for unit cost or unit emission for members, surfaces, and solids. In this case, you can select whether to specify the units by weight, volume, or area.
Both optimization methods have one thing in common. At the end of the process, they provide you with a list of model mutations from the stored data. Here you can find the details of the controlling optimization result and the associated value assignment of the optimization parameters. This list is organized in descending order. You can find the assumed best solution shown in the first line. For this, the optimization result with its determined value assignment is closest to the optimization criterion. All add-on results have a utilization < 1. Furthermore, once the analysis is completed, the program will adjust the value assignment to that of the optimal solution for the optimization parameters in the global parameter list.
In the material dialog boxes, you can find the additional tabs "Cost Estimation" and "Estimation of CO2 Emissions". They show you the individual estimated sums of the assigned members, surfaces, and solids per unit weight, volume, and area. Furthermore, these tabs show the total cost and emission of all assigned materials. This gives you a good overview of your project.