Would you like to calculate curved beams (for example, made of glued-laminated timber)? For this purpose, you can use various section distributions for members:
- Curved
- Pitched cambered beam with constant height
- Pitched cambered beam with variable height
- Fish beam | Parabolic
The Ponding load type allows you to simulate rain actions on multi-curved surfaces, taking into account the displacements according to the large deformation analysis.
This numerical rainfall process examines the assigned surface geometry and determines which rainfall portions drain away and which rainfall portions accumulate in puddles (water pockets) on the surface. The puddle size then results in a corresponding vertical load for the structural analysis.
For example, you can use this feature in the analysis of approximately horizontal membrane roof geometries subjected to rain loading.
Go to Explanatory VideoCurved elements are available only in RFEM. It's possible to intersect curved surfaces and solids.
When doing this, the program generates surfaces with the "Trimmed" surface type. With this technology, you can create very complex geometries, such as pipe intersections or curved openings, with a single click.
The intersection of solids is carried out adaptively using the new solid types "Hole" and "Intersection", according to the set theory. Use this method to create new, complex solid geometries similar to the manufacturing process (drilling, milling, turning, etc.). Therefore, it is possible to create complex curved surface or perforated solid elements. It's a simple process!
Go to Explanatory VideoThe "Design Types" tab in the member properties allows you to optionally display the real element geometry. Using this feature, you get a clear representation of
- curved beams,
- buckled poly-members, and
- buckled member sets
to define the design properties.
In the "Deflection and Design Support" tab under "Edit Member", the members can be clearly segmented using optimized input windows. Depending on the supports, the deformation limits for cantilever beams or single-span beams are used automatically.
By defining the design support in the corresponding direction at the member start, member end, and intermediate nodes, the program automatically recognizes the segments and segment lengths to which the allowable deformation is related. It also automatically detects whether it is a beam or a cantilever due to the defined design supports. The manual assignment, as in the previous versions (RFEM 5), is no longer necessary.
The "User-Defined Lengths" option allows you to modify the reference lengths in the table. The corresponding segment length is always used by default. If the reference length deviates from the segment length (for example, in the case of curved members), it can be adjusted.
- 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)
Your options in timber design are diverse. You can consider cut-to-grain angles, transverse tension stresses, and volume-dependent radii of curvature for tapered and curved members. To design the area of the grain cut, the strength is adjusted accordingly in the case of bending tension or bending pressure. In order to also allow you to perform a stability analysis with the equivalent member method, the height to determine the effective and lateral-torsional buckling lengths is set at a distance of 0.65 × h to the actual design point.
- Design of the following roof types:
- Monopitch roof
- Duopitch Roof
- Curved roof
- All roof shapes allow for a free selection of stiffening diagonals. The following types are available:
- Falling diagonals
- Rising diagonals
- Crossing diagonals with verticals
- Crossing diagonals without verticals
- Crossing diagonals with steel strips (ties)
- Consideration of window rows in the ridge by selecting an inner intermediate part.
- For design according to EC 5 (EN 1995), the following National Annexes are available:
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DIN EN 1995-1-1/NA:2013-08 (Germany)
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NBN EN 1995-1-1/ANB:2012-07 (Belgium)
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DK EN 1995-1-1/NA:2011-12 (Denmark)
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SFS EN 1995-1-1/NA:2007-11 (Finland)
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NF EN 1995-1-1/NA:2010-05 (France)
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UNI EN 1995-1-1/NA:2010-09 (Italy)
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NEN EN 1995-1-1/NB:2007-11 (Netherlands)
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ÖNORM B 1995-1-1:2015-06 (Austria)
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PN EN 1995-1-1/NA:2010-09 (Poland)
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SS EN 1995-1-1 (Sweden)
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STN EN 1995-1-1/NA:2008-12 (Slovakia)
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SIST EN 1995-1-1/A101:2006-03 (Slovenia)
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CSN EN 1995-1-1:2007-09 (Czech Republic)
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BS EN 1995-1-1/NA:2009-10 (the United Kingdom)
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- Simple geometry input with illustrative graphics
- Automatic generation of wind loads
- Automatic creation of required combinations for the ultimate and serviceability limit states, as well as fire resistance design
- Free definition of the load cases to be used
- Extensive material library
- Optional extension of material library by further materials
- Extensive library of permanent loads
- Allocation of framework to service classes and specification of service class categories
- Determination of design ratios, support forces, and deformations
- Info icon indicating successful or failed design
- Color reference scales in result tables
- Direct data export to MS Excel
- DXF interface for preparation production documents in CAD
- Program languages: English, German, Czech, Italian, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Polish, Chinese, Dutch, and Russian
- Verifiable printout report, including all required designs. Printout report available in many output languages; for example, English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Czech, Polish, Portuguese, Chinese, and Dutch.
- In the ultimate limit state design, the stiffness of the hinge is divided by the partial safety factor and in the serviceability limit state design calculated using the mean stiffnesses. The limit values for the ultimate and the serviceability limit states can be defined separately.
The nonlinear calculation adopts the real mesh geometry of planar, buckled, simple curved, or double curved surface components from the selected cutting pattern and flattens this surface component in compliance with the minimization of distortion energy, assuming defined material behavior.
In simplified terms, this method attempts to compress the mesh geometry in a press, assuming frictionless contact, and to find the state in which the stresses from flattening in the component are in equilibrium in the plane. This way, minimum energy and optimum accuracy of the cutting pattern are achieved. Compensation for warp and weft as well as compensation for boundary lines are considered. Then, the defined allowances on boundary lines are applied to the resulting planar surface geometry.
Features:
- Minimization of distortion energy in the flattening process for very accurate cutting patterns
- Application for almost all mesh arrangements
- Recognition of adjacent cutting pattern definitions to keep the same length
- Mesh application for main calculation
- Planar and geodesic cutting lines
- Flattening of double-curved surface parts of tensioned membranes or pneumatic cushions
- Definition of cutting patterns by using boundary lines which are not required to be connected
- Sophisticated flattening based on the minimum energy theory
- Welding and boundary allowances
- Uniform or linear compensation in warp and weft direction
- Possibility of different compensations for boundary lines
- Adaptable data organisation (any additional modification of input data is considered up to the final "weld")
- Graphical display of cutting patterns
- Statistical information about each cutting pattern (width, length, size)
- Option to automatically generate cutting patterns from cells
- Full integration in RFEM/RSTAB including import of all relevant information and internal forces
- For design according to EN 1995-1-1, the following National Annexes are available:
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DIN EN 1995-1-1/NA:2013-08 (Germany)
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ÖNORM B 1995-1-1:2015-06 (Austria)
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NBN EN 1995-1-1/ANB:2012-07 (Belgium)
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BDS EN 1995-1-1/NA:2012-02 (Bulgaria)
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DK EN 1995-1-1/NA:2011-12 (Denmark)
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SFS EN 1995-1-1/NA:2007-11 (Finland)
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NF EN 1995-1-1/NA:2010-05 (France)
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I S. EN 1995-1-1/NA:2010-03 (Ireland)
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UNI EN 1995-1-1/NA:2010-09 (Italy)
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LVS EN 1995-1-1/NA:2012-05 (Latvia)
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LST EN 1995-1-1/NA:2011-10 (Lithuania)
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LU EN 1995-1-1/NA:2011-09 (Luxembourg)
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NEN EN 1995-1-1/NB:2007-11 (Netherlands)
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NS EN 1995-1-1/NA:2010-05 (Norway)
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PN EN 1995-1-1/NA:2010-09 (Poland)
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NP EN 1995-1-1 (Portugal)
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SR EN 1995-1-1/NB:2008-03 (Romania)
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SS EN 1995-1-1 (Sweden)
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STN EN 1995-1-1/NA:2008-12 (Slovakia)
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SIST EN 1995-1-1/A101:2006-3 (Slovenia)
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UNE EN 1995-1-1/AN:2016-04 (Spain)
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CSN EN 1995-1-1/NA:2007-09 (Czech Republic)
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BS EN 1995-1-1/NA:2009-10 (the United Kingdom)
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CYS EN 1995-1-1/NA:2011-02 (Cyprus)
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- Extensive material library in compliance with the EN, SIA, and DIN standards
- Design of circular, rectangular, and user-defined composite cross-sections (also hybrids)
- Specific classification of a structure in service classes (SECL) and actions in load duration classes (LDC)
- Design of members and sets of members
- Stability analysis according to the Equivalent Member Method or the second-order analysis
- Determination of governing internal forces
- Icon providing information about successful or failed design
- Visualization of the design criterion on RFEM/RSTAB model
- Automatic cross-section optimization
- Parts lists and quantity surveying
- Data export to MS Excel
- Free configuration of charring time and charring rates, as well as free choice of charring sides for fire design
- Fire resistance designs in the selected standard according to:
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EN 1995-1-2
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SIA 265:2012 + SIA 265-C1:2012
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to DIN 4102-22:2004
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- Import of buckling lengths from the RF-STABILITY/RSBUCK add-on module
- Design of tapered members according to the previously defined cut-to-grain angle
- Ridge design and analysis of transversal tension stresses for defined ridges
- Design of curved members and sets 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
- 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
- Design of tapered and curved beams consisting of glulam timber
- Free configuration of charring time and charring rates, as well as free choice of charring sides for fire design
- Material and cross-section library based on the supplement to the standards ANSI/AWC NDS‑2018 and ANSI/AWC NDS-2015, including adjustment factors
- 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 temperature effects and moisture service conditions
- Visualization of design criterion on RFEM/RSTAB model
- Data export to MS Excel
- Metric and imperial units
- Design of single-layer or laminated glass as well as gas layer insulating glass
- design of curved glass
- Option to select either local calculation without regard to the influence of a surrounding structure, or global calculation with regard to the influence of an entire structure
- Calculation of limit stresses according to DIN 18008:2010-12 or TRLV:2006-08
- Assignment of loads to load duration classes
- Extensive material library including all common glass, foil, and gas types in compliance with the DIN 18008:2010-12, E DIN EN 13474 standards, and the TRLV:2006-08 regulation
- Optional consideration of shear coupling of layers
- Consideration of climatic loads
- Calculation according to the linear static analysis or nonlinear analysis according to the large deformation analysis. analysis
- Stress analysis, ultimate limit state design, serviceability limit state design
- Graphical representation of all results in RFEM
- Possibility to filter results and color scales in result tables
- Direct data export to MS Excel