The material library already includes Swiss types of concrete and reinforcing steel available for design. However, you can always define other materials for the design according to SIA 262. The program performs the ultimate and the serviceability limit state design.
The crack width analysis can be performed using the design of Sigmas,adm, rebar spacing sL, or a direct calculation of crack widths according to the technical documentation D0182. Depending on the selected concrete type, the program determines the limit value Sigmas,adm according to D0182, Eq. 10.13; the upper limit is set by the design criterion fsd.
The material library already includes the Chinese types of concrete and reinforcing steel available for design. However, you can always define other materials for the design according to GB 50010.
In addition, it is possible consider the seismic design according to the standard GB 50011‑2010 (Code for seismic design of buildings).
Design of tension, compression, bending, shear, combined internal forces, and torsion
Stability analysis for flexural buckling, torsional buckling, and lateral-torsional buckling
Optional application of discrete lateral supports to beams
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
Full integration in RFEM/RSTAB including import of all relevant information and internal forces
Determination of stress ranges for the available load cases and load or result combinations
Free assignment of detail categories on the available stress points of the cross-section
User-defined specification of damage equivalent factors
Design of members and sets of members according to EN 1993-1-9
Optimization of cross-sections with the option to transfer the data to RFEM/RSTAB
Detailed result documentation with references to design equations used
Various filter and sorting options of results, including result lists by member, cross-sections, x-location, or by load case, load and result combination
Visualization of the design criterion on RFEM/RSTAB model
Full integration in RFEM/RSTAB with import of relevant internal forces
Design checks for the elastic-elastic and elastic-plastic methods
Graphical selection of members and sets of members for design
Analysis for several load and design cases
Design based on the buckling field parameters integrated in the cross-section library for the cross-section parts supported on one and both sides
Optional determination of shear stresses according to comment on El. (745)
Possibility to consider the weld thickness in the design of welded cross-sections, which has the effect of a shortening of the cross-section part width
Cross-section optimization with the option to export modified cross-sections
Design of member ends, members, nodal supports, nodes, and surfaces
Consideration of specified design areas
Check of cross-section dimensions
Design according to EN 1995-1-1 (European Timber Standard) with the respective National Annexes + DIN 1052 + DSTV DIN EN 1993-1-8 + ANSI / AWC - NDS 2015 (US Standard)
Design of various materials, such as steel, concrete, and others
No necessary linking to specific standards
Extensible library including timber fasteners (SIHGA, Sherpa, WÜRTH, Simpson StrongTie, KNAPP, PITZL) and steel fasteners (standardized connections in steel building design according to EC 3, M-connect, PFEIFER, TG-Technik)
Ultimate load capacities of timber beams by the companies STEICO and Metsä Wood available in the library
Connection to MS Excel
Optimization of connecting elements (the most utilized element is calculated)
Full integration in RFEM/RSTAB including import of all relevant internal forces
Intelligent presetting of flexural buckling-specific design parameters
Automatic determination of the distribution of internal forces and classification according to DIN 18800, Part 2
Optional import of buckling lengths from the RF-STABILITY/RSBUCK add-on module. For this, a comfortable graphical selection of the relevant buckling mode is possible
Optimizing Cross-Sections
Optional calculation according to both design methods of DIN 18800, Part 2
Automatic determination of the most unfavorable design location, also for tapered members
Check of c/t-limit values according to DIN 18800, Part 1
Design of any thin-walled RFEM/RSTAB or SHAPE-THIN section for compression and bending without interaction according to the elastic-plastic method
Design of I-shaped rolled and welded sections, I-like sections, box sections, and pipes subjected to bending and compression with iteration according to the elastic-plastic method
Clearly arranged, comprehensible design checks with all intermediate values in the short and long forms
Design of foundation torsion and limitation of gaping joint
Sliding design
Settlement calculation
Bending failure design of the plate and bucket
Punching shear design
Foundation and bucket dimensions can be user-defined or determined by the module. You can edit the determined reinforcement manually. In this case, the designs are updated automatically.
After the calculation, the module shows clearly arranged tables listing the results of the nonlinear calculation. All intermediate values are included in a comprehensible manner. Graphical representation of design ratios, deformations, concrete and reinforcing steel stresses, crack widths, crack depths, and crack spacing in RFEM facilitates a quick overview of critical or cracked areas.
Error messages or remarks concerning the calculation help you find design problems. Since the design results are displayed by surface or by point including all intermediate results, you can retrace all details of the calculation.
Due to the optional export of input or result tables to MS Excel, the data remain available for further use in other programs. The complete integration of results in the RFEM printout report guarantees verifiable structural design.
It is possible to freely model a cross-section using surfaces limited by polygonal lines, including openings and point areas (reinforcements). Alternatively, you can use the DXF interface to import the geometry. An extensive material library facilitates the modeling of composite cross-sections.
Definition of limit diameters and priorities allows for a curtailment of reinforcements. In addition, you can consider the respective concrete covers and prestresses.
The calculation is performed successively for each load step. Permanent (plastic) deformations of previous load steps are considered when calculating further load steps. This way, it is also possible to perform a calculation with a structure relief.
The loads of the individual steps are added up (depending on the signs) throughout the calculation process. You can freely select the method of analysis (linear static, second-order, large deformation, and postcritical analysis). Furthermore, the module manages the global calculation settings.
After the calculation, the maximum stresses, stress ratios, and displacements are displayed by load case, surface, or grid points. The design ratio can be related to any kind of stress type. The current location is highlighted by color in the RFEM model.
In addition to the result evaluation in tables, it is possible to display the stresses and stress ratios graphically in the RFEM work window. For this, you can adjust the colors and values assigned in the panel.
It is necessary to select load cases, load combinations, and result combinations for the ultimate and the serviceability limit state design. After selecting the surfaces to be designed, you can define the relevant material model.
The structure of layers forming the basis for the stiffness calculation can vary. You can adjust the parameters defined by the selected material model according to your individual needs. The 3*3 matrix of the layers is modifiable as well. In this way completely free selection when generating the stiffnesses is provided.
The limit stresses of each layer are defined by the selected material. These values can be customized as well.
After creating the entire structure in RFEM/RSTAB, the individual structural components as well as load cases and combinations are assigned to the corresponding construction stages. For each construction stage, you can modify for example release definitions of members and supports.
Thus, it is possible to model structural modifications, such as those that occur when bridge girders are successively grouted or when columns are settled. The load cases and load combinations already created in RFEM/RSTAB are divided into "Permanent Loading" and "Temporary Loading" in the add-on module.
The defined temporary loads are superimposed by permanent loads. This way, it is possible to determine the maximum internal forces of different crane positions or to consider temporary mounting loads available only in one construction stage.
Simple definition of construction stages in the RFEM/RSTAB structure including visualization
Addition, removal, and modification of member, surface, and solid properties (such as member hinges, surface eccentricities, degrees of freedom for supports, and others)
Optional superposition of construction stages with additional temporary loads; for example, mounting loads or mounting cranes, and others
Consideration of nonlinear effects such as failure of a tension member, elastic foundations, or nonlinear supports
Numerical and graphical result display for individual construction stages or as an envelope (Max/Min) of all construction stages
Detailed printout report including all structural and load data of each construction stage