The relevant input for the design is defined in the Seismic Configuration. Afterwards, a new Seismic Configuration can be defined by entering a descriptive configuration name, and then selecting the applicable SFRS frame type and member type.
The seismic design result is categorized into two sections: member requirements and connection requirements.
The "Seismic Requirements" include the Required Flexural Strength and the Required Shear Strength of the beam-to-column connection for moment frames. They are listed in the ‘Moment Frame Connection by Member’ tab. For braced frames, the Required Connection Tensile Strength and the Required Connection Compressive Strength of the brace are listed in the ‘Brace Connection by Member’ tab.
The program provides the performed design checks in tables. The design check details clearly display the formulas and references to the standard.
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.
Using the "Damper" member type, you can define a damping coefficient, a spring constant, and a mass. This member type extends the possibilities within the Time History Analysis.
With regard to viscoelasticity, the "Damper" member type is similar to the Kelvin-Voigt model, which consists of the damping element and an elastic spring (both connected in parallel).
Global 3D calculation of the global model, where the slabs are modeled as a rigid plane (diaphragm) or as a bending plate
Local 2D calculation of the individual floors
After the calculation, the results of the columns and walls from the 3D calculation and the results of the slabs from the 2D calculation are combined in a single model. This means that there is no need to switch between the 3D model and the individual 2D models of the slabs. The user only works with one model, saves valuable time, and avoids possible errors in the manual data exchange between the 3D model and the individual 2D ceiling models.
The vertical surfaces in the model can be divided into shear walls and opening lintels. The program automatically generates internal result members from these wall objects, so they can be designed as members according to any standard in the Concrete Design add-on.
For calculation diagrams, the "2D | Hinge" is available. These hinge diagrams show the hinge response of load situations for nonlinear hinges.
For calculations with several load situations, such as is the case with pushover analyzes and time history analysis, you can evaluate the state of the hinge in each load step.
If you have experimentally determined surface pressures available for a model, you can apply them to a structural model in RFEM 6, process them in RWIND 2, and use them as wind loads in the structural analysis of RFEM 6.
You can find out how to apply the experimentally determined values in this technical article.
You can now insert a cap plate in steel joints with only a few clicks. You can enter the data using the known definition types "Offsets" or "Dimensions and Position". By specifying a reference member and the cutting plane, it is also possible to omit the Member Section component.
This component allows you to easily model cap plates on column ends, for example.
The modal relevance factor (MRF) can help you to assess to which extent specific elements participate in a specific mode shape. The calculation is based on the relative elastic deformation energy of each individual member.
The MRF can be used to distinguish between local and global mode shapes. If multiple individual members show significant MRF (for example, > 20%), the instability of the entire structure or a substructure is very likely. On the other hand, if the sum of all MRFs for an eigenmode is around 100%, a local stability phenomenon (for example, buckling of a single bar) can be expected.
Furthermore, the MRF can be used to determine critical loads and equivalent buckling lengths of certain members (for example, for stability design). Mode shapes for which a specific member has small MRF values (for example, < 20%) can be neglected in this context.
The MRF is displayed by mode shape in the result table under Stability Analysis → Results by Members → Effective Lengths and Critical Loads.
The combination wizard provides you with the option to consider more than one initial state. RFEM and RSTAB allow you to specify different initial states (prestress, form-finding, strain, and so on) for the target combinations in the combinatorics.
You can thus, for example, generate load states on the basis of a form-finding analysis with varying imperfections.
Within the "Plastic capacity design | Simplex Method" in RSECTION, the simultaneous variation of shear stresses over the cross-sectional area is performed in addition to the variation of axial stresses. This extended form of analysis allows you to use redistribution reserves, especially for the cross-sections subjected to shear loading, thus loading the cross-sections even more efficiently.
The "Spring" member type is used to simulate linear and nonlinear spring properties via a linear object. This input function helps you to model the stiffness specifications in the force/displacement unit.
It is necessary to enter the required force-time diagrams. They can be combined in load cases or load combinations of the type Time History Analysis | Time Diagrams with the loading in order to define where and in which direction the force-time diagrams act.
The second option is to enter acceleration-time diagrams, which can be used in the load cases of the Time History Analysis | Accelerogram type.
All calculation parameters are specified in the time history analysis settings. These include, for example, the type of analysis method and the maximum calculation time.
The model and loads are entered as usual in the RFEM interface.
You can start the cloud calculation by selecting an entry in the Calculate menu. Then, select the virtual machine suitable for the task and start the calculation.
After the start, the image is used to create a virtual machine on which the computing server is started. This takes over the calculation of your file.
You can monitor the processing of calculation tasks in the Extranet.
After completing the calculation, you will receive an email with a link to download the calculated file. Large files are compressed into a ZIP archive. Smaller files can be downloaded directly.
As an alternative, there is a link to the calculated file in the Extranet.
The downloaded file is a common RFEM file and can be used for further processing as usual.
With the Concrete Design add-on, you can perform the fatigue design of members and surfaces according to EN 1992‑1‑1, Chapter 6.8.
For the fatigue design, you can optionally select two methods or design levels in the design configurations:
Design Level 1: Simplified design according to 6.8.6 and 6.8.7(2): The simplified design is performed for frequent action combinations according to EN 1992‑1‑1, Chapter 6.8.6 (2), and EN 1990, Eq. (6.15b) with the traffic loads relevant in the serviceability state. A maximum stress range according to 6.8.6 is designed for the reinforcing steel. The concrete compressive stress is determined by means of the upper and lower allowable stress according to 6.8.7(2).
Design Level 2: Design of damage equivalent stress acc. to 6.8.5 and 6.8.7(1) (simplified fatigue design): The design using damage equivalent stress ranges is performed for the fatigue combination according to EN 1992‑1‑1, Chapter 6.8.3, Eq. (6.69) with the specifically defined cyclic action Qfat.
The Concrete Design add-on allows you to perform the seismic design of reinforced concrete members according to EC 8. This includes, among other things, the following functionalities:
Seismic design configurations
Differentiation of the ductility classes DCL, DCM, DCH
Option to transfer the behavior factor from a dynamic analysis
Check of the limit value for the behavior factor
Capacity design checks of "Strong column - weak beam"
Detailing and particular rules for curvature ductility factor
Detailing and particular rules for local ductility
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:
In the Steel Joints add-on, you have this option to consider the preloaded bolts in the calculation of all components.
You can easily activate the prestress using the check box in the bolt parameters, and it has an impact on the stress-strain analysis as well as the stiffness analysis.
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.
You can display the RWIND results directly in the main program. In the Navigator - Results, select the Wind Simulation Analysis result type from the list above.
Currently, the following results are available, which refer to the RWIND computational mesh:
In the Member Editor component, you can also select the entire member as the modifying object instead of the individual member plates. This way, you can apply both operations "Notch" and "Chamfer" to several member plates.
Use the "Import Support Reactions" Load Wizard in RFEM 6 and RSTAB 9 to easily transfer reaction forces from other models. The wizard allows you to connect all or several nodal and line loads of different models with each other in a few steps.
The load transfer from load cases and load combinations can be carried out automatically or manually. It's necessary that the models are saved in the same Dlubal Center project.
The "Import Support Reactions" load wizard supports the concept of positional statics and allows you to digitally connect the individual positions.
Using the "Load Transfer Only" story type, you can consider slabs without stiffness effect in and out of the plane in the Building Model add-on. This element type collects the loads on the slab and transfers them to the supporting elements of a 3D model. Thus, you can simulate secondary components, such as grillage and similar load distribution elements, without any further effect in the 3D model.
When designing connections, you can now also insert a new member as a component directly in the Steel Joints add-on. This will only be considered for the connection design. You can use the Weld and Fasteners components to connect to other members.
Furthermore, it is possible to use the Member Section and Member Editor components and arrange reinforcement elements on the inserted member, such as stiffeners and tapers.
Lines can be imported into RFEM either as lines or members. The names of layers are adopted as the cross-section names, and the first material from the predefined materials is assigned. However, if the section of the Dlubal cross-section library and the material are recognized from the layer name, they are adopted as well.