Online Manuals

The FEA software RFEM allows for the modeling and structural analysis of general plate, shell, and member structures. It is also possible to analyze combined structures, as well as solid elements and objects with contact properties.

This user manual describes the modeling, calculation, and result evaluation features related to the structural analysis.

The frame & truss analysis software RSTAB allows for the modeling and calculation of general frame, beam, and truss structures. The powerful computation kernel enables linear or nonlinear determination of internal forces, deformations, and support reactions.

This user manual describes the modeling, calculation, and result evaluation features related to the structural analysis.

RFEM dialog boxes are shown for images of dialog boxes that are identical to RFEM.

RFEM and RSTAB are powerful programs, helping structural engineers meet requirements in modern civil engineering. This short introduction will help you with the first steps and familiarize you with the most important functions of the software.

In this tutorial, we would like to inform you about the essential features of the RFEM program. The first part shows how to create the structural objects and loads, combine the loads, perform a structural analysis, check the results, and prepare the data for printing. Eurocodes with the CEN settings are used as standards.

In this tutorial, we would like to inform you about the essential features of the RFEM program. The first part shows how to create the structural objects and loads, combine the loads, perform a structural analysis, check the results, and prepare the data for printing. The US codes are used as standards.

The Stress-Strain Analysis add-on performs a general stress analysis by calculating the existing stresses and comparing them with the limit stresses. RFEM also determines the stress ranges. Furthermore, it is possible to determine strains for surfaces and solids.

During the stress analysis, the maximum stresses of solids, surfaces, and line welds (RFEM only), as well as of members are determined. The governing internal forces are also documented for each member and surface. Furthermore, there is the option of an automatic section or thickness optimization including the update of the sections or surface thicknesses modified in RFEM/RSTAB.

This manual describes the Stress-Strain Analysis add-on for the programs RFEM 6 and RSTAB 9.

The Concrete Design add-on allows you to design reinforced concrete members and surfaces according to various design standards. It is possible to perform the ultimate limit state and serviceability limit state design checks. The input and result evaluation are completely integrated in the user interface of the structural FEA software RFEM and the frame & truss analysis software RSTAB.

This manual describes the Concrete Design add-on for RFEM 6 and RSTAB 9. In RSTAB, you can only design members and member sets, not surfaces.

In this tutorial, we would like to inform you about the essential features of the RFEM program. In the first part, a model was defined and a structural analysis was carried out. The second part deals with the concrete design of the slabs, walls, beams, and the column according to EN 1992‑1‑1 with the CEN settings.

In this tutorial, we would like to inform you about the essential features of the RFEM program. In the first part, a model was defined and a structural analysis was carried out. Now, the second part deals with the concrete design of slabs, walls, beams, and the column. ACI 318-19 is used as a standard.

The Steel Design add-on allows you to design steel members according to various design standards. Cross-section resistance checks, stability analyses, and serviceability limit state design checks can also be performed. The input and result evaluation are completely integrated in the user interface of the structural FEA software RFEM and the frame & truss analysis software RSTAB.

This manual describes the Steel Design add-on for the RFEM 6 and RSTAB 9 programs.

In this tutorial, we would like to inform you about the essential features of the RFEM program. In the first part, a model was defined and a structural analysis was carried out. The concrete design was performed in the second part. Finally, the third part deals with the design of the steel members according to EN 1993‑1‑1 with the CEN settings.

In this tutorial, we would like to inform you about the essential features of the RFEM program. In the first part, a model was defined and a structural analysis was carried out. After performing the concrete design in the second part, the third part now deals with the design of steel members. AISC 360-22 is used as a standard.

The Timber Design add-on allows you to design timber members and surfaces according to various design standards. Cross-section resistance checks, stability analyses, and serviceability limit state design checks can also be performed. The input and result evaluation are completely integrated in the user interface of the structural FEA software RFEM and the frame & truss analysis software RSTAB.

This manual describes the Timber Design add-on for the RFEM 6 and RSTAB 9 programs.

The Masonry Design add-on activates special material models that have been developed for calculating masonry structures. This allows you to consider the masonry material in an FEM analysis.

In the calculation, internal forces and deformations are determined on the basis of stress-strain lines derived from the standardization. This means that the design is based on the standard.

This manual describes the Masonry Design add-on for the RFEM 6 program.

The Aluminum Design add-on allows you to design aluminum members according to various design standards. It is possible to perform cross-section resistance checks, stability analyses, and serviceability limit state design checks. The input and result evaluation are completely integrated in the user interface of the structural FEA software RFEM and the frame & truss analysis software RSTAB.

This manual describes the Aluminum Design add-on for the RFEM 6 and RSTAB 9 programs.

The Steel Joints add-on allows for the analysis of connections on the basis of an FE model. The design checks are carried out for various connection types for rolled and welded cross-sections. The input and result evaluation are completely integrated in the user interface of the structural FEA software RFEM.

This manual describes the Steel Joints add-on for RFEM 6.

In this tutorial, we would like to inform you about the essential features of the RFEM program. In the first part, a model was defined and a structural analysis carried out. Then the concrete and steel designs were performed in the following parts. This part now deals with the design of the steel connections according to EN 1993-1-8 with the CEN settings.

In this tutorial, we would like to inform you about the essential features of the RFEM program. In the first part, a model was defined and a structural analysis carried out. Then the concrete and steel designs were performed in the following parts. This part now deals with the design of the steel connections according to AISC 360-22.

The Concrete Foundations add-on allows you to design reinforced or unreinforced single foundations. The add-on has all relevant design checks, such as punching, ground failure, or sliding to ensure maximum safety and performance. The input and result evaluation are completely integrated in the user interface of the structural FEA software RFEM.

This manual describes the Concrete Foundations add-on for the RFEM 6 program. Parts of the manual are still in progress.

Dynamic analyses in RFEM 6 and RSTAB 9 can be performed in several add-ons.

• The Modal Analysis add-on is the basic add-on, performing natural vibration analyses for member, surface, and solid models. It is a prerequisite for all other dynamic add-ons.
• The Response Spectrum Analysis add-on allows you to perform a seismic analysis using the multi-modal response spectrum analysis.
• The Time History Analysis add-on allows for a dynamic structural analysis of external excitations that can be defined as a function of time.
• The Pushover Analysis add-on allows you to determine the maximum nonlinear response of a structure to seismic loads.
• The Harmonic Response Analysis add-on is still under development.

This manual describes the dynamic analysis add-ons for RFEM 6 and RSTAB 9.

In this tutorial, we would like to inform you about the essential features of the RFEM program. In the first part, a model was defined and a structural analysis carried out. Then the concrete and steel designs were performed out in the following parts. This part now guides you through the dynamic analysis of the model according to EN 1998-1 with the CEN settings.

In this tutorial, we would like to inform you about the essential features of the RFEM program. In the first part, a model was defined and a structural analysis carried out. Then the concrete and steel designs were performed out in the following parts. This part now guides you through the dynamic analysis of the model according to ASCE 7.

The Construction Stages Analysis (CSA) add-on allows you to represent the construction process of the model in the RFEM 6 program. In this way, you can add, remove, or adjust structural objects to the individual construction phases. Furthermore, you can use the add-on can to determine the sequence of the load application and the way the load cases are combined within the construction stages.

For some structures, long-term effects such as creep, shrinkage, and aging can influence the distribution of internal forces. This time-dependent material behavior can be analyzed with the Time-Dependent Analysis (TDA) add-on, which is available in the RFEM 6 program.

The influence of the time-dependent material behavior can be analyzed for both members and surfaces. Creep effects are only taken into account for the material concrete.

The Form-Finding add-on finds the optimal shape of members subjected to axial forces and tension-loaded surface models. The shape is determined by the equilibrium between the member axial force or the membrane stress and the existing boundary conditions.

The resulting new model shape with impressed force conditions is made available as a universally applicable initial state for further calculation of the entire structure.

The Torsional Warping (7 DOF) add-on allows you to consider the cross-section warping as an additional degree of freedom for a global calculation of members in RFEM and RSTAB. The input and result evaluation are completely integrated in the user interface of the structural FEA software RFEM and the frame & truss analysis software RSTAB.

This manual describes the Torsional Warping (7 DOF) add-on for the programs RFEM 6 and RSTAB 9.

The Building Model add-on allows you to define and manipulate a building by means of stories. The stories can be adjusted in many ways. Information about the stories and also the entire model (a center of gravity) is displayed in tables and graphics.

This manual describes the Building Model add-on for the RFEM 6 program.

The Geotechnical Analysis add-on allows for a finite element analysis of soil solids with the suitable material laws in RFEM 6. By integrating Geotechnical Analysis into the FEA software, the soil-structure interaction can be represented computationally completely in the overall model.

With the Geotechnical Analysis, it is possible to determine the stresses and deformations of a soil solid. The input and result evaluation are integrated in the user interface of the RFEM 6 program.

This manual describes the Geotechnical Analysis add-on for the RFEM 6 program.

The Multilayer Surfaces add-on allows you to define the layer structure of any material model. Another possible thickness type is the beam panel as a composite of members and surfaces. In the case of orthotropic materials, the individual layers can be rotated by an angle β, and thus it is possible to consider different stiffnesses by direction. The Multilayer Surfaces add-on is completely integrated in the user interface of the FEA program RFEM.

This manual describes the Multilayer Surfaces add-on for the RFEM 6 program.

The Optimization & Costs/CO₂ Emission Estimation add-on consists of two parts: On one hand, you can use it to determine an optimal parameter layout for parameterized models, based on the user-defined optimization criteria. For this purpose, the artificial intelligence technology (AI) of particle swarm optimization (PSO) is used. On the other hand, you have the option to estimate the costs and CO₂ emissions of a model by specifying the unit costs and emissions for the materials used in the model.

This manual describes the features of the add-on for the programs RFEM 6 and RSTAB 9. The explanations refer to RFEM, but also apply to RSTAB.