3.6 Reinforcement

This module window consists of several tabs that manage the settings for the reinforcement. As the members to be designed often require different specifications, it is possible to define what are known as "reinforcement groups" in each design case (RF-CONCRETE Members case): Each reinforcement group contains the reinforcement's parameters that apply to particular members or sets of members.

Click the [New] button to create a new reinforcement group. The button is accessible if the All check box in the Applied to section is deactivated so that the members can be assigned clearly.

The number of the reinforcement group is defined automatically; it cannot be changed. A user-defined Description helps you to keep track of all reinforcement groups available in the current design case.

With the [Delete] button, you can remove the current reinforcement group from the design case without any further warning. As a result, members that were included in that reinforcement group will not be designed. To design them, they must be reassigned to a new or existing reinforcement group.

To select the desired reinforcement group, use the No. list, or click the entry in the navigator.

In this dialog section, you can specify the members and sets of members the parameters of the current reinforcement group apply to. All members and All sets of members are preset. If both check boxes are selected, you cannot create another reinforcement group because it is not possible to design a member using different rules (this is only possible by using "design cases", see Chapter 8.1). To use reinforcement groups, you have to clear the All check box.

In the input fields, enter the numbers of the members and sets of members the reinforcement parameters of the tabs below apply to. You can also use the button to select them graphically in the RFEM work window. Only numbers of members and sets of members that have not yet been assigned to other reinforcement groups can be entered into the fields.

Members contained in continuous members are automatically deactivated for the design.

The cross-section graphic shows how the data entered in the various tabs affects the cross-section. Changes in the reinforcement specifications are carried out dynamically.

The relevant cross-section can be set in the list above the graphic.

With the Design the provided reinforcement option, RF-CONCRETE Members takes the reinforcement specifications to calculate a rebar reinforcement. If you clear this check box, some input fields in the tabs of this module window will be locked. Then, RF-CONCRETE Members will determine only the required reinforcement areas.

If you have set the design for the serviceability limit state or for fire resistance in Window 1.1 General Data, it is not possible to prevent the calculation of the provided reinforcement: The SLS designs are based on an available bar reinforcement because crack widths, crack spacings, etc. can only be determined on the basis of rebar diameters and rebar spacings. The same applies to the design according to the nonlinear method.

Select the Use saved reinforcement results check box to apply a reinforcement stored in the user-defined library of reinforcement templates. Reinforcement templates can be defined and saved in module Window 3.1 (see Chapter 5.2.1). The check box will also be enabled.

The relevant reinforcement template can be selected in the list. Use the button to access the database of reinforcement templates where you can choose among the stored templates (see Figure 3.25).

User-defined reinforcement templates allow for keeping the reinforcing bars and using them for design even if the input data is changed.

The reinforcement stored in the reinforcement template is not dynamic, which means that the reinforcements' position and length are fixed and assigned to a particular member. If the original length of a member changes in RFEM, it is not adjusted in the reinforcement template.