Sections

The Cross -Sections table as well as the navigator category 'Stress-Strain Analysis' lists all cross-sections available in the model with the corresponding materials. The specifications of the cross-section types are only informative.

Table 'Sections' for stress-strain analysis

Remove cross-sections from analysis

For all valid cross-sections, you can exclude all members from the stress-strain analysis by clearing the 'To Analyze' check box to which this material is assigned. Thus, the members are sorted in the tables Objects to be Analyzed - Stresses and Objects to be Analyzed - Stress Ranges in the column 'Not Valid/Deactivated' and removed from the analysis.

Use other section for analysis

If you want to use a different cross-section for the stress analysis than for the RFEM calculation, you can select an alternative in the 'Use Other Cross-Section for Analysis' column. The internal forces are not affected; in the case of a stress analysis, they are also applied to the modified cross‑section.

Use Other Section for Analysis

You can use the you can select another cross-section in the library.

If a different cross-section is assigned, further options are available in the cell shortcut menu (opens when you right-click):

• Use Optimized Section in Model
• Use all optimized cross-sections in the model
• Use Section from Model in Addon
• Use All Sections from Model in Addon

Optimizing Cross-Section

All standardized and parametrized cross-sections can be optimized within the current series. You can open the optimization via the list of the 'Use Other Cross-Section for Analysis' column (see the image Select Other Section for Analysis). During the optimization, RFEM determines the smallest possible cross-section in the series, whose utilization is lower than in the case of Global Settings dialog box.

For this "simplified cross-section optimization", the same conditions apply as for the use of an alternative cross-section described above: During optimization, the design checks are carried out with the internal forces of the model. The optimal variant is then entered into the table.

For a comprehensive model optimization, we recommend the add-on Optimization Costs/CO2 -Emission estimation.

Adjusting the cross-section

If you want to use a different cross-section for the stress analysis, you can use the list in the Using Other Section for Analysis To change the cross-section generally - thus also for the model - double-click the cross-section row in the table or click the opens the editing dialog box of the cross-section in the table toolbar. There, you can assign a different cross-section from the library.