RFEM 5 Add-on Modules - Steel and Aluminum Structures

RF‑STEEL performs a general stress analysis by calculating the existing stresses and comparing them with the limit stresses.

The maximum stresses of surfaces. The add-on module also includes automatic cross-section and thickness optimization, as well as the option to transfer the optimized cross-sections to RFEM 5.

The add-on module performs all typical structural safety, stability, deformation, and fire resistance design checks of steel members according to Eurocode 3. It integrates the materials, cross-sections, and internal forces from RFEM 5, and allows for steel design of thin-walled cross-sections, including the automatic classification of the sections and the calculation of the elastic critical moments for lateral-torsional buckling. Furthermore, it is also possible to define specific National Annexes with user-defined limit values and parameters.

The RF-STEEL Warping Torsion add-on module is specially designed for lateral-torsional buckling analysis according to the second-order analysis with seven degrees of freedom. It is fully integrated in the RF-STEEL EC3 and RF-STEEL AISC add-on modules and allows for nonlinear design considering imperfections as well as a visualization of buckling mode shapes, including warping.

You can enter the data in the same way as in the case of usual design, but need to activate the warping torsion analysis. The torsion design can be performed for entire sets of members, taking into account boundary conditions. The design results are displayed in result tables as usual, including the critical warping and torsional values, internal forces, and design summary.

RF-STEEL Plasticity is an add-on module for the RFEM 5 software that allows for plastic design of cross-sections according to various design concepts. It is fully integrated in the RF-STEEL EC3 add-on module and allows for design of cross-sections subjected to tension, compression, bending, torsion, shear, and combined internal forces.

The design takes into account the second-order effects and is designed for the use with the RF-STEEL Warping Torsion module extension. For plastic design checks, the internal forces of a cross-section are converted to a local coordinate system and the limit internal forces are determined. The design ratio of the cross-section is determined using a SHAPE-THIN calculation and an analytical nonlinear optimization procedure. The results of the plastic design are displayed in RF-STEEL EC3, including internal forces and cross-section classes.

RF-STEEL Cold-Formed Sections is an add-on module for the design of cold-formed steel members according to the Eurocode standards. This add-on module is an extension of RF‑STEEL EC3 and provides special functions for the design of cold-formed sections, such as L-sections, Z-sections, C-sections, channels, hat sections, and CL-sections.

It allows you to determine the effective cross-section considering the local buckling and the distortional buckling. Furthermore, the module provides design checks for the cross-section, stability, and serviceability limit state, as well as for the local transverse forces in the case of webs without stiffening.

The RF-STEEL AISC add-on module performs the ultimate and the serviceability limit state design checks of steel structures according to the standards ANSI/AISC 360. You can select the design method LRFD or ASD, and also have the option to define individual load cases and combinations.

The module provides automatic cross-section classification and optimized calculation methods for buckling and lateral-torsional buckling moments. The results are detailed and can be analyzed by extensive filtering and sorting options, while all module data is seamlessly integrated into the RFEM 5 printout report.

The RFEM 5 add-on module RF-STEEL SIA was specially developed for the design of steel members according to the Swiss SIA standards. The RF-STEEL SIA add-on module allows for the design of members and sets of members, taking into account compression, bending, shear, and combined actions.

It provides stability design checks for buckling and lateral-torsional buckling, whereby the critical buckling loads and lateral-torsional buckling moments are determined automatically via an integrated FEA program. The cross-section classification is performed automatically and the design of deformations is also supported. Furthermore, the module provides comprehensive result documentation and various filtering and sorting options for the results.

The RF-STEEL IS add-on module was developed for the design of steel members according to the Indian standard. The module allows for the ultimate and the serviceability limit state design of members and sets of members.

The features include design of tension, compression, bending, shear, and combined internal forces, a stability analysis of flexural buckling and lateral-torsional buckling, an automatic determination of critical buckling loads and critical buckling moments, as well as the cross-section optimization. The module also provides you with a wide range of available cross-sections and comprehensive result documentation, including various filtering and sorting options.

The RF-STEEL BS add-on module performs the ultimate and the serviceability limit state design of members and sets of members according to the British standard (Eurocode 3 with the British Annex).

The add-on module allows for design of members and sets of members, taking into account the tension, compression, bending, shear, and combined internal forces. It covers stability analyses of flexural and lateral-torsional buckling, an automatic determination of critical buckling loads and lateral-torsional buckling moments, as well as the cross-section optimization. A wide range of available cross-sections and comprehensive result documentation completes the offer.

RF-STEEL GB performs all required ultimate and serviceability limit state design checks of members according to the Chinese standard.

The add-on module allows for design of members and sets of members, taking into account the tension, compression, bending, shear, and combined internal forces. It covers stability analyses of flexural and lateral-torsional buckling, an automatic determination of critical buckling loads and overall stavility factors for lateral-torsional buckling, as well as the cross-section optimization.

The RF-STEEL CSA add-on module allows for a comprehensive design of steel members according to the Canadian standard CSA. The features cover the design of tension, compression, bending, shear, and torsion, as well as the stability analysis of buckling and lateral-torsional buckling.

The module allows for automatic determination of critical buckling loads and moments using a special FEA program, and also provides an automatic cross-section classification. The results provide you with detailed information on the utilization ratios and the design checks by load case, which can be easily integrated into the RFEM printout reports.

The RF-STEEL AS add-on module for RFEM 5 is a powerful tool for structural analysis and design of steel structures according to various international standards. This software extension allows engineers and designers to perform fast and reliable analysis of steel components and connections, optimizing the design process and ensuring the safety of steel structures. RF-STEEL AS allows engineers to efficiently design steel structures in compliance with the current codes and standards.

The RF-STEEL NTC-DF add-on module was developed for the design of steel members according to the Mexican standard NTC‑RCDF (2004). This module provides comprehensive functions to design members and sets of members for tension, compression, bending, shear, torsion, and combined internal forces.

It covers stability analyses of buckling, torsional buckling, and lateral-torsional buckling, including an automatic determination of critical buckling loads and critical buckling moments. Furthermore, the add-on module provides you with the options for a cross-section optimization and a wide range of available cross-sections, as well as a comprehensive result documentation.

The RF-STEEL SP add-on module for RFEM 5 is a complementary module for the RFEM 5 software, developed for the structural analysis and design of steel structures according to the Russian standard. The add-on module allows for design of members and sets of members, taking into account the tension, compression, bending, shear, and combined internal forces.

It provides you with stability analyses of flexural buckling and lateral-torsional buckling, including automatic determination of stability factors according to the Annexes E, F, and G of the standard. Furthermore, the add-on module includes the options for a cross-section optimization and a wide range of available cross-sections, as well as a comprehensive result documentation.

The RF-STEEL SANS add-on module performs the ultimate and serviceability limit state design checks of members according to the South African standard. The add-on module provides comprehensive functions to design members and sets of members for tension, compression, bending, shear, torsion, and combined internal forces.

It covers stability analyses of buckling, torsional buckling, and lateral-torsional buckling, including an automatic determination of critical buckling loads and critical buckling moments. Furthermore, the add-on module provides you with the options for a cross-section optimization and a wide range of available cross-sections, as well as a comprehensive result documentation.

RF-STEEL NBR is an add-on module for RFEM 5 that allows for the design and analysis of steel structures according to the Brazilian standards (NBR). This module provides advanced features for the design and analysis of steel structures to ensure they comply with the specific requirements of the NBR standards.

The RF‑STEEL HK add‑on module performs the ultimate and the serviceability limit state design of steel members according to the Code of Practice for the Structural Use of Steel 2011 (Buildings Department – Hong Kong). It provides you with comprehensive support for design checks according to current steel construction standards and facilitates the design and analysis of steel structures in RFEM 5.

The add-on module allows for the design of tension, compression, bending, shear, and combined internal forces, and provides an option to perform a stability analysis of flexural and lateral-torsional buckling. It also includes automatic cross-section classification and optimization, detailed result tables, and comprehensive result documentation.

The RF-STEEL Fatigue Members add-on module allows you to perform fatigue designs according to EN 1993‑1‑9 for steel members and sets of members. The fatigue design checks according to EN 1993‑1‑9 are based on the nominal stress concept. The internal forces are determined according to the structural analysis for members. The stresses are calculated according to the mechanics of materials at the location where the crack formation is expected. This means that in the fatigue design, the nominal stress ranges Δσ and Δτ are compared to the design values of the fatigue strength ΔσR and ΔτR due to the actions.

The RF-ALUMINUM add-on module for RFEM 5 allows for the design of aluminum members and sets of members according to Eurocode 9. It covers a wide range of design situations, including tension, compression, bending, shear, and combined internal forces. The module provides advanced features, such as stability analyses of flexural buckling, torsional buckling, and lateral-torsional buckling, an automatic determination of critical buckling loads and flexural-torsional buckling moments, as well as various cross-section options.

RF‑ALUMINUM is integrated seamlessly into RFEM 5, which allows for efficient workflow. It also includes comprehensive result documentation, which allows you to follow the design checks in detail.

The RF-ALUMINUM ADM add-on module for RFEM 5 is an extension of the software RFEM 5 specialized for structural aluminum design. It allows engineers to perform detailed analysis and design of aluminum structures.

It performs the ultimate and serviceability limit state design checks, and provides various features, such as the design of tension, compression, bending, shear, torsion, and combined internal forces. The module covers stability analyses, an automatic determination of the effective radius of gyration, the cross-section optimization options, a comprehensive selection of cross-sections, and a detailed result documentation. It supports both metric and imperial units.

The add-on module for RFEM 5 is also a stand-alone program that allows for structural analysis and design, utilizing the RF‑PLATE‑BUCKLING design module. It covers comprehensive analysis options and advanced features for buckling design of structural components. This add-on module is a powerful extension of the RFEM software platform and provides engineers with an efficient solution for sophisticated structural analysis.

The RF-FE-LTB add-on module allows you to extract planar RFEM 5 substructures and calculate them according to the torsional second-order analysis while considering warping. The geometry, support, and load data are automatically transferred to an RF‑FE‑LTB model. After the calculation, the deformations, internal forces, support forces, and stresses are displayed. Since warping torsion is used in the calculation, the bimoment curve and the primary and secondary torsion curves are also obtained.