RFEM 5 Add-on Modules – Others

The RF-DEFORM add-on module allows you to perform deformation analysis of single members or entire sets of members, and to individually define the allowable limit deformations, referring to the undeformed structure or shifted member ends.

The add-on module allows you to perform deflection analysis of members and sets of members, to select the elements to be designed, to relate limit deformations to member directions, to include lengths or deformation values, to perform a deformation analysis for extreme values from actions, and to select units.

The RF-MOVE add-on module generates load cases from different positions of moving loads, such as cranes or vehicles on bridges. It is also possible to create an enveloping result combination when generating loads.

Input data is limited to only two input windows. Together with the quick generation of load cases in RFEM 5, this can save you a lot of time.

The RF-MOVE Surfaces add-on module for RFEM 5 generates load cases from different positions of moving loads, such as vehicles on bridges. Furthermore, you can generate an enveloping result combination.

Input data is limited to four input windows. Together with the quick generation of load cases in RFEM 5, this can save you a lot of time.

The RF-IMP add-on module is used to automatically generate imperfections for geometrically nonlinear calculations.

During the calculation according to the second-order or large deformation analysis in RFEM 5, including stability, can be performed. This applies not only to frame and truss structures, but also to models with shell and solid elements.

RF-STABILITY performs stability analyses in RFEM 5 and determines critical load factors and the corresponding stability modes for models with member, shell, and solid elements. Iis is possible to import axial forces from load cases or load combinations, and the nonlinear stability analysis is also supported.

The add-on module specializes in stability analysis using the eigenvalue method. It allows you to calculate models with member, shell, and solid elements, and to perform nonlinear stability analysis. The add-on module provides four equation solvers for efficient calculations of various models and the option to consider stiffness modifications of RFEM 5.

The RF-SOILIN add-on module allows you to determine the elastic foundations by means of the soil layers. It provides an extensible library of soil properties and considers several soil samples at different locations inside and outside the building. Furthermore, it takes into account ground water levels and effects of excavations and a solid bottom soil layer.

The results include the determination and graphical display of stress diagrams and settlements.

RF-INFLUENCE is an add-on module for RFEM 5 that generates influence lines and surfaces due to a fixed internal force, such as axial force, shear force, or bending moment.

Influence lines and surfaces express graphically how a unit load affects the section reactions at all possible load locations of the model.

The RF-MAT NL add-on module allows you to consider nonlinear material behavior in RFEM 5.

You can couple surfaces with the stiffness types “Membrane” and “Membrane-Orthotropic” with the material models “Isotropic Nonlinear Elastic 2D/3D” and “Isotropic Plastic 2D/3D” (add-on module RF-MAT-NL required). This functionality allows you to simulate the nonlinear strain behavior of, for example, ETFE films.

RF-STAGES is an add-on module that allows you to analyze member, surface, and solid structures considering the construction process.

Neglecting the influence of the construction process can lead to errors in the calculation of overall models. With RF-STAGES, you can analyze the influences and consider them right up to the structural design.

The RF-LAMINATE add-on module allows you to perform stress and deflection analysis of laminate surfaces. The calculation can consider shear coupling and is carried out according to the laminate theory.

A local overall stiffness matrix of each surface is created from a user-defined layer structure. The module is suitable, for example, for the design of cross-laminated timber elements and fiber-reinforced plastic.

RF‑LOAD‑HISTORY is an add-on module for RFEM 5 that considers the permanent (plastic) deformation of previous load situations. The calculation is performed for structural models consisting of surfaces or solids. The calculations in RF-LOAD-HISTORY require the RF-MAT NL add-on module.

The add-on module is designed for the determination of foundation parameters based on soil data. It allows for a realistic representation of the interaction between a building and soil, with an extensible library of soil properties. The module supports the consideration of several soil samples (probes) at different locations and the calculation of elastic foundation coefficients. The results include the determination and graphical display of stress diagrams and settlements.

RF-COM is a programmable interface (API) based on the COM technology. This interface allows you to customize RFEM 5 to your requirements and supplement it with the customized input macros or postprocessing programs.

This add-on module provides read and write access to various types of data, allows for the external control of calculations, and is compatible with common programming languages, such as Visual Basic and C++.

The RF-LINK add-on module extends the file formats for the import into RFEM, including Standard Acis Text Format (.sat), Initial Graphics Exchange Specification (.igs, .iges), and Standard for the Exchange of Product Model Data (.stp, *.step). These formats allow you to import model geometries in the form of boundary lines, surfaces, and simple solids. You can also import the models as RFEM objects or background layers in order to set the points manually. The quality of the model depends on the exporting application, and the import is only carried out by using the files.

CADS Footfall Analysis is a post-processing software that can be used in conjunction with RFEM 5 to perform footfall response analysis calculations. Footfall response is of interest to users concerned about the vibration induced in their structures due to walking-related activities. As advances in structural design result in more efficient and lighter irregular structures, the sensitivity of the structures to vibration is becoming increasingly significant.