Main Program RFEM or RSTAB
Recommended Add-on Products for Timber Structures
Multilayer Surfaces such as CLT and Timber Frame Walls
The "Multilayer Surfaces" add-on for RFEM 6 optimizes the modeling and analysis of multilayer timber structures, ideal for cross-laminated timber and timber stud walls. It effectively supports the structural analysis of prefabricated timber panels.
Hybrid Timber Construction with Complementary Materials
The "Building Model" add-on simplifies the modeling and analysis of timber buildings. It speeds up the creation of building models and automatizes the load generation, ideal for demanding structural timber projects.
Construction Stages
The Construction Stages Analysis (CSA) add-on allows for considering the construction process of structures (member, surface, and solid structures) in RFEM.
Optimization of Model Parameters
The add-on uses particle swarm optimization (PSO) to determine optimal parameters for parameterized models based on weight, cost, or CO2 emissions.
Response Spectrum Analysis
The Response Spectrum Analysis add-on performs seismic analysis using multi-modal response spectrum analysis. The spectra required for this can be created in compliance with the standards or can be user-defined. The equivalent static forces are generated from them. The add-on includes an extensive library of accelerograms from seismic zones that can be used to generate the response spectra.
Support and Learning
We provide professional support and many services in order to help you with finding a quick and efficient solution for your projects.
Integrated Standards for Timber Design
Standards for Timber Design
Annexes for EN 1995-1-1
Technical Support | Sales Team
In RFEM, the oriented strand board (OSB) material is available for the USA and Canada. The material parameters are taken from the "Panel Design Specification manual".
Using the "Beam Panel" thickness type, you can model timber panel elements in 3D space. Simply specify the surface geometry and the timber panel elements are automatically generated using an internal member-surface construct, including the element connection stiffness. The Beam Panel thickness type is defined using the Multilayer Surfaces add-on.
A "beam panel" provides you with the following advantages:
- Single-sided or double-sided sheathing
- Automatic calculation of a semi-rigid coupling between studs and sheathing
- Nailed sheathing connection
- Stapled sheathing connection
- User-defined sheathing connection
- Representation as a complete geometric 3D object (frame, studs, surface, etc.), including eccentricity and automatically calculated stiffness between elements
- Consider openings via surface cells
- Design of the individual structural elements utilizing the Timber Design add-on (full shear wall design planned for a future release)
- Other material options available (e.g., particle board, gypsum, or fiberboard sheathing with cold-formed steel sections)
You have the option to perform the fire resistance design of surfaces using the reduced cross-section method. The reduction is applied over the surface thickness. It is possible to perform the design checks for all timber materials allowed for the design.
For cross-laminated timber, depending on the type of adhesive, you can select whether it is possible for individual carbonized layer parts to fall off, and whether you can expect increased charring in certain layer areas.
Among others, the following cross-laminated timber manufacturers are available in the layer structure library:
- Binderholz (USA)
- KLH (USA, CAN)
- Kalesnikoff (USA, CAN)
- Nordic Structures (USA, CAN)
- Mercer Mass Timber
- SmartLam
- Sterling Structural
- Superstructures listed in Lignatec Edition 32 "Cross-Laminated Timber of Swiss Production"
By importing a structure from the layer structure library, all relevant parameters are adopted automatically. The library is continually updated.