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2025-02-21

Design of Glass Railing in RFEM 6

In this webinar, we show you the design of a glass railing in RFEM 6.
Illustration of a glass railing design modeled in RFEM 6 with scheduled event details.
Design of Glass Railing in RFEM 6
2025-03-27
2:00 PM - 3:00 PM CET
English
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Free
EN-US | Flag Product Feature
RFEM 6 | FEA Software

Free Webinar

After the event, you can find the models presented in the webinar below, under Models to Download. This allows you to independently follow the webinar step by step.

Furthermore, each participant will receive a certificate with the name specified during the registration.

Time Schedule
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Introduction
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Modeling and calculation of the system
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Investigation of variants
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Design and documentation

Notes

During the presentation, you can ask individual questions.

A computer with internet access is required as well as a loudspeaker, headphones, headset or any other listening device. Alternatively, you can dial in using a phone line for audio connection.

Take advantage of this free webinar and sign up today! The number of participants is limited. After your registration is complete, you will receive a confirmation email, including the information on how to join the webinar.

Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Ulrich Lex

Product Engineering & Customer Support

Mr. Lex is responsible for developing products for glass structures and for quality assurance of the RFEM program. He also provides technical support for our customers.

Dipl.-Ing. (FH) Andreas Hörold

Marketing & Public Relations

Mr. Hörold takes care of the Dlubal Software website, moderates the German and English webinars, and creates newsletters and marketing materials.

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Online
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Presentation Slides to Webinar "Design of Glass Railing in RFEM 6" (PDF)
1.12 MB
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Models to Download
Knowledge Base Articles
Options for FE Mesh Settings
When modeling and designing glass panes in RF-GLASS, you have two different options for the FE mesh settings.
Force Load Distribution of Individual Load Cases on Different Insulating Glass Layers
Designing vertical insulating glass requires assigning different loads on the individual layers of the entire glass unit. This occurs, for example, with simultaneous actions from wind loads and fall protection.
Saving User-Defined Layer Structures
To work even more efficiently, RF‑GLASS allows you to create and save different, user‑defined layer structures that can be reimported later or loaded in another project.
Calculation Option 2D/3D for Laminated Glass
For designing glass in the RF‑GLASS add‑on module, you can use one of two calculation methods: a 2D or a 3D calculation. The main difference between these design options is the automatic modeling of the layers in a temporary model. In a 2D calculation, each layer is generated as a surface element (plate theory); in a 3D calculation, it is generated as a solid. Depending on the selected layer composition, you can either select an option or find it preselected by the program.
Screenshots
Product Features
Detail Settings for Stresses

The global calculation assigns the stiffness determined by means of the selected composition and the glass geometry to each surface. Then, the calculation proceeds using the plate theory. It is possible to select whether the shear coupling of layers should be considered.

In the case of the local calculation, you can further specify 2D or 3D calculation. Two-dimensional calculation means that the single-layer or laminated glass is modeled as a surface, whose thickness is calculated on the basis of the selected structure and glass geometry (using the plate theory). Similarly to the global calculation, you can optionally consider shear coupling of layers.

The 3D calculation uses solids in the model to substitute each composition layer. This way, the results are more accurate, but the calculation may take more time.

It is possible to model insulating glass only if local calculation is selected. The gas layer is always modeled as a solid element, so it is necessary to design individual insulating glass parts independently of the surrounding structure. The ideal gas law (thermal equation of state of ideal gases) is considered for the calculation and the third-order analysis.

1.1 General Data

In the add-on module, select the surfaces to be designed (for example, by using the Select function). The geometry of the glass pane, as well as the loads, is imported from the RFEM model.

Then, you have to decide if the calculation should be performed without the influence of the surrounding structure (local calculation) or with consideration of this influence (global calculation). If you select the local calculation, each surface selected for the design is detached from the model and calculated separately.

The global calculation considers the entire structure, including entered glass panes. All glass composition data and glass properties of individual layers are to be defined in RF-GLASS input windows. You can select layers of type glass, foil, and gas. The desired material can be imported directly from the library, which contains a large number of materials.

All parameters of individual layers, including their thicknesses, are editable. In addition, you can create a number of compositions in RF-GLASS, allowing you to design different types of glass together.

For insulating glass, you can consider external loads as well as loads due to temperature, atmospheric pressure, and altitude changes for the analysis. The module calculates these loads automatically on the basis of climatic load parameters. If you select the local calculation type, it is necessary to define line supports, nodal supports, and boundary members of the surfaces in RF-GLASS. These supports and members are considered in RF-GLASS only and have no influence on the model created in RFEM.

Results in RFEM Graphic - Stresses

After the calculation, the results are displayed in clearly arranged result windows. Thus, you can easily find the maximum stress ratio. The stress diagram by composition is displayed as well.

Furthermore, RF-GLASS displays a parts list and, for insulating glass, the gas pressure. It is possible to display the results graphically in the RFEM model.

Both input and result tables of RF-GLASS, including graphics, can be added to the RFEM printout report. In addition, it is possible to export all tables to MS Excel.

RF-GLASS Add-on Module for RFEM | Analysis and Design of Glass Surfaces
  • Design of single-layer or laminated glass as well as gas layer insulating glass
  • design of curved glass
  • Option to select either local calculation without regard to the influence of a surrounding structure, or global calculation with regard to the influence of an entire structure
  • Calculation of limit stresses according to DIN 18008:2010-12 or TRLV:2006-08
  • Assignment of loads to load duration classes
  • Extensive material library including all common glass, foil, and gas types in compliance with the DIN 18008:2010-12, E DIN EN 13474 standards, and the TRLV:2006-08 regulation
  • Optional consideration of shear coupling of layers
  • Consideration of climatic loads
  • Calculation according to the linear static analysis or nonlinear analysis according to the large deformation analysis. analysis
  • Stress analysis, ultimate limit state design, serviceability limit state design
  • Graphical representation of all results in RFEM
  • Possibility to filter results and color scales in result tables
  • Direct data export to MS Excel
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why does the load wizard "Member Load from Area Load" give unnecessary concentrated loads?
I want to create a mapped mesh for a circular hole plate. Is it possible to generate such a meshing in RFEM?
Is it possible to design a spherically curved glass pane in RF‑GLASS?
Is it possible to analyze panes of insulated glass without climatic load for check purposes?
Which stresses are most important for glass design consideration when using RF-GLASS?
Where can I find the details of a layer composition in the RF‑GLASS add-on module?
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