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2025-02-12

Shear Flow Loading

Shear flow of a timber panel wall

sv,0,d = FL = 12 kN2.56 m = 4.69 kN/m
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Knowledge Base Articles
Format Conversion Factor, KF, when Designing per 2018 NDS and LRFD in RF-LAMINATE
The American Wood Council (AWC) has released the 2018 Edition of the National Design Specification (NDS) for Wood Construction. This is the second edition of the NDS to contain a chapter dedicated to cross-laminated timber (CLT) design. Therefore, a couple of revisions were included in the 2018 NDS when compared to the previous 2015 Edition.
Cross-Laminated Timber Wall with Openings Subjected to Wall Stress
Basically, you can design the structural components made of cross-laminated timber in the RF-LAMINATE add-on module. Since the design is a pure elastic stress analysis, it is necessary to additionally consider the stability issues (flexural buckling and lateral-torsional buckling).
Local Effects with Regard to Load Introduction
As an alternative to the equivalent member method, this article describes the possibility to determine the internal forces of a wall at risk of buckling according to the second-order analysis, taking imperfections into account, and to subsequently perform the cross-section design for bending and compression.
Visualization of the shear flow result diagram and acting forces on a timber panel wall
In this article, the design of a timber panel wall with the beam panel thickness type is performed.
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Product Features
Torsional stress at the intersection points of a cross -laminated timber plate in RFEM

In the RF-LAMINATE add-on module for RFEM, the design of torsional shear stresses in the superposition of net and gross cross-section values is possible. The design is performed separately in the x- and y-directions. The loads on the intersection points of cross-laminated timber panels are checked.

2.1 Max Stress Ratio by Loading
  • General stress analysis
  • Graphical and numerical results of stresses and stress ratios fully integrated in RFEM
  • Flexible design with different layer compositions
  • High efficiency due to few entries required
  • Flexibility due to detailed setting options for basis and extent of calculations
  • A local overall stiffness matrix of the surface in RFEM is generated on the basis of the selected material model and the layers contained. The following material models are available:
    • Orthotropic
    • Isotropic
    • User-defined
    • Hybrid (for combinations of material models)
  • Option to save frequently used layer structures in a database
  • Determination of basic, shear, and equivalent stresses
  • In addition to the basic stresses, the required stresses according to DIN EN 1995-1-1 and the interaction of those stresses are available as results.
  • Stress analysis for structural surfaces including simple or complex shapes
  • Equivalent stresses calculated according to different approaches:
    • Shape modification hypothesis (von Mises)
    • Shear stress hypothesis (Tresca)
    • Normal stress hypothesis (Rankine)
    • Principal strain hypothesis (Bach)
  • Calculation of transversal shear stresses according to Mindlin or Kirchhoff, or user-defined specifications
  • Serviceability limit state design by checking surface displacements
  • User-defined specifications of limit deflections
  • Possibility to consider layer coupling
  • Detailed results of individual stress components and ratios in tables and graphics
  • Results of stresses for each layer in the model
  • Parts list of designed surfaces
  • Possible coupling of layers entirely without shear
The image shows the hierarchical control between load transfer surfaces and floor slabs in RFEM 6.

In RFEM 6, there is an option of a hierarchical control between the load transfer surfaces and floors in Building Model. This also allows you to create walls made of load transfer surfaces in order to consider curtain walls in the facade, for example.

Feature 002901 | Plywood Materials According to ANSI/APA PRG 510 Plywood Standard (USA/CAN) in RFEM Material Library

In the material library of RFEM, you can find plywood materials according to the US and Canadian standards ANSI/APA PRG 510 Plywood (USA/CAN).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How would you best model hold down elements within panels?
Why is the shear stiffness reduced to 10% in the RF-LAMINATE add-on module as well as for the orthotropic material model in RFEM for the shear modulus Gyz? I think the shear stiffness in the shear plane Gxy would have to be reduced here?
Is it possible to perform a detailed analysis of connections, supports, or reinforcements of cross‑laminated timber plates in RF‑LAMINATE?

How can I determine the sufficient total simulation time for an accurate transient wind analysis in RWIND?

Do I need to add a line hinge/line release for the CLT wall-to-floor connection in the Building Model add-on?
How can I add counteracting dead loads (0.9*D) in NBC load combinations?
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