- Determination of principal and basic stresses, membrane and shear stresses, as well as equivalent stresses and equivalent membrane stresses
- 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)
- Optional optimization of surface thicknesses and data transfer to RFEM
- Serviceability limit state design by checking surface displacements
- Detailed results of individual stress components and ratios in tables and graphics
- Filter function for surfaces, lines, and nodes in tables
- Transversal shear stresses according to Mindlin, Kirchhoff, or user-defined specifications
- Parts list of designed surfaces
Features of RF-STEEL Surfaces (Available in RFEM Only)
Do you have any questions?
![Modification of Limit Stresses](/en/webimage/010272/3042474/01-en.png?mw=512&hash=65e98cfe859ce35a3e3e9da47a0ef9335401520e)
The limit stresses in RF‑/STEEL can be user-defined for each thickness range.
![Deformations as First Result of FEM Calculation](/en/webimage/008929/581233/KB_1571-01-en.png?mw=512&hash=ac2c4fcf777d6d1e5dd5800b86624ba6fd1a1005)
The deformations of the FE nodes are always the first result of an FE calculation. It is possible to calculate strains, internal forces, and stresses based on these deformations and the stiffness of the elements.
![KB 001883 | Plate Girder Design According to AISC 360-22 in RFEM 6](/en/webimage/051561/3980997/im1.png?mw=512&hash=b8237709c4f30213fac51d86d32a42bddde72f03)
Plate girder is an economical choice for long spans construction. I-section steel plate girder typically has a deep web to maximize its shear capacity and flange separation, yet thin web to minimize the self-weight. Due to its large height-to-thickness (h/tw) ratio, transverse stiffeners may be required to stiffen the slender web.
![Steel Connection Rigidity and Its Influence on Structural Design](/en/webimage/051432/3972404/Rigidity-caseA.png?mw=512&hash=3be64e68ab2956fd2b92f0afa1559b3a8c72b468)
Understanding steel connection rigidity is crucial in structural design. Often, connections are treated as strictly pinned or rigid, but this can lead to uneconomical or even dangerous designs. Explore how Dlubal Software's RFEM and Steel Joints add-on help verify connection stiffness and moment resistance, ensuring safer and more economical designs.
![RF-/STEEL SP Add-on Module for RFEM/RSTAB| Design of Steel Members According to SP 16.13330.2011](/en/webimage/002913/2988234/Gerüst_2.png?mw=512&hash=8b3ea506aca68f2abb08d962d9e28e65ff5ac36f)
- General stress analysis
- Automatic import of internal forces from RFEM/RSTAB
- Complete graphical and numerical results of stresses and stress ratios integrated in RFEM/RSTAB
- Wide range of customization options for graphical output
- Flexible design in multiple design cases
- Clearly arranged result tables for a quick overview after the design
- High productivity due to the minimal amount of input data required
- Flexibility due to detailed setting options for basis and extent of calculations
![Possibility to Optimize Cross-Sections](/en/webimage/007088/1591201/000155-en-png-png.png?mw=512&hash=918996a885a71c92b630671b056292f2d5480502)
- Cross-section optimization
- Transfer of optimized sections to RFEM/RSTAB
- Design of any thin-walled cross-section from SHAPE-THIN
- Representation of a stress diagram on a section
- Determination of normal, shear, and equivalent stresses
- Stress results of individual internal forces types
- Detailed representation of stresses in all stress points
- Determination of the largest Δσ for each stress point (for example, for fatigue design)
- Colored display of stresses and design ratios for a quick overview of the critical or oversized zones
- Parts lists and quantity surveying
![Colored Results in RFEM Graphic - Surfaces](/en/webimage/007089/1591233/000156-en-png-png.png?mw=512&hash=2401371e9397b2242b22be5aba8fa5423ad5d339)
- Determination of principal and basic stresses, membrane and shear stresses, as well as equivalent stresses and equivalent membrane stresses
- 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)
- Optional optimization of surface thicknesses and data transfer to RFEM
- Serviceability limit state design by checking surface displacements
- Detailed results of individual stress components and ratios in tables and graphics
- Filter function for surfaces, lines, and nodes in tables
- Transversal shear stresses according to Mindlin, Kirchhoff, or user-defined specifications
- Parts list of designed surfaces
![Material Database](/en/webimage/007090/1591265/000157-en-png-png.png?mw=512&hash=e3e1c353ffc64ac8039032abf21ee94575213a70)
In order to facilitate the data input, surfaces, members, sets of members, materials, surface thicknesses, and cross-sections are preset. It is possible to select the elements graphically using the [Select] function. The program provides access to the global material and cross-section libraries.
Load cases, load combinations, and result combinations can be combined in various design cases.
The combination of surface and member elements and separate designs allows you to model and analyze only critical parts, such as frame joints, using surface elements. The other parts of the model can be designed using member analyses.
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