Timber Panel Element

For the stability verification of members using the equivalent member method, it is necessary to define effective or lateral-torsional buckling lengths in order to determine a critical load for stability failure. In this article an RFEM 6-specific function is presented, by which you can assign an eccentricity to the nodal supports and thus influence the determination of the critical bending moment considered in the stability analysis.

Consideration of p-δ Second-Order Effects in RFEM 6 and RSTAB 9

A standard scenario in timber member construction is the ability to connect smaller members by means of bearing on a larger girder member. Additionally, member end conditions may include a similar situation where the beam is bearing on a support type. In either scenario, the beam must be designed to consider the bearing capacity perpendicular to the grain according to NDS 2018 Sec. 3.10.2 and CSA O86:19 Clauses 6.5.6 and 7.5.9. In general structural design software, it is typically not possible to carry out this full design check, as the bearing area is unknown. However, in the new generation RFEM 6 and Timber Design add-on, the added 'design supports' feature now allows users to comply with the NDS and CSA bearing perpendicular to the grain design checks.

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)

• Go to Explanatory Video

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.

Would you like to calculate curved beams (for example, made of glued-laminated timber)? For this purpose, you can use various section distributions for members:

• Curved
• Pitched cambered beam with constant height
• Pitched cambered beam with variable height
• Fish beam | Parabolic

• Go to Explanatory Video