We have enriched our software portfolio with one of the most powerful structural design and analysis software tools available on the market – Dlubal RFEM.
RFEM is a Finite element analysis (FEA) software for structural design and analysis of structures made of beams, plates, shells and solids. Its intuitive and user-friendly interface allows for easy and quick familiarisation with software features. RFEM offers using nonlinear analysis in our calculations. Material nonlinearity can be defined as an elastic-plastic behaviour, material orthotropy, or concrete in cracked state. Geometrically nonlinear analysis is also possible – second order theory (P-Δ and P-δ analysis), large deformation analysis and post-critical analysis. Furthermore, many nonlinearities related to the boundary conditions and members can be easily assigned – ineffectiveness of supports, partial activity, friction, plastic hinges, nonlinear contacts and many more. Among all other possibilities, calculation of tensile membrane and cable structures is also provided through form-finding module.
One of the biggest advantages of RFEM is its modular concept – depending on the needs, various add-on modules can be connected and combined with the RFEM. In this way, software can be accommodated to the individual requirements. This is unique and very cost-effective solution.
Wide range of materials are available in the RFEM library. Elements made of steel, concrete, timber, aluminium and glass could be modelled and subsequently designed by using appropriate add-on modules. Of course, creating new materials by assigning corresponding material properties is also possible. For instance, in this way fabrics for tensile membrane structures or plastics could be easily created.
In addition to material diversity, different types of members and plates can be easily modelled. Beams, trusses, cables, springs, many types of orthotropic plates make modelling simple and accurate.
As it is mentioned before, RFEM offers add-on modules for designing different types of structures. Since our specialty is structural steel design, we are mainly interested in the state-of-the-art steel design possibilities provided by add-on modules. Large number of international design codes are included, such as Eurocode, AISC, Australian Standards and many more. Besides elementary ultimate limit states, serviceability limit states and fire resistance checks, add-on modules for fatigue checks, plate buckling analysis and nonlinear lateral torsional buckling analysis are also available.
Certainly, modules for designing concrete, timber, aluminium and glass structures are present as well, and their implemented advanced options will contribute to deriving the most efficient designs.
RFEM also provides BIM interaction with software for architectural design, steel detailing, reinforced concrete detailing and connection design.
The remarkable possibilities of RFEM will definitely be of great value for our comprehensive designs, and therefore, we are extremely happy that this powerful software is added to our software portfolio.
