Precast–prestressed concrete structures

Product Support
, ,
1

Dear Dlubal Support Team,

I hope you are doing well.

I would like to inquire about RFEM’s capabilities regarding precast–prestressed concrete structures, particularly multi-story precast parking garages.

  1. Analysis & Design of Precast–Prestressed Systems
    Is RFEM capable of performing full structural analysis and design for precast–prestressed concrete elements such as double tees, inverted tees, hollow-core slabs, spandrels, columns, beams, and shear walls used in multi-story garage structures?
  2. Tutorials / Step-by-Step Workflow
    If RFEM supports this type of structure, could you please provide step-by-step tutorials, workflow examples, or sample models that demonstrate:
  • Modeling precast–prestressed concrete elements
  • Applying prestressing
  • Load combinations and analysis
  • Design checks according to relevant codes
  • Exporting or documenting results
  1. Design of Precast Connections
    Does RFEM include tools/modules to model and design connections between precast elements, such as:
  • Pocket / corbel / bearing connections
  • Welded plate connections
  • Bolted and dowel connections
  • Grouted sleeves
  • Panel-to-panel connections for walls or façade elements
  1. Nonlinear Analysis of Precast Elements
    Since precast systems may require nonlinear analysis (material nonlinearity, geometric nonlinearity, connections nonlinear behavior, cracking, etc.) to accurately define their structural capacity, I would like to know:
  • Does RFEM support nonlinear analysis for precast components?
  • Which specific types of nonlinearity can be modeled (material, hinges, contact, cable effects, etc.)?
  • Are there example models demonstrating this?

I would appreciate any documentation, links, videos, or example files that can help me better understand RFEM’s workflow for precast and prestressed structural systems.

Thank you very much for your assistance.

Best regards,
Prof. Dr. Ibrahim M. Metwally, Ph.D., P.E.

4

Welcome to Dlubal Comunity :waving_hand: , Thank you very much for your inquiries regarding precast prestressed concrete structures in RFEM6 .

RFEM6 Tendon Manual

Files to Download

The RFEM6 prestress concrete features in this area are in an early stage of development and require some manual work on the part of the user to complete the entire workflow you may require according to your demands. It is a solution based on finite element modeling of prestressing cables and strands. We offer the following features:

· Cross section and material library for prestressed cable, strands and multi-strands Tendons according to European and American Standards. Including presstress capacity limits and angular and wobble friction parameters.

· New type of member „Tendon“ that has only axial stiffness and it is mesh mapped automatically to master objects (concrete members or slabs) when it is physically inside of them. It means that Tendon members are rigidly connected to other members and transfer loads by geometry and connection.

· Posibility to use the RFEM6 line type catalogue as geometry layout (spline, parabola, nurbs, polyline) as a definition line for Tendon members. It is possible to make the Tendon layout parametric in RFEM6 using global parameters. We do offer the possibility to import .DXF templates to used as definition line for Tendon members.

· Loads need to be defined for now manually and applied as equivalent axial strain on Tendon members. You should apply load for short term losses in a separate load case as the long term losses.

· You can activate and deactivate Tendon elements in different construction stages in order to evaluate multistep prestressing and consider elastic shortening losses due to sequential prestressing.

· Standard design is not implemented yet, we do offer the possibility to develop serviciability stress checks by using Stress-Strain Add On and iterate with the Tendon geometry, cross section or prestress load to fullfill these stress checks.