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Concrete Foundations

Geotechnical and structural design checks of foundation plates, bucket foundations, and block foundations according to Eurocode, ACI 318, and IBC—all in a single solution.

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Concrete Foundation Add-on for RFEM 6 | Hero Banner Image Concrete Foundation Add-on for RFEM 6 | Hero Banner Image

Discover Concrete Foundations
for RFEM 6

Design concrete foundations directly in the RFEM 6 model, without exporting data or switching between programs.

The add-on combines geotechnical design checks according to Eurocode 7, such as load-bearing capacity, sliding, and overturning checks with reinforced concrete design according to Eurocode 2. Loads are transferred automatically, and every design step is documented step by step in the printout report.

  • Design of isolated footings directly in the model
  • Account for subsoil parameters directly in the foundation design
  • Determination of soil pressures and contact stresses
  • Load-bearing capacity, sliding, uplift, and overturning checks according to Eurocode 7 and IBC
  • Design of the required foundation reinforcement
  • Automatic transfer of loads from the RFEM model
  • Documentation of geotechnical and structural analysis in a single printout report
Design ratios on isolated footings in RFEM 6 with the ACI 318 check list for soil bearing pressure, uplift, overturning, and sliding

Key Benefits

Four reasons why engineers add foundation design to their RFEM 6 workflow.

All Design Checks in One Model

Load-bearing capacity, sliding, and overturning checks run alongside the concrete design.

Automatic Load Transfer

Column loads come directly from the model, with no need for manual data transfer.

Real subsoil conditions

Multi-layer soils from borehole profiles feed directly into the geotechnical verification.

Verifiable Documentation

All entries and results are included in the printout report, ready for review.

Use Cases

Column loads should be transferred safely into the subsoil while both geotechnical and structural requirements are met. You can check this directly in RFEM 6.

Concrete Foundation Add-on - Illustration Image of Bucket Foundation Concrete Foundation Add-on - Illustration Image of Bucket Foundation
Column Footings in Industrial and Hall Structures

Design isolated footings of steel and reinforced concrete columns under high vertical and horizontal loads directly within the RFEM model, and generate complete documentation of all relevant design checks.

Foundations for Office and Commercial Buildings

Automatically transfer column loads from the structural model and carry out geotechnical analysis and structural foundation design with no manual data transfer.

Foundation Design with Large Moments

Determine the effects of eccentricities and moments on soil pressures and foundation stresses, and create verifiable design documentation.

Foundations on Multilayer Subsoil

Analyze isolated footings based on borehole profiles with multiple soil layers, and consider various soil parameters in the geotechnical analysis to create realistic foundation design.

Product Features

Multi-layered borehole definition in the Concrete Foundations add-on with a soil layer table and the resulting soil profile drawn in RFEM 6

Borehole Profiles

Define site-specific borehole profiles with multiple soil layers and store the corresponding soil parameters directly in the model. RFEM uses this information for geotechnical analysis of foundations. Real subsoil conditions can thus be integrated into the foundation design in a traceable way.

Design Check Details window in RFEM 6 showing the full formula derivation and code reference for the uplift check of an isolated footing

Geotechnical Analysis

Specify the relevant soil parameters and load combinations for the foundation design. The add-on performs geotechnical analyses according to Eurocode 7 and IBC directly within the RFEM model, providing transparent results in the printout report.

Additional Foundation Loads

Additional Foundation Loads

Consider additional actions, such as earth cover, surface loads, and other foundation loads, directly in the design. These loads are integrated into the foundation calculation and evaluated alongside structural loads, allowing for a detailed simulation of realistic loading situations in the model.

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See it in Practice:
Free Webinar with Model File

ACI 318-19 Isolated Footing Design

Structure review, footing data input, loading and load combinations, design results, and base plate design integration. The presentation model is available to follow along.

Watch the Webinar
Structural analysis of steel frame with concrete foundation footings designed using the Concrete Design add-on in RFEM 6, showing design ratio color gradients Structural analysis of steel frame with concrete foundation footings designed using the Concrete Design add-on in RFEM 6, showing design ratio color gradients
What do our users say?

RFEM saves me a lot of time and effort. I calculate crack widths and reinforcement in the same environment, instead of jumping between different tools.

Hassan Syed
Hassan Syed nts Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH

Data and results stay visible and editable, which minimizes the "black box" effect. This confirmed our decision in favor of RFEM.

The portrait shows Mr. Philippe Piron of Global Design Technology, a customer of Dlubal Software, Customer Review 257.
Philippe Piron Global Design Technology

The design templates are clear and give precise details of the design check criteria and the corresponding standard references.

Cédric Dubois Skyray

Input data and results are shown in a transparent and editable way, and the report generation is highly customizable to client requirements.

Sebastien Cresiel, Norma BET
Sébastien Cresiel Norma BET

RFEM is by far our favorite analysis software. We are impressed by the work Dlubal puts into developing it and responding to issues.

Tim Harris, Ph.D, P.Eng Kassian Dyck and Associates

Technical Articles on Concrete Foundations

Soil Properties tab of the Edit Isolated Foundation dialog in RFEM 6 with soil layers assigned per region and the resulting soil profile

Ground Failure Resistance Design According to DIN 4017 Compared with RFEM 6

Ground failure resistance design is a key component of geotechnical design for shallow foundations. This article uses an example from DIN 4017, Supplement 1 (2006), to compare the results of traditional manual calculations with those obtained using RFEM 6.

Required reinforcement areas on foundation plates in RFEM 6, shown per direction for the top and bottom faces

Rectangular Isolated Footing Design According to ACI 318 in RFEM 6

The design of isolated footings in accordance with ACI 318 and IBC can now be performed using the Concrete Foundations add-on. The article shows how to model a rectangular isolated footing in RFEM 6 and compares the design results with a reference example from the ACI Concrete Design Handbook.

Dimensioned reinforcement layout of a concrete foundation in RFEM 6 with bar marks, diameters, spacings, and bar bending details according to EN 1992 and EN 1997

Required Reinforcement in Bucket Foundations with Rough Inner Walls: Design Approach and Steps

The article describes the complete derivation and design of the required bucket reinforcement. Both horizontal and vertical stirrups are analyzed.

Image of a concrete hall showcasing robust reinforced concrete foundations in a construction context.

Comprehensive Guide to Foundation Design: Key Considerations and Best Practices

A comprehensive overview of foundation design, covering the most important foundation types, the role of reinforcement, soil analysis, modern design tools, and proven practices for stable, durable, and cost-effective structures.

Two isolated footings in RFEM 6 with ACI 318 design checks including one-way shear, two-way shear, and minimum bar spacing

Geotechnical Design of Isolated Footing According to IBC (ASD) in RFEM 6

A step-by-step design of a square isolated footing according to IBC (ASD). All relevant geotechnical checks are performed, including soil bearing pressure, sliding, overturning, uplift, and loads with large eccentricities, with the governing ASD load combinations checked step by step.

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    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I consider multilayer subsoil using borehole profiles?

    Yes, you can. The add-on supports the definition of multilayer soils via borehole profiles. The soil layers and their associated soil parameters can be used directly in the geotechnical analysis.

    Are the geotechnical analyses carried out directly in RFEM 6?

    Yes, they are. The geotechnical analysis checks are integrated directly into the design workflow and performed within the RFEM model. The results and checks can then be documented in the printout report.

    Which foundation types are supported?

    The add-on supports reinforced and unreinforced foundation slabs, block foundations, and bucket foundations. The available foundation types can be used directly in the design.

    Can I consider additional foundation loads?

    Yes, you can. Additional foundation loads are supported in the design process and can be evaluated together with the structural loads.

    Are the design checks documented in the printout report?

    Yes, they are. The results of the geotechnical analyses and foundation design can be included directly in the printout report.

    Do I have to transfer loads manually into the foundation design?

    No. The foundation design is integrated directly in RFEM 6. Loads and model information are therefore available within the same project environment.

    Is the add-on suitable for isolated footings under columns?

    Yes, the add-on was developed for the design of isolated footings, and supports geotechnical and structural design checks within one model.

    Can I combine geotechnical and structural analysis in one model?

    Yes, you can. The RFEM model brings together foundation design, subsoil modeling, and calculations. This ensures that input data and results are consistently documented.

    Which design standards are supported?

    The reinforced concrete design follows EN 1992-1-1 (Eurocode 2), ACI 318, CSA A23.3, and SP 63.13330. The geotechnical verifications follow Eurocode 7 and IBC. National Annexes to EN 1992 are supported for over 30 countries, including Germany, the Czech Republic, France, Italy, Poland, and the United Kingdom.

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    Calculate Your Price

    1,400.00 USD
    +110.00 USD
    Column Base
    Total Amount 1,510.00 USD
    API Documentation
    Online Manuals

    Browse our online manuals on concrete foundations whenever you need to speed up your work and support your projects.

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    Videos

    Explore essential videos focused on concrete foundations. Tutorials guide you through practical workflows and help you quickly master key features.

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    Webinars

    Access our recorded webinars on concrete foundations at any time. Watch sessions whenever you want to deepen your knowledge.