Dlubal RFEM 6
Dlubal RFEM 6 is a Windows-based 3D finite element analysis program for structural engineers that links member, plate, shell, and solid models with BIM workflows through IFC 4.0 import and export plus direct Revit and Tekla data exchange.
When a façade engineer or bridge designer needs one model that can carry wind stories, nonlinear deformations, and code checks in the same file, RFEM 6 is the kind of desktop FEA suite they reach for. Dlubal positions it as the sixth generation of RFEM, built around a graphical workspace, tabular editors, and a modular add-on catalog for concrete, steel, timber, glass, dynamics, and geotechnics. The company states that more than 130,000 users and over 13,000 customer organizations worldwide rely on its programs (Dlubal Software, 2026), which hints at how common RFEM is on complex building and infrastructure work.
RFEM is not a lightweight viewer: it is a calculation engine where you define materials, sections, loads, combinations, and then read forces, stresses, and deflections back on the model. Load wizards cover snow, wind, and other actions, and you can pair the core program with RWIND for CFD-based wind pressure generation when your office wants numerical wind tunnel output tied to the same mesh. Cloud calculation and a gRPC-based API are promoted for teams that want to offload heavy solves or script repetitive checks in Python or C#.
Where RFEM shows up most often in BIM conversations is on the boundary between architectural or steel models and structural proof. Dlubal documents bidirectional Revit links, Tekla transfer paths (including STP-based exchange and direct model updates), SAF import and export, SDNF exchange with detailing tools, and IFC ReferenceView plus StructuralAnalysisView handling (including IFC 2x3 import and IFC 4.0 import and export). That mix matters when the question is not only "does it calculate the hall frame" but also "can we get the IFC back into coordination without redrawing everything by hand".
Licensing is sold through Dlubal webshop bundles, with a published 90-day full trial and optional annual service contracts on top of perpetual purchase pricing shown in USD for the United States storefront. Hardware guidance calls out Windows x86-64 workstations with discrete NVIDIA or AMD gaming-class GPUs, multi-core CPUs (Dlubal discusses an optimum near 20 cores for many models), and roughly 1 to 3 GB RAM per hardware thread depending on model complexity, with 32 GB cited as a practical baseline for many cases (Dlubal Software hardware FAQ, 2026). None of that replaces your own IT review, but it sets expectations before you install a trial on a thin laptop.
Specifications
Pricing
Platforms
Used for
Used by
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Pros and cons
Pros
- Deep FEA model types (solids, shells, contacts) in one environment instead of splitting work across many single-purpose tools.
- Broad BIM interoperability story with IFC views, Revit, Tekla, SAF, SDNF, and CAD links documented on Dlubal pages.
- Modular licensing so teams can start with core RFEM and add discipline-specific design modules as work expands.
- Public hardware guidance and a long trial window help you validate performance on real project meshes before you buy.
Cons
- Windows x86-64 focus with explicit warnings against relying on ARM notebooks through emulation, which limits hardware choices for travelers.
- Advanced nonlinear, dynamics, CFD, and specialist add-ons increase cost and training load compared with a minimal frame-only tool.
- Perpetual license plus optional service contract pricing varies by region and bundle; you still need a quote or webshop review for your exact office catalog.
Key features
3D FEA core: Members, plates, walls, folded plates, shells, solids, and contacts in one structural model.
Design add-ons: Modular extensions for reinforced concrete, steel, timber, aluminum, glass, dynamics, and geotechnical checks tied to national annex workflows.
BIM links: Documented bidirectional Autodesk Revit integration plus Tekla Structures exchange paths and SAF-based model handoff.
IFC exchange: IFC 4.0 import and export and IFC 2x3 import with StructuralAnalysisView and ReferenceView handling for coordination and analysis views.
Wind workflow: Optional RWIND coupling for CFD wind simulation and surface load generation on complex geometry.
Automation: gRPC API and cloud calculation options for scripted workflows and remote solving.
Trial program: Dlubal advertises a 90-day full-version trial download before you purchase a license bundle.
Pricing
90-day full trial
90-day trial
Free
Advertised on dlubal.com as a full-version trial before purchase; confirm download terms on the official trial page.
Service Contract Basic (1 year, optional add-on)
per year (12 mo)
$900.00
Optional add-on shown at USD 900.00 in the same webshop calculator snapshot as the main program line item; confirm whether Basic or Pro fits your support needs.
RFEM 6 main program (purchase, USD list)
$5,320.00
Snapshot from the RFEM product page webshop calculator (USD 5,320.00 line item). Bundles, taxes, regional pricing, and promotions can change totals; verify on dlubal.com webshop before purchase.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Dlubal RFEM 6 cost in the United States webshop?
Dlubal publishes RFEM 6 main program purchase pricing in USD on its English RFEM product and webshop pages; the embedded webshop calculator on the RFEM overview page showed USD 5,320.00 for the RFEM 6 main program purchase line item and USD 900.00 for an optional one-year Service Contract Basic add-on in the same calculator snapshot (Dlubal Software RFEM webshop UI, 2026). Renting and subscription term lengths also appear in that calculator, but list rent figures change with term; confirm the live webshop total for your currency before you check out.
Does RFEM 6 run on macOS or ARM laptops?
Dlubal documents RFEM 6 and RSTAB 9 as x86 Windows programs. Its hardware FAQ states that ARM machines such as Snapdragon X notebooks would run the x86 build through emulation, which is slower and not recommended for production calculations (Dlubal Software hardware FAQ, 2026). There is no supported native macOS edition in that guidance, so Mac users typically rely on a Windows workstation or virtualized Windows environment instead of expecting a native macOS install.
Which IFC versions and views does RFEM 6 support?
Dlubal states that RFEM 6 supports IFC 4.0 for both import and export while IFC 2x3 is supported for import only. The vendor explains that you can work with StructuralAnalysisView and ReferenceView (Coordination View) depending on whether you need analysis model transfer or coordination geometry, and it describes converting imported IFC objects into native RFEM elements with configurable mapping tables (Dlubal Software BIM pages, 2026).
Can RFEM 6 exchange models with Autodesk Revit or Tekla Structures?
Yes. Dlubal markets a direct bidirectional Revit interface so you can round-trip structural models between Revit and RFEM or RSTAB for analysis and documentation. For Tekla, Dlubal documents STP-based frame exchange in both directions, a direct path for analysis models built in Tekla, update propagation back to Tekla, and a separate bidirectional physical model exchange (Dlubal Software BIM pages, 2026).
RFEM 6 vs SCIA Engineer: how should a structural team choose?
Both vendors target structural analysis and BIM-linked workflows. Dlubal highlights SCIA Engineer XML import for older RFEM 5 and RSTAB 8 exchange, while RFEM 6 itself is positioned as the current-generation FEA platform with Revit, Tekla, IFC, and SAF connectivity (Dlubal Software BIM and interface pages, 2026). Teams usually decide based on regional code coverage they need, existing model pipeline (Revit-heavy versus Tekla-heavy), solver performance on their typical meshes, and IT preferences after running trials on representative projects.
Is there a free trial for RFEM 6?
Dlubal advertises a 90-day full trial download for RFEM so engineers can run production-sized models before purchasing. Trial installers are linked from the RFEM product and download sections alongside paid webshop bundles (Dlubal Software RFEM pages, 2026).
Who is RFEM 6 aimed at in building projects?
Dlubal targets structural engineers and designers who model and check buildings, bridges, towers, roofs, and specialty structures with members, shells, and solids. Customer project stories on Dlubal pages include stadium roofs, footbridges, timber gridshells, and industrial halls, which reflects mid-to-large consultancies and specialty firms more than casual architecture visualization users (Dlubal Software references and BIM pages, 2026).