Release Date: November 2021
Version: RAM Concept CONNECT Edition V8 Update 3
Version Number: 08.03.00.138
Download and Installation Instructions
Current and past RAM Concept releases can be downloaded from the Bentley Software Downloads page. After signing-in, the RAM Concept installers can be located by selecting RAM in the Brand menu and clicking Apply or searching for RAM Concept in the Product Search box.
RAM Concept V8 CONNECT Edition Update 3 can also be installed through the CONNECTION Client update service or through the Structural Enterprise Hub.
RAM Concept V8 CONNECT Edition Update 3 can be installed concurrently with versions prior to V8. The installation of this version will automatically uninstall RAM Concept V8 or later.
Product Licensing
More information on product licensing can be found here. A download link to a licensing user guide, which includes instructions for setup and configuring license threshold alerts, can also be found on that web page.
iTwin Analytical Synchronizer Integration
The Sync ISM tools have been removed from the File menu and replaced with "Push to File" and "Pull from File" tools in the Synchronize to File workflow that is accessed through the iTwin Services sidebar. More information on the Synchronize to File workflow can be found here.
The following information can now be pushed into iTwin Analytical Synchronizer from RAM Concept models:
- Post-tensioning objects and properties, including tendon profiles and jacks.
- Reinforcement regions and callouts.
More information on this feature can be found here.
Enhancements
RAM Concept CONNECT Edition V8 Update 3 includes the enhancements discussed below.
ACI 318-19
The ACI 318-19 design code is now implemented. Refer to the “ACI 318-19 Design” chapter in the RAM Concept manual for detailed implementation notes.
This implementation also includes the following new design options and capabilities. The availability of these options in other implemented ACI 318 versions is noted for each item.
Punch Check Design for Unbalanced Slab Moment Transferred by Flexure (ACI 318-14 and 318-19)
An option is now available to design and detail flexural reinforcement to resist the portion of the unbalanced slab moment assumed to be transferred by flexure at column joints. See ACI 318-19 8.4.2.2. These checks are activated when the “Design Flexural Sections” option is checked in the Punching Shear Check dialog as noted “Punching Shear Check Options (ACI 318-14 and 318-19)” below.
Punching Shear Check Options (ACI 318-14 and ACI 318-19)
The following options are now available for punching shear checks:
- Ignore PT - When this option is selected, the punching shear capacity will be checked using design code equations for nonprestressed sections even if the section qualifies as prestressed. If this option is selected with the “Design Flexural Sections” described below, any PT in the cross section will be ignored for the flexural strength checks that are enabled with that option.
- Reduce vc at Sections Away from Column Face per ACI 421.1-20 - When this option is selected, punching shear sections outside d/2 from the column face are designed using vc = 2*sqrt(f’c) [US, in-lb units] instead of the ACI 318 equations, which permit a higher vc. See ACI 421.1-20 4.3.4 and Equation 4.3.1(d).
- Design Flexural Sections - When this option is selected, the program automatically creates flexural sections that extend 1.5h from the column face or drop cap on each side of the column. These sections are used to check minimum flexural reinforcement at highly stressed punching shear sections (ACI 318-19 8.6.1.2) and flexural reinforcement to resist unbalanced moments (ACI 318-19 8.4.2.2). The settings defined in the Flexural Sections tab of the Punching Shear Check Properties dialog are used to design the reinforcement associated with these checks.
- vc - This option allows for a user-defined stress for the nominal punching shear capacity provided by concrete (excluding phi factor). It is used only for sections that contain studded shear reinforcement (SSR). When “Code” is selected, the capacity is calculated using the ACI 318 equations. A specific stress value can also be entered in the field box.
- vn - This option allows for a user-defined stress for maximum nominal punching shear capacity (vc + vs and excluding phi factor) for reinforced sections. When “Code” is selected, the capacity is calculated using the ACI 318 equations. A specific stress value can also be entered in the field box.
- Min vs - This option defines a user-defined stress for the minimum quantity/spacing of SSR that must intersect each critical section. When specified, SSR is designed even if it is not required otherwise.
- Min SSR Rail Length - This option defines a minimum rail length used to design SSR when reinforcement is required. The Min SSR Rail Length option and the Min vs option may be used together to enforce the slab shear requirements specified in ACI 318-19 18.14.5.3.
Minimum Shear/Torsion Reinforcement Design Option (ACI 318-02 through ACI 318-19)
An option to control the design of minimum transverse reinforcement is available for ACI 318-19. Selections include:
- Code - The program only designs transverse reinforcement for shear and/or torsion as required by the design code rules.
- Shear - The program designs open transverse reinforcement satisfying ACI 318-19 9.6.3.4 and maximum spacing requirements, even if not required otherwise.
- Shear and Torsion - The program designs closed transverse reinforcement satisfying ACI 318-19 9.6.3.4 and maximum spacing requirements, even if not required otherwise.
Minimum Shear Reinforcement for PT Sections (ACI 318-02 through ACI 318-19)
The calculation of minimum shear requirements for post-tensioned sections now includes ACI 318-19 Table 9.6.3.4(e), or equivalent equation from an older ACI 318 design code.
Option to Ignore Size Effect Factor (for Shear in Foundations) (ACI 318-19 only)
An option to ignore the size effect factor is available for span segments, design sections, and punching shear checks. This option applies ACI 318-19 13.2.6.2, which permits the size effect factor to be ignored in one-way and two-way shear strength calculations. It is intended to be used for the design of mat foundations only and is checked by default when new files are created with Mat Foundation selected for Structure Type.
Reinforcement Development Lengths - Confined Hooked End Condition (ACI 318-14 through ACI 318-19)
Available options for the reinforcement end property now includes “90 Hook (confined)” and “180 Hook (confined).” Development length of reinforcement detailed with either of these options are calculated using the reduced confining reinforcement factor defined in ACI 318-19 Table 25.4.3.2. The confinement reinforcement required for program or user reinforcement defined with “90 Hook (Confined)” or “180 Hook (Confined)” bar ends must by designed by the user outside RAM Concept.
Vibration Analysis Improvements
Performance improvements have significantly reduced the analysis time for the full modal analysis.
Vibration response is now always calculated at all finite element nodes. Previous versions included an option to calculate response only at excited nodes. This option was removed because it generated results with limited information and the complete response can now be calculated much faster due to the performance improvements.
An option to control the maximum distance a response is calculated for a given excitation node has been added. This option is used to intelligently select and consider the excitation nodes that will likely yield the maximum response. The default setting is 10 ft (3.5 m), which will be suitable for most models. However, a complete response can always be calculated by selecting “No Limit” for this option. Analysis time will increase as the specified distance is increased.
The “Simplified (fast) calculation” option has been renamed “Peak Harmonic SRSS Combination (Faster).” The “Modal Analysis” option has been renamed “Complete Harmonic Superposition (Slower).” In most cases, these options will yield nearly identical vibration response factors. Since it is faster, the “Peak Harmonic SRSS Combination (Faster)” option is the recommend option. However, the “Complete Harmonic Superposition” option may be the better option for highly sensitive floors or when velocity criterion is used for vibration control.
Name Label for Mesh Input Objects and Loadings
A Name label has been added to the properties of Mesh Input Objects (slabs, columns, walls, etc.) and Loadings. For Mesh Input Objects, this label is automatically transferred to meshed elements during mesh generation. The Name label can be used to identify an element or a group of elements when processing output, like column or wall reactions.
Wall objects that are defined with a common Name label are meshed are recognized as a wall group when plotting reactions. The plotted reaction represents the resultant reaction of all wall objects in the group and is displayed at the centroid of the wall group. Interconnected wall elements defined without the Name label will be automatically grouped in the same way that they were processed in previous versions.
Note, the model must be remeshed and reanalyzed after assigning group names in order to see the combined reactions.
Enveloped Reaction Results for Walls
Wall reactions are now enveloped, which permits max and min context wall reactions to be plotted for Loadings, Load Combinations, and Rule Set Designs.
Load Path Arrows
Load path arrows can now be displayed using the Plot Settings dialog to help visualize shear flow for loadings and load combinations (Standard Context only). The load path arrows represent the resultant vertical shear force on the face of a given slab element and are pointed in the direction of the principal axis. The arrow length is automatically scaled relative to the magnitude of the resultant shear.
IBC 2021 Live Load Reduction and Load Combinations
IBC 2021 live reduction is now implemented. The IBC 2021 load combinations are used as the default combinations for ACI 318-19.
Other Changes
RAM Concept CONNECT Edition V8 Update 3 also includes the changes discussed below.
Design Code Selection for New Files
The New File dialog has been simplified. Design codes are now selected with menus for Code (ACI 318, AS 3600, etc.) and Version.
Shear Design with Transverse Reinforcement Exceeding Max Spacing Limits
Transverse reinforcement with spacing exceeding maximum code requirements is now always ignored in the shear design checks. In previous versions, this reinforcement was considered in the design if additional program transverse reinforcement satisfying spacing requirements was also provided.
Publish iModel and Publish IFC Options
The Publish iModel and Publish IFC Options have been removed from the File menu. This functionality is available in iTwin Analytical Synchronizer.
CONNECT Advisor Deprecation
Connect Advisor has been removed from the program. More information on the deprecation of CONNECT Advisor can be found here.
Resolved Issues
RAM Concept CONNECT Edition V8 Update 3 includes fixes for the issues discussed below.
Crashes During Program Launch
On a small number of machines with specific configurations, a conflict with graphic hardware on the machine caused RAM Concept to crash when the program was opened. More information about this issue can be found here.
Program Errors when Plotting Results
The error in the image below was produced when plotting results for the following cases. This issue affected RAM Concept Version 8 Update 2 only.
- Load history deflection results were plotted in models with area springs, zero-tension combinations, and tension remained in any spring in any iteration.
- A Strip plot was displayed for a layer with Standard Context results and then the Plot Layer was changed to another layer, like a Rule Set, for which the Standard Context results are not available.
"Open" Transverse Reinforcement Designed for Torsion Requirements
Program transverse reinforcement was incorrectly designed with an “open” condition instead of “closed” for sections containing user-defined, “closed” transverse reinforcement satisfying strength requirements and when additional program transverse reinforcement was required to meet minimum requirements.
ACI 318 Punching Shear Capacity of Reinforced Sections Outside Drop Panels
For punching shear checks at columns with drop panels and studded shear reinforcement, the punching shear capacity was always identified as a cut-off section and designed with vc calculated from ACI 318-14 Table 22.6.6.1(d) instead of Table 22.6.5.2. This issue affected all ACI 318 versions and resulted in longer stud rails than required in some cases.
Note that ACI 421.1-20 recommends designing all punching sections away from the column face using a reduced vc matching Table 22.6.6.1(d). The new punching shear check option “Reduce vc at Sections Away from Column Face per ACI 421.1-20” can be used to apply that recommendation in designs for ACI 318-14 and 318-19. This is not a default option and must be enabled by the user in new and existing models.
Use of Maximum √fc’ Limit in ACI 318 Shear and Torsion Checks
ACI 318-14 22.5.3.1 and 22.7.2.1 limit the value of √fc’ to 100 psi for the calculation of concrete shear and torsional strength (Vc, Vci, Vcw, Tth, and Tcr). This limit is intended for concrete strength calculations only and not intended to be applied in other calculations that use √fc’.
In previous versions, the limit for √fc’ was incorrectly applied to the following calculations for sections that included concrete with f’c > 10,000 psi:
- Maximum stud spacing for SSR (ACI 318-14 Table 8.7.7.1.2)
- Minimum transverse reinforcement (ACI 318-14 Table 9.6.3.3)
- Minimum longitudinal torsion reinforcement (ACI 318-14 9.6.4.3)
- Maximum transverse reinforcement spacing limits (Table 9.7.6.2.2)
- Maximum shear capacity (ACI 318-14 22.5.1.2 and 22.7.7.1)
- Calculation of Vc when minimum transverse reinforcement is provided (ACI 318-14 22.5.3.2)
This change affects the ACI 318-02 through ACI 318-14 design code implementations. The error always led to conservative designs in previous versions.
EC2 Punching Shear Checks Reinforcement Ratio Calculation
For punching shear checks defined with the “Auto-Calc Reinforcement Ratio” option, the reinforcement and the concrete section used to calculate the ratio were not consistent when the flexural section extended outside the search radius of the punching shear check. In these cases, the concrete section was trimmed to the punching check search perimeter.
Enveloped Results for Load Combinations with Zero-Tension Iterations
The “Don’t Reduce Integrated M and V Due to Sign Change” option is no longer considered when processing load combinations using the zero-tension analysis type. This change ensures that equilibrium is maintained in these solutions. Results for single load combination types with zero-tension iterations are always a linear combination of standard results (no max or min context). Enveloped results with zero-tension iterations (lateral group combinations or rule set designs) are always an envelope of standard results from individual load combination solutions.
File Compatibility Warning
RAM Concept CONNECT Edition V8 Update 3 can read all previous file formats, but writes files in a format that cannot be read by previous versions.
Security Release Notes
Not applicable to this release.