Release Date: December 2024

 

This document contains essential information regarding changes to the RAM Structural System. It is important that all users are aware of these changes.

 

Bentley application versions are now identified by the year of release. This is a minor release including some enhancements to RAM Structural System 2024.

 

Release notes are also published to the Bentley Knowledge Base under “RAM Structural System Release Notes”.

 

Installation Instructions:

The CONNECTION Client provides notification of the newest version and can be used to update the installation. Otherwise, this version can be found on Bentley Software Downloads by logging into CONNECT Center and clicking Software Downloads. Search for “RAM Structural System” and select the latest version.

To share iTwins from RAM Structural System also install the latest iTwin Analytical Synchronizer which is free to all Bentley subscribers.

 

Important Notices:

File format conversion from version 24.00.00 or 24.00.01 is not required.

 

Security Risk Advisory:

Bentley is committed to continuously investigating and rectifying security vulnerabilities affecting its products and services. Our zip control for file saving was updated in this minor release.

 

Enhancements

Updated UK Steel tables. Master and Design steel tables updated based on BS EN 10365: 2017 and BS EN 10056-1: 2017 and including the latest Hot-Rolled (BS EN 10210-2: 2006) and Cold-Formed (BS EN 10219-2: 2006) hollow structural sections from the Interactive Blue Book.

 

ASCE 7-22 Wind Load cases are now available in RAM Frame.

 

ASCE 7-22 Seismic Equivalent Lateral Force and Dynamic Response Spectrum load cases are available including the option to look-up seismic coefficients based on location using the USGS Hazard tool.

 

Modeler Datacheck report has been included in the new report viewer making it easier to generate a pdf or copy warnings from the report. The Data check report can also remain open while changes are made to the model.

 

Error Corrections:

This version corrects some significant errors, described below. We know errors are disruptive, we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

 

RAM DataAccess

Reading or writing a RAM SS model database using RAM DataAccess methods, e.g. with a macro enabled VBA file, left a stranded file in the working directory. If this file.db.sq3 file remains in the working directory subsequent attempts to open and edit the model fail.

Effect: VBA Macro enabled custom spreadsheets would require the user to clean out the working directory before updating any model.

Link: RAM DataAccess methods fail to close the model completely 

 

Steel Column

CRASH USING VIEW/UPDATE ON TENSION COLUMNS: With AISC 360-16 or AISC 360-22 code, when using View/Update or the Column Design Report on a steel gravity column with net tension (typically due to the back-span uplift of a cantilever beam) a crash in the RAM Steel Column module would occur.

Effect: Crash could be avoided by adding a small amount of gravity load to keep the column in compression.

Link: Steel Column View/Update or Report Crash for Columns in Tension 

 

Frame – Analysis

REDUNDANT SEISMIC LOADS USING ORTHOGONAL EFFECTS: When generating ASCE 7 seismic loads with additional loads for orthogonal effects, and without considering negative direction loads for models with tension-only bracing, some of the generated loads were equal and opposite to other load cases leading to redundancy in generated load combinations.

Effect: Some redundant load combinations.

 

Frame – Seismic Provisions

INCORRECT STATUS COLOR FOR COLUMN SLENDERNESS: In Seismic provisions mode, the column slenderness check did not correctly update the overall section check status flag. This failed to capture the failure status of the flange or web slenderness check when only one fails.  The program would paint the column green and indicate a green traffic light when one of the slenderness limits failed the "Basic Requirements" section. This affected BRBF and SCBF columns using AISC 341 16 or AISC 341-22.

Effect: The design reports were correct, but the passing status color could give the wrong status for slender columns.

Link: Seismic Provisions Column Slenderness Check indicator 

 

Concrete Wall

INCORRECT SPECIAL WALL REINFORCED SHEAR STRENGTH: In RAM Concrete Shear Wall design, for Special Concrete Shear Walls, the in-plane shear capacity, Vn, based on ACI 318-19 Eq 18.10.4.1 was too low. and overly conservative. The error was due to a units problem with f'c. The problem also affects ACI-318-14. There was no problem using Ordinary shear walls, and there was no error when the upper bound limit on Vn controls (i.e. 8 * root (f'c) * Area from Eq. 18.10.4.4).

Effect: Overly conservative shear strength calculation.

Link: Special Concrete Shear Wall in-plane shear capacity error