RAM Elements 2026 (26.00.00.276) Release Notes – Updated Jun 2026

Features:

1. Bentley Copilot Integration. Bentley Copilot integration provides AI-assisted access to documentation and workflow guidance directly within the application.

Users can search and navigate:

• RAM Elements documentation
• Help topics
• Workflow guidance
• Product information

using conversational AI directly from within RAM Elements.

Figure 1. Bentley Copilot interface integrated within RAM Elements.

This enhancement helps users:

• Resolve workflow questions more quickly
• Access documentation more efficiently
• Discover product capabilities
• Improve productivity during modeling and design workflows

The integration streamlines access to technical information without requiring users to leave the application environment.

 

Figure 2. Example AI-assisted workflow guidance using Bentley Copilot inside RAM Elements.

 

2. Python Scripts Support. Integrated Python scripting support enables automation of modeling, analysis, design, and results extraction workflows directly within the application.

The new Python Console is available directly from the RAM Elements ribbon interface and allows users to:

• Open and execute Python scripts
• Automate model generation
• Assign loads and properties
• Execute analysis and design
• Extract analysis and design results
• Perform batch-processing workflows

Figure 3. Python Console available directly from the RAM Elements ribbon interface.

The Python API provides access to:

• Nodes
• Members
• Shells
• Load areas
• Load cases and combinations
• Analysis settings
• Design settings

The scripting interface connects directly to the active RAM Elements model through the new ramelements API package.

Figure 4. Example Python script executed inside RAM Elements.

Python scripting support enables advanced workflows such as:

• Parametric structural modeling
• Automated QA/QC verification
• Optimization studies
• Batch analysis and design

The API also supports direct extraction of:

• Node displacements
• Reactions
• Member forces
• Shell stresses
• Design ratios
• Deflections

Allowing engineers to automate post-processing and reporting workflows.

Figure 5. Example automated extraction of analysis and design results.

Additional documentation and examples are available in the RAM Elements Python API User Manual.

 

3. Equivalent Lateral Force (ELF) Analysis. Support for Equivalent Lateral Force (ELF) seismic analysis workflows is now available based on ASCE 7-22 provisions.

The new ELF functionality provides a simplified seismic analysis procedure for structures where the Equivalent Lateral Force method is permitted by code.

Users can now:

• Define ELF seismic parameters directly inside RAM Elements
• Automatically calculate seismic base shear
• Generate vertical force distributions
• Include accidental eccentricity effects
• Evaluate seismic response coefficients
• Review validation and warning messages during the ELF workflow

Figure 7. Equivalent Lateral Force analysis definition dialog.

The new workflow includes dedicated tools for:

• Seismic weight calculation
• ELF seismic response coefficient calculation
• Story force distribution
• Accidental torsion and eccentricity effects

The implementation follows the procedures described in Chapter 12 — Equivalent Lateral Force (ELF) Analysis of the RAM Elements Manual.

Figure 8. Automatically generated ELF vertical force distribution over the structure height.

This enhancement simplifies seismic analysis workflows for:

• Regular building structures
• Low- and mid-rise buildings
• Conventional steel structures
• Conventional concrete structures
• Structures where modal response spectrum analysis is not required

The ELF workflow integrates directly with existing RAM Elements load cases, combinations, analysis, and design procedures.

RAM Elements 2026 also introduces a new dedicated ELF Analysis Report available from the Analysis output reports. The report provides a detailed summary of:

• Seismic definitions
• Design parameters
• Calculated seismic coefficients
• Center of mass calculations
• Vertical seismic force distributions
• Seismic nodal forces
• Load condition summaries

The report includes calculated parameters such as:

• Fundamental period
• Approximate fundamental period
• Seismic response coefficient (Cs)
• Height exponent (k)

Along with detailed seismic force distribution tables for each seismic load condition.

Figure 9. New ELF Analysis Report showing seismic definitions, calculated parameters, center of mass locations, and generated seismic forces.

Validation messages are also included to help users identify incomplete definitions or inconsistent seismic parameters during model preparation and analysis.

Figure 10. ELF validation and seismic parameter review messages.

 

4. OpenRE Merge Including Referenced Parameters. OpenRE interoperability workflows are enhanced with support for merging models while preserving referenced parameters.

Previously, OpenRE merge workflows primarily transferred geometry and element definitions, requiring users to manually recreate loads and design settings after import.

The updated merge process now supports importing referenced parameters together with the structural model information, including:

• Load definitions
• Load cases and combinations
• Design settings
• Additional referenced model data

This enhancement improves interoperability workflows involving modular, parametric, and externally generated structural models while reducing manual rework after model merging.

5. NDS Wood Design Parameters: Ci and Cr Factors. Support for NDS wood design parameters Ci (incising factor) and Cr (repetitive member factor) is now available throughout the workflow.

Previously, these parameters were not consistently applied outside the dedicated wood design module, which could require manual adjustments during certain wood design workflows.

The new implementation improves support for:

• Built-up wood members
• Repetitive framing systems
• Incised lumber design adjustments

This enhancement improves consistency in wood member design workflows while reducing the need for manual corrections.

Figure 12. Wood design parameters including Ci and Cr factors.

Resolved Issues:

AISC 360 – Single-angle torsion stress ratios inconsistent between graphical display and report output: The steel design evaluation logic was corrected to ensure consistency between graphical stress ratio displays and detailed report outputs for single-angle members subjected to torsion.

AISC 360 – HSS stress ratio inconsistency between graphical display and report output: The quick evaluation routine used for graphical display of HSS member design ratios according to AISC 360 was corrected to properly include torsional effects, ensuring consistency between the graphical display results and the detailed report output calculations.

Analysis model generation – Wall openings not aligned with snapped story elevations: The analysis model generation logic was updated to ensure consistent vertical snapping between wall levels and wall openings in the Concrete Wall, Masonry Wall, and Tilt-Up modules by applying the same snapping logic to wall opening elevations, recomputing opening extents after snapping, and preventing unintended opening fragments caused by small vertical offsets, resulting in improved analytical wall segmentation consistency and more reliable force distribution, checks, quantities, and detailing output.

Load combination engine – Incorrect factor application for shell variable pressures and pressure-induced member loads: Three calculation issues were corrected in the load combination engine affecting shell variable pressures and pressure-induced member loads when combining load cases with different scale factors. Previously, pressure and force contributions from individual load cases were combined without properly applying user-defined load combination factors, causing incorrect combined results. The correction includes proper scaling of shell variable pressure nodal scalar values, nodal vector forces, and pressure-induced distributed member loads, as well as a correction to an accumulator reference issue affecting distributed load start-point calculations.

RAM Footing Design – Net stress and gross stress advanced option not applied correctly: The advanced footing design option controlling the use of net or gross soil stresses was corrected to ensure the selected evaluation method is consistently applied throughout the footing design calculations and reporting workflow.