RAM Connection 2026 (26.0.0) Release Notes


RAM Connection 2026 (26.00.00.272) Release Notes - Updated June 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:

Users can access this information through conversational AI directly within RAM Connection.

Figure 1. Bentley Copilot interface integrated within RAM Connection.

This enhancement helps users:

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

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

 

2. Bolt Database Refactoring with Fy, Fu, and Custom Grades Support. Improvements to the bolt database structure add explicit Fy and Fu mechanical properties and support for custom bolt grades.

Previously, bolt strength calculations relied primarily on predefined grade names, which could create inconsistencies when regional or custom bolt specifications were used.

The updated bolt database now:

Figure 3. Updated bolt database including Fy, Fu, and custom grade definitions.

This enhancement increases flexibility for international projects and specialized fabrication requirements.

Figure 4. Example custom bolt grade definition within the RAM Connection bolt database.

 

3. EN 1993 / IS 800 Chevron (CVR) and Vertical X-Brace (VXB) Connections. Support is now available for Chevron (CVR) and Vertical X-Brace (VXB) connection types for EN 1993 and IS 800 design codes.

This implementation expands the bracing connection library for European and Indian steel design workflows.

Users can now design:

using EN 1993 and IS 800 code provisions directly within RAM Connection.

The implementation includes support for all connector configurations for:

This allows users to model and design a broad range of braced-frame connection configurations.

 

Figure 5. Chevron (CVR) bracing connection designed using EN 1993 provisions.

It also reduces the need for manual calculations or alternative code-based workarounds.

Figure 6. Vertical X-Brace (VXB) connection under IS 800 design provisions.

 

4. Vertical X-Brace Connections with One Continuous Member. Vertical X-brace connections now allow one bracing member to remain continuous while the intersecting member is interrupted at the gusset plate.

This configuration reflects common fabrication practice for vertical bracing systems and aligns the workflow with options already available for horizontal bracing connections.

Figure 7. Vertical X-brace configuration with one continuous brace member.

Previously, users were required to model both brace members as interrupted at the gusset plate location, which did not accurately reflect many fabricated field conditions.

The updated workflow allows users to design vertical X-brace connections that better reflect real fabrication and erection practices.

Figure 8. Example vertical X-brace connection using one continuous member through the gusset plate.

 

5. Mitred Knee Connections for Tapered Members (EN 1993 / IS 800). Support is now available for mitred knee connections for tapered beam and column configurations under EN 1993 and IS 800 design codes.

The implementation includes support for multiple plate alignment configurations, including:

This allows users to model a broader range of tapered knee connection details.

Figure 9. Mitred knee connection for tapered members designed using EN 1993 provisions.

Users can now model and design mitred knee connections directly within RAM Connection without relying on manual approximations or alternative connection configurations.

 

Figure 10. Example tapered portal frame knee connection under IS 800 provisions.

 

6. Base Plate Anchorage Update to ACI 318-25 and Shear Lug Enhancements. The base plate anchorage design module has been updated to ACI 318-25 provisions.

The updated implementation expands support for the following:

Figure 11. Base plate anchorage design using ACI 318-25 provisions.

This enhancement improves compliance with the latest concrete anchorage requirements while expanding support for shear transfer configurations in base plate connections.

Figure 12. Example shear lug configuration supported in RAM Connection 2026.

7. Enhanced Connection Elements Summary for Bill of Materials. The Connection Elements Summary report has been enhanced to include non-rectangular plates in the bill of materials output.

Previously, the summary primarily reported rectangular plates, while other plate geometries such as gusset plates and circular plates were not fully included in the connection material summary.

The updated report now includes:

This enhancement improves the completeness and accuracy of material summaries used for:

 

Figure 13. Enhanced Connection Elements Summary including gusset plates and circular plates in the bill of materials report.

Resolved Issues:

AISC 360 – Shear plate Znet calculation for unequal edge distance configurations: A new equation was implemented to calculate the plastic net section modulus Znet of shear plates for cases where the edge distance Lev differs from (s/2), making AISC Manual Equations 15-4 and 15-5 not directly applicable. The implementation follows the methodology presented in the AISC Design Examples Manual v15 for single-plate shear connections, improving accuracy for nonstandard edge distance configurations.

AISC 341 – Reinforcement area not included for bolted HSS brace rupture checks: The reinforcement area for HSS braces bolted to gusset plates is now properly included in the seismic branch tensile rupture calculations, increasing the effective net area used for brace strength evaluation and updating the brace and gusset report sections accordingly.

AISC 360 – Gusset beam stub splice connection using incorrect member properties: The stub-to-support design logic for gusset connections with beam stub and splice configurations was corrected to use the geometric and section properties of the actual stub member instead of incorrectly referencing the beam properties, improving the consistency and accuracy of the generated connection design results.

AISC 360 – Incorrect Qf stress evaluation for rotated tubular chord sections: The stress evaluation for plastification reduction factor (Q_f) calculations was corrected for rotated chord sections in tubular truss connections by properly transferring the in-plane moment component into the design calculations, ensuring that chord face stresses and plastification checks are evaluated using the correct stress state.

AISC 360 – Incorrect K-joint classification in tubular truss connections: A correction was implemented in the tubular joint classification logic for K-connections where a parameter related to branch verticality evaluation in two-branch joint configurations was producing incorrect classification results in some cases. The revised implementation now provides the correct joint classification behavior.

AS 4100 – Anchor bolt section modulus and ultimate strength corrections: The AS 4100 anchor bolt implementation was corrected by updating the section modulus formulation and replacing the incorrect use of Fy with Fu where applicable in the bolt shear strength calculations, aligning the Australian code behavior with specification intent and maintaining consistency with equivalent implementations in other international design codes such as EN.