The RAM Concept PT Design Optimization feature is a cloud-based design tool that helps engineers save hours of engineering time while developing highly optimized post-tensioned concrete floor designs.
This article outlines the access and usage rules for this feature.
Current Access Rules
Currently, the PT Design Optimization feature can only be used in RAM Concept 2024 as part of a limited access program. Feature usage is now limited so that Bentley Systems can give users free access to the new and improved cloud computing engine, which was first released in RAM Concept 2024, while controlling incurred cloud usage costs. Refer to the Ram Concept 2024 Release Notes for more information about these cloud engine upgrades and the limited access program.
Only organizations that have been accepted as limited access participants are able to use the feature. Feature use is disabled for all other organizations. If your organization is interested in using the feature during the limited access period, please use this form to request access.
To control cloud usage costs, Bentley Systems has set a maximum cloud usage cap for each organization that is based on the quantity of Bentley structural product license seats that they own. More information about how the cloud usage cap is calculated and enforced is communicated to organizations when they are accepted into the limited access program.
Bentley Systems does not invoice organizations for RAM Concept PT Design Optimization usage. If your organization has reached its cloud usage cap, you will not be invoiced for over usage at a later date but may be prevented from starting or resuming future optimizations.
Access Rule History
The PT Design Optimization feature was first released as a general availability feature in RAM Concept v08.00.00. Between this release and the release of RAM Concept 2024, the feature was available to all organizations with an active qualifying Bentley product subscription. However, feature use was limited to a maximum monthly compute time restriction to protect Bentley System from incurring excessive cloud costs.
In RAM Concept 2024, significant updates were made to the cloud engine used by the PT Design Optimization feature, which significantly improved performance (faster calculation times), stability (fewer connection issues), and security (updated internal components). When RAM Concept 2024 was released, feature access was limited to organizations that were selected to participate in a limited feature access program. Refer to the Current Access Rules section above for more information about the limited access program and the access rules that apply to RAM Concept 2024.
The cloud engine used in RAM Concept v08.00.00 through RAM Concept v23.00.01 was deprecated at the time RAM Concept 2024 was released. This deprecation prevents users from opening the Optimization Manager or starting/resuming optimizations in versions older than RAM Concept 2024. A Bentley Cloud Services Sign In error is displayed in RAM Concept v08.00.00 through RAM Concept v23.00.01 when attempting to perform these operations.