RAM Connection CONNECT Edition V13 Update 8 (v13.8.0) Release Notes – Updated July 2022

Features:

1. Complete bracing/branch connections for EN1993. Now all brace/branch shapes and connectors are allowed for EN1993 for bracing and truss connections.

• Forked plates
• Forked tee
• Slotted with cover plates
• Tee with cover plates
• Flattened tubular
• Rods
• Claw angles
• Splice plates

Figure 1. Several bracing/branch connections for EN1993

2. New directly bolted coped web braces to gusset plate for AISC 360 and AS 4100. New brace to gusset interface connection for I shape section braces where the brace is partially coped to be directly bolted to the gusset.

Figure 2. Directly bolted coped web braces to gusset plate

3. Horizontal bracing connection enhancements

• New directly welded gusset connection. A directly welded connection option has been added to connect the horizontal gussets to the members.
  

Figure 3. New directly welded gusset connection

• New working point parameters as additional geometric data have been added to better define the horizontal gusset geometry.
  
  

Figure 4. Additional geometric data to define horizontal gusset

4. Vertical bracing connection enhancements to allow much larger brace angles (70°) and allow 0° for Y gusset braces

Figure 5. Brace slope angle 0°

5. New tiles thumbnail control to provide model joints managing functionality which includes

• Edit model joint numbers
• Move model joints as required
• Create joint groups to organize model joints as needed
  

Figure 5. New model joint thumbnail tiles functionality

Resolved Issues:

• AS4100 base plate analysis glitch solved for columns with circular hollow sections.
  
  
• AS4100 steel failure of fastener in shear demand now considers the shear resultant from major and minor axes when the analysis axis is defined as Both axes or Biaxial.
  
  
• AS4100 compression member section constant factor alpha_b is now considered as zero for plates in compression according to Clause 6.3.3.
  
  
• EN1993 combined axial and bending strength limit state was included for eccentric plates in directly bolted connections for gussets.
  
  
• AISC360 tubular truss connections several fixes related to the calculation of chord plastification, utilization ratio U and tolerances to determine the joint equilibrium.
  
  
• AISC360 net plastic section modulus Znet was being calculated using equation from AISC 360-05. The section modulus now is calculated for AISC 360-10 and AISC 360-16 according to updated 15-4 and 15-5 equations from AISC Steel Construction Manual v15.