RAM Connection CONNECT Edition V13 Update 4 (v13.4.0) Release Notes – Updated December 2020

Enhancements:

1. Seismic enhancements for AISC 345-16 and AISC 358-16. Update AISC seismic provisions to latest code for all moment frame and bracing frame connections. All FEMA - 350 checks were updated to AISC 358-16.

              Figure 1. AISC 358 - 16 checks

2. New gusset to brace interface connections for AISC / CSA / AS / NZS.    

• Forked plates
• Forked tee
• Slotted with cover plates
• Tee with cover plates
• Flattened tubular
• Rods

    

Figure 2. Forked plates                       Figure 3. Forked tee              Figure 4. Slotted with cover plates

    

Figure 5. Tee with cover plates      Figure 6. Flattened tubular                    Figure 7. Tie rod

3. New joint dialog for joint type selection. Now it is much easier to identify joint groups and all joint type options.

 Figure 8. New Joint dialog

4. Several connection enhancements like:

• New circular base plate for AISC. Now it is also possible to select between a rectangular or a circular base plate together with a regular. circular o custom anchor arrangement. For circular base plates with a circular hollow section it is also possible to define an opening for monopoles.

  

Figure 9. Circular base plate including an opening

• Horizontal braces connections to support vertical offset and only connected to one beam. Now it is possible to enter a vertical offset to locate the gusset on a required level. It is also possible to define the current joint members.

Figure 10. Horizontal gusset connection for a brace connected only to a girder.

• Chevron to support only one brace. This is required for knee brace connections that require only one brace to be connected to the beam at top, bottom or both.

  

Figure 11. Knee brace connection (chevron).

Resolved Issues:

• There was an issue that was causing connections to be shown as Not Designed in RAM Structural System when model modifications were done in the Modeler. This is fixed now and RAM Connection correctly identifies connections not longer valid due to the model changes.
  
  
• AISC 360 single plate and though plate wall slenderness check was causing some valid configuration to be assigned with warnings. These have been fixed.
  
  
• Heavy head anchor dimensions in metric units had some incorrect head sizes. These have been fixed and the anchors database updated.
  
  
• Base plate for AS 4100 design code was considering the gross area for the tensile anchor strength. This has been fixed and the tensile anchor strength correctly considers now the effective area.
  
  
• Tubular truss connections for AISC were classifying some K connections as X connections for branches in tension. This was corrected and now both K and X connections are classified properly.