Release Date: July 23, 2009
This document contains important information regarding changes to the RAM Structural System. It is important that all users are aware of these changes. Please distribute these release notes and make them available to all users of the RAM Structural System.
The Tutorial Manual has been completely rewritten, with a new tutorial model. The new tutorial demonstrates many of the new and recently added capabilities of the program. Regardless of the level of expertise using the program, it is recommended that the tutorial be perused. This will be perhaps the most efficient way to learn the new features. The design manuals should also be consulted to learn more about the program capabilities.
Version 14.00 automatically converts databases created in previous versions to the new database format. Note that a backup file is created automatically when a database is converted; the name of the database is the same, with "Orig" and the version number appended to the name. The file has an extension of ".zip" and is located in the same directory as the original database.
The previous steel tables and load combination templates supplied with the program will be replaced with new tables and templates of the same name. If you have customized any Master or Design tables or load combination templates supplied with the program without changing the file names, those file names should be renamed from the original RAM table names prior to installation to prevent your changes from being lost.
This version can only be installed by downloading the installation file from the Bentley SELECT web site. It can be found on the Bentley SELECT Services Downloads and Updates web page at:
http://selectservices.bentley.com/en-US/Support/Downloads+And+Updates/
Select "Search Downloads" and log in using your User Name and Password. Perform a Search by searching for the "RAM Products", and select the latest version of the RAM Structural System.
Studwelders, Ltd., MetFloor decks have been added to the UK deck table.
Some program errors have been identified in V14.00 and corrected for Version 14.00.01. Corrections made to graphics, reports, Modeler functions, program crashes, etc that were considered minor are not listed here. The noteworthy error corrections are listed here in order to notify you that they have been corrected or to assist you in determining the impact of those errors on previous designs. These errors were generally obscure and uncommon, affecting only a very small percentage of models, or had no impact on the results. The errors, when they occurred, were generally quite obvious. However, if there is any question, it may be advisable to reanalyze previous models to determine the impact, if any. In each case the error only occurred for the precise conditions indicated. Those errors that may have resulted in un-conservative designs are shown with an asterisk. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Defaults Utility
FOUNDATION DEFAULTS: If a user set Foundation defaults after an install, the foundation defaults were corrupted causing the foundation program to crash when invoked.
Effect: This error rendered the Foundation program unusable.
Note: If a model has been created in V14.00 that exhibits this error, it is necessary to do the following:
1. Delete all foundations in the new model.
2. Invoke RAM Foundation.
3. Reset all criteria (including Optimization criteria) using reasonable non-zero value.
4. Return to Modeler and re-model all foundations.
The model should then run properly.
Tables
RAMUK DECK TABLE*: The RAMUK deck table had unconservative deck trough areas assigned to the following deck types: Corus ComFlor 51, Kingspan MD 50-V2, and Tegral ComFlor 51.
Effect: Slightly unconservative concrete deck self-weights were used in design.
CIMsteel Translator
The CIMsteel translator would not run, CIMsteel files could not be created. This has been corrected.
Manager
FOUNDATION LOADS REPORT: The Foundation Loads report from RAM Manager, using concrete analysis forces, did not include the live load forces.
Effect: This was a report error only. No results were effected. The loads are shown correctly in the foundation program.
Modeler
PROPTABLE*: Deleting multiple items from any PropTable dialog had the potential to corrupt the PropTable data of the given type.
Effect: Anything using those property types (decks, loads, etc.) could have their property assignments changed to different property assignments, or corrupted completely.
OTHER BRACE SECTION PROPS*: Deleting an entry from the Other Brace Section property table in the PropTable - Braces command may have corrupted the section property assignments on OTHER braces.
Effect: Any OTHER braces assigned to section properties listed after the deleted one in the table would have their section property changed to the last section property in the table. This error did not occur with STEEL or CONCRETE braces.
Framing Tables
LINE LOADS ON SLOPING DECK: The Dead Load component of Line Loads on a sloping one-way deck were not factored correctly to account for the effects of the slope on the load.
Effect: The applied dead load was not correct in such cases and was conservative.
LINE AND POINT LOADS*: Line or point loads applied on a beam not lying under any decking were not getting applied to the beam.
Effect: Incorrect loads on beam. Note that loads applied to beams that were under decking were correctly applied to the beam.
RAM Steel Beam
SMARTBEAM ANALYSIS: Cellular Smartbeams were always optimized when the beams were analyzed in the View/Update dialog box.
Effect: User assigned sizes were ignored and optimized designs were assigned to the Smartbeams. Analysis results were correct for the design loads.
SLENDER WEB: Under the ASD 9th Edition, steel beams supporting slender Smartbeams were flagged as slender when the "Design All" command was invoked.
Effect: The steel beams were flagged as slender when they were not. Correct designs could be obtained using the "View/Update" command. Very rare error.
SMARTBEAM CONTROLLING MOMENT: When "View/Update" on a user assigned Smartbeam in the steel beam module was performed, the beam failed the bending check and the controlling moment was reported as zero.
Effect: The error only affected the reported results shown for the controlling bending moment. Analysis results for the beam were correct and did not affect the design.
RAM Steel Column
LOAD SUMMARY REPORT: The load summary report was incorrectly identifying some column lines as being under a two-way deck and therefore not reporting those loads.
Effect: Annoyance. The loads could be viewed from the Loads report. This did not cause any design errors.
RAM Frame - Analysis
WIND LOADS*: Wind loads were not applied to semirigid diaphragms when the diaphragms were sloped.
Effect: Missing wind loads.
SEMIRIGID DIAPHRAGMS LOCATED BELOW GROUND LEVEL*: If Ground Level was set to a story other than Base and if there were any two-way semirigid diaphragm located at or below Ground Level, the program did not apply gravity loads on these diaphragms.
Effects: Gravity loads on these diaphragms were skipped. Analysis results were not correct for gravity load cases.
USER DEFINED WIND LOAD CASE: User-defined Wind Load cases could not be analyzed; Analysis canceled itself immediately when it was kicked off. This only happened for models with rigid and semirigid diaphragms.
Effect: Analysis was canceled when user-defined wind load case was selected for analysis.
RAM Frame - Steel Standard Provisions
BUCKLING RESTRAINED BRACE CONSIDERING B2*: For AISC 360 design, if B2 was considered and the braces were designated Buckling Restrained Brace, braces in compression may have erroneously given a "Tension-only member in compression" error message or may have had a lower axial force applied than required.
Effect: Possibly unconservative axial load or erroneous error message given for design of BRB if B2 was considered.
RAM Concrete - Column
CONCRETE COLUMN DESIGN*: The interaction values that were reported at each story in the Concrete Column view/update for the longitudinal design could have been lower than the correct values for the ACI 318-05 and -08 design codes. This occurred for load combinations located in the transition region of the curve.
Effect: Column designs on occasion had a passed status when the axial/flexural design actually had failed.
RAM Foundation
INCORRECT FOUNDATION TWO-WAY ERROR: For models with braces framing in to walls, braces sitting independently on foundation or walls not fully supported by a foundation (i.e. only one end of the wall sitting on a foundation), an error was incorrectly given stating that a steel column was found that supports a two-way deck. This rendered the foundation undesignable.
Effect: Foundations that should be designable were marked as undesignable. Incorrect and inconvenient but conservative. No wrong results are produced by this error.
FOUNDATION LOADS*: When gravity loads on gravity members came from RAM Concrete or were material specific, the loads on the foundations due to gravity walls were incorrect. This error effected both RAM Foundation and the Foundation Loads report from RAM Manager.
Effect: Dead load was being used for all three load types (Dead, Live and Roof) resulting in incorrect designs.