RAM Structural System V8i SELECTseries 7 Release 14.07.01
Release Notes
Release Date: April 16, 2015
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.
Important Notices:
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.
Installation Instructions:
This version can be found on the Bentley Fulfillment Center web page at:
http://select.bentley.com/FulfillmentCenter/
Log in using your User Name and Password. Search for, select, and download the V14.07.01 version of the RAM Structural System.
Error Corrections:
Some program errors have been identified in V14.07 and corrected for Version 14.07.01. The 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.
RAM Steel Beam
FRAME BEAM SIZES MODIFIED*: If a floor Layout Type was used on two or more stories and the Frame beam sizes differed between those levels, performing a Design All in the RAM Steel Beam module caused the Frame beam sizes to be changed to be the same as that of the beam in the top-most occurrence of the Layout Type.
Effect: Frame beam sizes may have been unintentionally modified.
STEEL JOIST GIRDERS: Joist Girders supporting a uniform Partition Load were given the label xxGSP rather than a standard Joist Girder label.
Effect: Joist Girders with uniform Partition Load (which typically only occurs for edge girders) were not given a standard Joist Girder label even in cases where the magnitude of the uniform Partition Load was less than the specified tolerance. The Joist Girder labels were correctly generated if the uniform loads were of any other type (e.g., Roof, Live Load, Dead Load).
RAM Frame – Analysis
ASCE 7 SEISMIC 100%/30% LOAD CASES*: In the generation of the ASCE 7 Seismic load cases there is an option to “Consider Orthogonal Effects (100%/30%)”. When selected it creates additional load cases with 100% of the applied force in one axis and 30% of the applied force in the other. After these load cases had been created, if the user deleted other load cases the data on the location of the forces was erroneously reset, and applied these forces at the center of mass rather than at the location considering the 5% eccentricity requirement.
Effect: If other load cases had subsequently been deleted, the load cases that were created using the Consider Orthogonal Effects were applied without consideration of the accidental eccentricity requirements. Generally these load cases are only applicable to corner columns that are part of a frame in two directions. Note: In order to correct this error in existing models that use this option the seismic load cases must be regenerated.
NBC OF CANADA 2010 SEISMIC LOADS ON BRACED FRAMES*: In the calculation of the seismic story forces in the Y-direction, the limit on the calculated structural period T given by Clause 4.1.8.11.3d(ii) was not correctly enforced for structures with braced frames.
Effect: The applied seismic story forces in the Y-direction on braced frames may have been less than required. The X-direction forces were correct.
NBC OF CANADA 2010 SEISMIC LOADS*: In the generation of the NBC of Canada 2010 Seismic Loads for the purpose of calculating member forces, if a value of the calculated period, T, of the structure was specified using the Use option, the program failed to impose the limits on the calculated period given by Clause 4.1.8.11.3d(i) through (iv).
Effect: In the calculation of member forces, if the user specified an explicit period that was greater than the limits imposed by Clause 4.1.8.11.3d, the applied seismic story forces may have been less than they should have been. The error did not occur if the specified period was less than the limits given in the Clause, nor did it occur if any of the other options for Structure Period were selected, nor did it occur in the calculation of the applied seismic story forces used for Drift, since those limits to the period don’t apply for Drift.
DYNAMIC MOMENTS FOR BEAM WITH RIGID END ZONES*: Moments for beams with rigid end zones were not correct for dynamic (response spectra) load cases.
Effect: If the option to Consider Effects of the Rigid End Zones was selected, the moments reported (and used in the Steel code check) were not correct for the beams for the Response Spectra load cases. The error did not occur for other load cases, nor if the effects of Rigid End Zones was ignored.
RAM Frame – Steel Seismic Provisions
SCBF AND BRBF COLUMN DESIGN*: SCBF and BRBF beam shears contributing to Emh used in column design were incorrect for a framing configuration where V braces framed above a beam.
Effect: Although code checks for beams and braces were correct, code checks for columns were affected by the Emh applied in load combinations for design. The net shear from V braces framing down onto a beam from above which contribute to Emh from the special analyses of F2.4 and F4.4 was incorrect. X-brace and inverted V-brace configuration were correctly handled.
EBF LOAD COMBINATIONS: In checking AISC 360-05 Section 15.6a or AISC 360-10 Section F3.5a for EBF braces, the code check investigated all the load combinations given in the Steel – Standard Provisions module even if the user had deselected some of them.
Effect: Some load combinations may have been unnecessarily checked. The set of load combinations evaluated should have been restricted to the user selections in the load combination dialog box. Conservative designs if one of those unselected combinations governed.
RAM Concrete – Shear Wall
CRASH WHEN VIEWING SHEAR WALL MESH. The program crashed when the option to view the shear wall mesh in the View/Update command was selected. Subsequently, after once selecting that option View/Update command always crashed.
Effect: Unable to perform the View/Update command in the RAM Concrete Shear Wall module.