Problem Description

The data check reports a cantilever beam out of alignment.

Explanation

In Ram Structural System, a cantilever beam is typically an extension of an existing simple span beam, The user specifies the length (or the X or Y intercept of the end) and the program projects a cantilever along the line vector defined by the backspan to a new point and the calculated end point.

In some circumstances, there is an existing object very close to the calculated end point and the program will snap the new cantilever to this existing snap point rather than using the calculated end point and this cause the cantilever segment to be out of alignment with the backspan.

There is some tolerance built into the program for both the snapping distance and the alignment of the beam and backspan, but the snapping distance is large enough that the problem sometimes occurs.

Solution

To fix the problem the object that is not quite in alignment with the tip of the cantilever can be moved. it might be a grid intersection, another beam, or any number of other objects in the model like a deck vertex or the end of a line load.

In some situations, the cantilever can be made a little bit longer or shorter to avoid the problem.