RAM Concept Key Features

Here's an overview of RAM Concept's key capabilities:

• Complete modeling of the floor as physical objects: slabs, beams, walls, columns, openings, penetrations, etc., with the option to trace over a CAD background.
• Option to create design objects (such as design spans and strips, and studded shear reinforcement) either manually or by intelligent program automation.
• Organization of user interface by layers, much like a CAD program. This allows easy access to the large amount of information in the model.
• Placement of reinforcement either manually or by automatic program selection, with the option to 'freeze' program reinforcement.
• Tendon placement tools that allow the post-tensioning or prestressing in even large, complicated floors to be quickly established and refined.
• 3D finite element analysis of the structure, with rationalization into resultants for easy processing of results by the designer.
• Exhaustive design capabilities including consideration of short and long term states, service and strength criteria, punching shear design, vibration due to walking, and advanced deflection calculations using load history.
• 2D and 3D plots of virtually any possible response quantity.
• Creation of CAD file from reinforcing or post-tensioning plans in RAM Concept.
• Integrate RAM Concept models with [[RAM Structural System]], [[STAAD.Pro]], or [[STAAD(X)]] to analyze and design the remainder of the structure for full gravity load takedown and systematic lateral loads.

Key Features

• Flexible Structural Modeling
  • Elevated floors and mat foundations
  • One-way and two-way slabs, pan joists, waffle slabs, beams, and girders
  • Orthotropic or isotropic slab properties
  • Drop caps, drop panels and random thickenings of any shape at any location
  • Openings of any shape at any location
  • Wall, column, point spring and line spring supports
  • Accurate modeling of irregular structures
  • Zero-tension area (soil) springs
  • Imported CAD drawing as snapping background
• Automated meshing, with intelligent resolution of geometric misalignments and tolerance problems
• Tendon Modeling
  • Banded, distributed, and arbitrarily placed tendons
  • Friction losses including consideration of horizontal curves
  • Analysis includes 3D hyperstatic (secondary) effects
  • Placement of jacks with consideration of anchor losses
• Loading Analysis
  • X, Y, and Z-direction point, line, and area force loads
  • Mx and My point, line, and area moment loads
  • Line loads (force and moment) can vary linearly from end to end
  • Area loads (force and moment) can vary linearly in two directions
  • Self-weight and tendon loadings calculated automatically
  • Self-equilibrium loadings available for integrating floor-system analysis with
  • building frame analysis from any source
  • Frequency analysis and vibration response due to walking
• Pattern Loading
  • Loads can be filtered through arbitrary-shaped patterns with on-pattern and off-pattern factors
  • Patterns loading effects automatically enveloped together
• Live Load Reduction
  • ASCE 7, Eurocode 1, NBC of Canada, AS/NZS 1170.1, BS 6399-1, IBC, IS 875, UBC
  • Arbitrary loading patterns may be specified
  • Tributary/influence areas may be specified or calculated by the program
• Load Combinations
  • Automatically generated load combinations for each design code
  • Optional user-specified load combinations (no limit)
  • Two load factors per loading, allowing easy enveloping of max and min forces
  • Zero-tension area spring results for mat/raft foundations
• Span and Cross Section Design
  • Automated layout of design spans
  • Post-tensioned, reinforced, and hybrid concrete design
  • Strength design (bending and shear)
  • Initial service design (transfer of prestressing forces)
  • Service design
  • Ductility design
  • Cracked section analysis
  • Long-term deflections considering cracking, creep, and shrinkage
  • Support for design according to ACI 318, EC2, AS 3600, BS 8110-1997, IS 456, CAN/CSA A23.3-04
• Punching Shear Design
  • Automated generation of critical section considering actual (not simplified) geometries
  • Design for columns above or below the slab
  • Consideration of biaxial moments
  • Design of studded shear reinforcement (SSR)
• Report Generation
  • Fully customizable professional reports
  • Reports are complete ready-to-submit calculations
  • Reports can be printed to any page size or orientation
  • Audit of cross sections or punching checks for review of all steps in the design process
• Graphics and Visualization
  • Interactive, rendered three-dimensional views of concrete geometry, reinforcing bars, tendons, and shear reinforcing
  • Two or three-dimensional color coded plot of any analysis quantity
  • View color-coded difference between two plots to easily compare two analysis or design states
  • Animation of plots
• Integration Features
  • RAM Concept can be run as a module within RAM Structural System, and results included in the *.rss file
  • Import of structure and loadings from RAM Structural System
  • Export of geometry to RAM Structural System
  • Import of structure and loadings from STAAD
  • Import and Export of CAD drawings
  • Compliance with Integrated Structural Modeling (ISM) format, for interoperability with other Bentley products
• Other Features
  • Multiple and mixed unit systems (US, SI, and MKS)
  • Strip Wizard for 2D modeling
  • Industry leading technical support