Problem Description

In RAM Connection for RAM Structural System, the forces imported from RAM Structural System are zero (0) for all load combinations. The problem occurs at connections with gravity members only. Connections for frame members are designed with the correct non-zero forces.

Reason

RAM Connection identifies notional load cases as lateral load cases and any load combination that includes a notional load case is flagged as a lateral combination. RAM Connection skips combinations identified as lateral combinations in the design of gravity-only members. If all load combinations include notional load cases and there are no load combinations with gravity load cases only, RAM Connection will not have forces results to design connections that include gravity members only.

Steps to Resolve

The best option is to define custom load combinations in RAM Frame - Steel mode - Standard Provisions that include just the gravity loads and exclude notional and lateral loads and import them into RAM Connection with the other load combinations from RAM Frame.

Another option is to generate these additional load combinations in RAM Connection after importing using the steps below. These combinations will be cleared if combinations are imported from RAM Frame at a later date, however.

Step 1

Click on the Generate button in the Home menu - Load Conditions tool bar.

Step 2

In the Generate Load Combinations dialog, select a factored load combination that matches the design code that is selected and then click on the Generate button. The factored load combinations used in the United States are marked in the screen capture below.

Step 3

Check the boxes for all load combinations that include gravity load cases only. Combinations that include gravity and lateral load cases do not need to be selected. These combinations have been imported from RAM Frame and include the notional load cases. Click the OK boxes to close the dialogs and generate the load combinations.