RAM Connection v8.0 Release Notes – Updated August 2012

Enhancements

1. AISC Design Guide 16 now allows for thin plate behavior on end plates, plus the ability to specify flushed end plates (not only extended per DG 4) and multiple rows of bolts.
2. Metal building connections for frames with tapered members (rafters and/or columns) per AISC 360 and Design Guide 25. These include knee (beam-to-column), splice and ridge connections. Base plates for tapered columns coming soon!
3. Portal frame connections for frames using rafters with haunches. The design can be carried out per AISC 360 or BS 5950. These include eave, splice and apex connections.
4. New column stiffener configurations.
5. Added support for Canadian steel sections.
6. Structural Synchronizer V8i (ISM) v3.0 compatible (only available in the RAM Connection for RAM Elements mode now):
   a. Feature additions (gusset plates, base plates, end plates and stiffeners)
   b. Connection tags

Resolved Issues

1. Member incompatibility warnings have been enriched substantially. His has been accomplished in three ways:
   a. A bug was inadvertently introduced in v7.3.2 that triggered the majority of these warnings. That has been fixed.
   b. Others are now handled automatically by the software and thus, disappeared, not shown anymore.
   c. The rest, 100% valid, are now explained more clearly in the design report.