Where do I specify to consider seismic provisions in Connection Design?

The method to consider Seismic Provisions (AISC 341) and to assign Frame Types varies depending on the version of Ram Connection and what program it is integrated with. The following pertains to:

• Ram Connection Version 13.00
• Ram Elements Version 16.00
• Ram Structural System Version 16.01
• STAAD.Pro Version 22.00

Ram Connection Stand-Alone

• The Seismic Load Resisting System or Frame Type is set in the joint properties. 
• The Option to consider seismic provisions and the selection of the Seismic Design Category is in the Customize connection design dialog accessed by clicking on the current Code in the Design ribbon menu.

RAM Elements

• The Seismic Load Resisting System or Frame Type is set in the Members - Steel Design parameters spreadsheet. 
• The Option to consider seismic provisions is in the Seismic Design tab of the Process - Design dialog.
• The selection of the Seismic Design Category is in the Customize connection design dialog accessed by clicking on the current Code in the Modules ribbon menu.

RAM Structural System

• Always run the Ram Structural System through Steel Beam design, Steel Column design, Ram Frame Analysis, Ram Frame Steel Standard Provisions and Ram Frame Steel Seismic Provisions prior to running Ram Connection.
• The Option to consider seismic provisions and the selection of the Seismic Design Category is in the Customize connection design dialog accessed by clicking on the current Code in the Design ribbon menu.

• The Seismic Load Resisting System or Frame Type is assigned to connections in the Connection pad individually.

STAAD.Pro

• The option to consider Seismic Provisions is set in the Connection Design mode in the Ram Connection Settings dialog

• The Seismic Load Resisting System or Frame Type is set in the Connection Pad for each designed connection

• Seismic Frames can also be assigned tab in the Connection Design mode - Seismic Frames tab. 

I'm designing a connection with seismic provisions, but the Ry and Rt values don't look right, what's wrong?

Ry (Yield strength ratio) and Rt (Tensile strength ratio) are properties of the material in Ram Connection. The can be reviewed using Home - Databases - Materials - Edit.

To add your own materials with different values, refer to the wiki Creating custom elements in RAM Elements which also applies to Ram Connection.

Note, imported materials from RAM Structural System or STAAD.pro may not have the expected values for Ry and Rt since those are not directly supplied by either of those applications. For Ram Connection users with imported RAM SS files, edit the imported RAM SS materials as shown below (or reassign different steel material to the members):

Refer to Ry and HSS Steel Materials Imported from RAM Structural System for more information on Ry and HSS members that is specific to RAM Connection for RAM Structural System.

For STAAD users, be careful to define the proper values when using the RAM Materials dialog box within the connection mode.

For further details refer to Tips for Using RAM Connection within STAAD.Pro [TN]. and How to Customize a RAM Connection Template in STAAD.Pro 

See Also

RAM Connection Capabilities and Modeling FAQ

Troubleshooting Errors when Assigning Connections