RAM Structural System CONNECT Edition Version 17.02.01 SES Release Notes
Anticipated Release Date: February 2021
This document contains important information regarding changes to the RAM Structural System. It is important that all users are aware of these changes. Please distribute these Release Notes and make them available to all users of the RAM Structural System.
This is a minor release, correcting some issues that affected some users of v17.02. The Release Notes for that version contain important information not included here in these abbreviate Release Notes. They can be found at:
Installation Instructions:
If you have enabled the CONNECTION Client you will automatically be notified of the newest version and will be able to update through that service by simply selecting the update command. Otherwise, this version can be found on the Bentley Software Fulfilment web page by logging into CONNECT Center and selecting the Software Downloads icon. Search for “RAM Structural System” and select the latest version.
Security Risk Advisory:
Not applicable to this release. Every effort is made to ensure that there are no security risks in the software. There are no known security issues, no issues were addressed in this version.
New Features and Enhancements:
For details on these new features and enhancements, refer to the manual .pdf files available from the Help menu in each module or from the Manuals folder on your hard drive.
Yield-Link
The capability of analyzing and designing moment frames utilizing the Simpson Strong-Tie Yield-Link connection was implemented in v17.02. Some enhancements and corrections have been made to that implementation.
- When the beam or column flange width is inadequate for the width of the Yield_Link size, the previous version gave a warning message, but the message didn’t indicate whether the problem was the beam width or the column width (or both). The message has been enhanced to indicate whether the problem is with the beam width or column width, and it lists the width required to accommodate the assigned Yield-Link size.
- In the joint graphic in the Joint View/Update dialog in Steel – Standard Provisions mode, “Side A” and “Side B” labels were added to clarify which side of the column was which.
- An error in the calculation of the demand capacity ratio for the Buckling Restraint Plate Bolt, Vuy-bolt / RnVy, was corrected; the calculated ratio was double the actual demand capacity ratio. Joints that would have otherwise passed this check may have been reported as having failed.
- An error was corrected in the Joint View/Update dialog in Steel – Standard Provisions mode. The program did not recognize any selections made by the user for the Side B Yield-Link size (the program correctly recognized selections made by the user for the Side A Yield-Link size).
Diaphragm Forces Report
Three options are now available for the Diaphragm Forces Report: Resultants, At Discreet Points, and Resultants and At Discreet Points. The values at Discreet Points was added to the report in v17.02, but because of the length of report that resulted, it was decided that the user should be given the option of obtaining the short report with the Resultants or the longer report with the values at Discreet Points, or both.
Table Editor
The Table Editor (Tools – RAM Table Editor) in RAM Manager has been enhanced to allow Copy and Paste; values can be pasted into the fields, eliminating the need to edit the values one by one. To do this, select the Value heading to highlight the entire column of data, and then Copy that column using Ctrl-C, or paste in values using Ctrl-V. It has also been enhanced to include the capability of editing the Detailing values that were added to the ramaisc.tab Master table in v17.02.
Error Corrections:
Some program errors have been corrected for this version. Corrections made to graphics, reports, Modeler functions, program crashes, etc., that were considered minor are not listed here. The noteworthy error corrections are listed here in order to notify you that they have been corrected or to assist you in determining the impact of those errors on previous designs. These errors were generally obscure and uncommon, affecting only a very small percentage of models, or had no impact on the results. The errors, when they occurred, were generally quite obvious. However, if there is any question, it may be advisable to reanalyze previous models to determine the impact, if any. In each case the error only occurred for the precise conditions indicated. Those errors that may have resulted in un-conservative designs are shown with an asterisk. We know these errors are disruptive, we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Steel Column
B1 AND B2 REFERENCES: The references for the B1 and B2 equations shown in the report were incorrect for the AISC 360-10 and AISC 360-16 specifications.
Effect: Report error only. When designing per AISC 360-10 and AISC 360-16, the B1 and B2 equation references for columns encountering B1 or B2 errors were listing older specification references.
Concrete Column
ACI 318-14 LIMIT ON NET TENSILE STRAIN: V17.02 was enhanced to include the tension strain limit of 0.004 for members with low axial load according to ACI 318-11 Section 10.3.5. However, this requirement is not required in Chapter 10 (Columns) in ACI 318-14, and should not have been applied to columns when the Code selection was ACI 318-14.
Effect: The limit of 0.004 on the net tensile strain of the reinforcement for lightly loaded columns was enforced on columns under ACI 318-14 even though it is not required for that code.
ACI 318 MAGNIFICATION FACTOR EXCEEDS 1.4: Some columns in some models in v17.02 reported that the Magnification factor, delta, exceeds 1.4. Work on an enhancement to check and give this warning is currently being done for a future version, but was not intended to be in v17.02. However, the partially complete work caused this warning to incorrectly appear.
Effect: Erroneous message. This has been removed until the feature is complete in a future version.
ACI 318 EFFECTIVE LENGTH FACTOR FOR Pc CALCULATION: Starting with v17.01, the value of k used in the calculation of Pc for sway members was limited to 1.0, but for nonsway members the calculated k from the nomograph was applied.
Effect: Effective length factor used in the calculation of Pc may have been different than 1.0. For consistency the value of k is now always set to 1.0 in the calculation of Pc.
Frame – Analysis
SLOPING COLUMN REACTION MOMENTS*: The reaction moments at foundation nodes were calculated and reported incorrectly for sloping columns. The Frame Reactions report and the Process – Results – Reactions command listed incorrect moments.
Effect: The reported and displayed reactions results for moments at the base were not correct at sloping column.
USER-DEFINED WIND LOAD ON SEMIRIGID DIAPHRAGM: If a user-defined wind load on a semirigid diaphragm included eccentricity, the program may have incorrectly calculated the wind forces projected onto semirigid diaphragm edges. This resulted in excess loads.
Effect: Excess wind loads may have been applied to semirigid diaphragms.
RIGID END ZONE INFORMATION IN BEAM MEMBER FORCE REPORT: When the option to Include Effects for Rigid End Zones was selected with a Reduction % specified, the Member Forces report listed the Reduction % incorrectly. It listed the value of (100% - Reduction %), rather than Reduction %.
Effect: Report error only, an erroneous rigid end zone reduction value was reported.
EUROCODE EN 1998-1:2004 SEISMIC AND RESPONSE SPECTRA: The Loads and Applied Forces report crashed if the model included Eurocode EN 1998-1:2004+A1:2013 seismic or response spectra load cases.
Effect: Report crash. Analysis results were valid.
Frame – Steel Standard Provisions
NOTE: The Joint Code Check command has been disabled for this version if the selected Code is AISC 360-05 ASD, AISC 360-10 ASD, or AISC 360-16 ASD. The program was using ASD load combination forces, but was using LRFD design checks, which was unconservative. The Joint Code Check reports showed that the checks were LRFD checks, so the error should have been obvious if the reports were carefully reviewed. If joint checks were performed in any version previously using AISC 360-05 ASD, AISC 360-10 ASD, or AISC 360-16 ASD, it may be advisable to recheck those joints using LRFD. The Joint Code Check command for ASD will be reactivated in a future release after the defect has been corrected. Note that the error only affected ASD, it did not affect LRFD design.
ISM
SHOW IN STRUCTURAL SYNCHRONIZER: In the File – ISM – ISM Options command the selection of the option Show in Structural Synchronizer wasn’t respected, the Structural Synchronizer always launched.
Effect: Nuisance. User couldn’t prevent the Structural Synchronizer from running when creating ISM repositories.
SHARED LAYOUT TYPES: The capability of creating ISM repositories from models that use shared floor types (i.e., the same layout type at multiple stories) was implemented in v17.02, and works correctly without requiring that the layout type be copied into distinct layout types for each story. However, an old message still appeared indicating that the shared layout type had been duplicated into distinct layout types.
Effect: Erroneous message only. The layout type was not duplicated into separate layout types.