RAM Concept - Design Details

I am using RAM concept to design an elevated slab supported by both interior columns and edge walls. This is an existing structure, so I have modeled all of the existing steel with hopes of checking it against the current and proposed future loading scenarios. After running my design, I'm getting some (not all) of the design strips to show "Failed: 7.12." When I go to that section of the code, it is referring to the minimum temperature and shrinkage steel section.

My slab is 14" thick with #5@12 each way, top and bottom. This would give me about 0.31 sq. in. per foot for both top and bottom in each direction. Based on the code checks, I would require ~0.0018(14")(12") = 0.3024 sq. in. of steel per foot. Is there a way I can look at a more detailed version and see WHY they noting this location as a failure? Any thoughts as to why this might be flagged?

I have another location where I have some failures but wanted to be able to gut check this first failure before moving on to the more specific locations. 

  • 1) I normally consider individual design sections only where a span segment (design strip) doesn't make sense. I would not use them in addition to design strips, but the length of the section cut is important and should relate to the width of a design strip.
    2) The program only code checks design sections and sections of strips (and punching checks). You can analyze a slab and review first order displacements or soil stresses without them, but that's about all.
    3) I always recommend that the width of the strip should match the tributary width you would consider if you were somehow hand checking the slab. Our wiki on design strips can guide you further: https://communities.bentley.com/products/structural/structural_analysis___design/w/structural_analysis_and_design__wiki/ram-concept-design-strips-tn