I couldn't find these information anywhere in the manual, maybe someone here could answer and help me with few issues I have with RAM Frame and lateral walls:
1. Is there a way to quickly show/check enveloped distribution of stress/forces in the lateral walls? I know there is an option od displaying reactions for all nodes, but then I have to check each load combination separately. I know that I can check the Member Force envelope, but there comes my second question:
2. How are the member forces calculated? For example if a wall is partially in tension, partially in compression, what would be the result? Can I easily compare them with reactions for all nodes?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
You can do most of this with only Ram Frame. You can use the Shear Wall Forces mode to get the net forces acting on any cross section, but a cross section must cut through a complete wall, it cannot cut through only half a wall for example. If you want an envelope of load case results (i.e. comparing E1 to E2) stay in Load Cases mode, if you want an envelope of combined results, then use Analysis - load Combinations mode and generate the desired combinations.
1. You can use the Shear Wall Forces mode to get the net forces acting on any cross section. You can only get an indication of the variability of the forces using nodal reactions or wall stresses (in the Concrete Shear Wall module - within View/Update) but those are one combo at a time. *
2. Member forces are the net forces in the wall (acting on a horizontal section at the base of the story). A wall in pure major-axis overturning, i.e. tension on one side and equal compression on the other, will indicate 0 axial force (P).
More on walls here: RAM SS Walls FAQ
* Please be aware that there is a problem in version 14.07.00 with the display of wall stresses. It was fixed for 14.07.01 RAM SS V14.07.01 Release Notes
Answer Verified By: MF