I am designing Masonry SWs in RAM Elements for the first time. I imported the RSS Lateral model into Elements and have been designing each wall after assigning properties, criteria, etc. I have a couple questions about the program and its limitations.
1) From what I can tell, there is no way to add bond beams in the module. I can uncheck joint reinforcement to get the required horizontal reinforcement. Is this a correct assumption? When this option is selected, there is a typo in the detailing of the horiz reinforcing because it still says EF (each face), even tho it is showing (1) bar. I am planning on resolving the required horiz reinf into an equivalent bond beam spacing.
2) When I model the wall openings in RAM, I cannot get any reasonable design to work for openings near wall ends. Even though I have modeled my walls as connected (i.e. stairwells, elevator cores), it seems RAM Elements does not allow you to consider the corners with the perpendicular walls for additional capacity. What do you recommend for these conditions?
1) True, we don't design masonry beams or bond beams. The issue with E.F. was previously noted. Defect 891142:Masonry wall, two layers of reinforcement, horizontal bars indicate each face (E.F.)
2) I would extend the opening to the very edge if you are counting on the opposite wall to take all the demand (or ignore the warning for the thin strip/column).
Seth - to follow up on this. When the reinforcement layers is set to one, the vertical bars are NOT called out as "E.F." and we see only one graphically. The horizontal bars ARE called out as "E.F." but we only see one graphically. When the reinforcement layers is set to two, the vertical bars ARE called out as "E.F." and we see only two graphically. The horizontal bars are NOT called out as "E.F." and we only see one graphically.
Can you confirm which bars are actually being used with a double mat (E.F.) for each of the two conditions?
Seth Guthrie - any thoughts on this?