I want to model CFM bearing walls in RAM modeler essentially for the purpose of creating a load run down to a podium level. My question involves openings in the walls.
My strategy is to create the walls using "other" and assign them as gravity. I will have several different types of openings to deal with. For example:
Door/Window headers
For these if they are small enough, I would like likely ignore them. However, if they are larger I may want to capture the effects of the point load on the transfer level. I don't believe you can put openings in gravity walls, so I'm thinking that I would just discontinue the wall and place a gravity beam between the two ends of the discontinued walls. Will this strategy give me a point load at the end of the beam applied to the podium level?
Discontinuous walls
Similar to the large opening, I will have cases where the walls stop and I will need a beam that extends from the end of the wall to some other wall. Again, will i get point loads at the ends of the beam?
Beams framing perpendicular to the walls
Some of the beams will frame perpendicular to the wall. I assume these will apply a point load at that location as well.
Is there a way for me to see the applied loads on the podium level as a result of this "load run down"?
Added question - Should the beams be cut back from the walls if importing them from a dxf?
Thanks!
I see, interesting. Thanks for following up. Not sure if I will have a good feel for the difference unless I try it both ways. Anyway, thanks again.
Sorry last question - is there a possibility of putting a column within a wall or would have two elements in the same location throw a modeling error?
For example, if there is a beam framing perpendicular to a CFM wall with a heavy reaction and the wall is long, RAM concept is going to see a long line load. However, in reality that is going to be a large, concentrated force. I could break the wall on each side of the column (say 1' from each side of the column) and add short beams to connect the column and walls. Then the column would bring this load straight down. However, could I instead just put the column in the wall and frame the beam in to the column?