When RAM concrete performs its analysis on a floor by floor basis, how does it construct the columns for analysis? If I have a sloping floor and there is a column that is only 0.1' high to the next level, but really that is a dummy height to make the transition and the true column height is 10'+ is this taken into account? I am concerned too much stiffness is attributed to the column greatly increasing my demands.
The same goes for the columns that are defined to the half true story height -are these modeled / analyzed as 5' members or their true height?
You can use the Process - Results FE Model Info - to see the finite element model assumed for any story. A fully unbraced column should be the two story height.
Is there any way to adjust this? I don't know if it will mess with things, but since I have PT forces from concept I am concerned the PT forces are resulting in a large moment dumped to the column that is unrealistic.
Here is the full view at the slope location:
Here is the view in the FEM model - blue circled regions are where the column would extend the full height for that floor but due to the intermediate levels they are only .1' tall:
You can adjust the fixity or the column properties (size, material) to affect behavior, but you can't override the column length used in the analysis without physically altering the model.