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 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.
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 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.