https://communities.bentley.com/products/ram-staad/f/ram-staad-forum/248450/ram-frame-aisc-360-direct-analysis-method---foundation-designFor foundation design, do you check &quot;Use Reduced Stiffness for Steel Members&quot; when running RAM Frame module? It seems to give different Max Unfactored Soil Bearing for foundation designen-USTelligent Community 12https://communities.bentley.com/thread/776115?ContentTypeID=1Wed, 02 Aug 2023 19:28:24 GMT6dad98f5-dbc9-4c4d-a9ba-e9da8dc6aa8e:2a061843-96e6-4f4b-85f0-1ecb3a094cdcSeth Guthrie<p>I don&#39;t think it&#39;s necessary for foundation design. We noted that the stiffness reduction (Tau factor) is specifically for the design of steel members. See:&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://communities.bentley.com/products/ram-staad/w/structural_analysis_and_design__wiki/6011/asce-7-aisc-360-and-the-direct-analysis-method-in-the-ram-structural-system">ASCE 7, AISC 360, and the Direct Analysis Method in the RAM Structural System</a>&nbsp;But it&#39;s more convenient to just keep in on for all purposes.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p><div style="clear:both;"></div>