RAM Concept Key Features

Here's an overview of RAM Concept's key capabilities:

• Complete modeling of the floor as physical objects: slabs, beams, walls, columns, openings, penetrations, etc., with the option to trace over a CAD background.
• Option to create design objects (such as design spans and strips, and studded shear reinforcement) either manually or by intelligent program automation.
• Organization of user interface by layers, much like a CAD program. This allows easy access to the large amount of information in the model.
• Placement of reinforcement either manually or by automatic program selection, with the option to 'freeze' program reinforcement.
• Tendon placement tools that allow the post-tensioning or prestressing in even large, complicated floors to be quickly established and refined.
• 3D finite element analysis of the structure, with rationalization into resultants for easy processing of results by the designer.
• Exhaustive design capabilities including consideration of short and long term states, service and strength criteria, punching shear design, vibration due to walking, and advanced deflection calculations using load history.
• 2D and 3D plots of virtually any possible response quantity.
• Creation of CAD file from reinforcing or post-tensioning plans in RAM Concept.
• Integrate RAM Concept models with RAM Structural System, STAAD.Pro, or STAAD(X) to analyze and design the remainder of the structure for full gravity load takedown and systematic lateral loads.

Key Features

• Flexible Structural Modeling
  • Elevated floors and mat foundations
  • One-way and two-way slabs, pan joists, waffle slabs, beams, and girders
  • Orthotropic or isotropic slab properties
  • Drop caps, drop panels and random thickenings of any shape at any location
  • Openings of any shape at any location
  • Wall, column, point spring and line spring supports
  • Accurate modeling of irregular structures
  • Zero-tension area (soil) springs
  • Imported CAD drawing as snapping background
• Automated meshing, with intelligent resolution of geometric misalignments and tolerance problems
• Tendon Modeling
  • Banded, distributed, and arbitrarily placed tendons
  • Friction losses including consideration of horizontal curves
  • Analysis includes 3D hyperstatic (secondary) effects
  • Placement of jacks with consideration of anchor losses
• Loading Analysis
  • X, Y, and Z-direction point, line, and area force loads
  • Mx and My point, line, and area moment loads
  • Line loads (force and moment) can vary linearly from end to end
  • Area loads (force and moment) can vary linearly in two directions
  • Self-weight and tendon loadings calculated automatically
  • Self-equilibrium loadings available for integrating floor-system analysis with
  • building frame analysis from any source
  • Frequency analysis and vibration response due to walking
• Pattern Loading
  • Loads can be filtered through arbitrary-shaped patterns with on-pattern and off-pattern factors
  • Patterns loading effects automatically enveloped together
• Live Load Reduction
  • ASCE 7, Eurocode 1, NBC of Canada, AS/NZS 1170.1, BS 6399-1, IBC, IS 875, UBC
  • Arbitrary loading patterns may be specified
  • Tributary/influence areas may be specified or calculated by the program
• Load Combinations
  • Automatically generated load combinations for each design code
  • Optional user-specified load combinations (no limit)
  • Two load factors per loading, allowing easy enveloping of max and min forces
  • Zero-tension area spring results for mat/raft foundations
• Span and Cross Section Design
  • Automated layout of design spans
  • Post-tensioned, reinforced, and hybrid concrete design
  • Strength design (bending and shear)
  • Initial service design (transfer of prestressing forces)
  • Service design
  • Ductility design
  • Cracked section analysis
  • Long-term deflections considering cracking, creep, and shrinkage
  • Support for design according to ACI 318, EC2, AS 3600, BS 8110-1997, IS 456, CAN/CSA A23.3-04
• Punching Shear Design
  • Automated generation of critical section considering actual (not simplified) geometries
  • Design for columns above or below the slab
  • Consideration of biaxial moments
  • Design of studded shear reinforcement (SSR)
• Report Generation
  • Fully customizable professional reports
  • Reports are complete ready-to-submit calculations
  • Reports can be printed to any page size or orientation
  • Audit of cross sections or punching checks for review of all steps in the design process
• Graphics and Visualization
  • Interactive, rendered three-dimensional views of concrete geometry, reinforcing bars, tendons, and shear reinforcing
  • Two or three-dimensional color coded plot of any analysis quantity
  • View color-coded difference between two plots to easily compare two analysis or design states
  • Animation of plots
• Integration Features
  • RAM Concept can be run as a module within RAM Structural System, and results included in the *.rss file
  • Import of structure and loadings from RAM Structural System
  • Export of geometry to RAM Structural System
  • Import of structure and loadings from STAAD
  • Import and Export of CAD drawings
  • Compliance with Integrated Structural Modeling (ISM) format, for interoperability with other Bentley products
• Other Features
  • Multiple and mixed unit systems (US, SI, and MKS)
  • Strip Wizard for 2D modeling
  • Industry leading technical support