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This document contains important information regarding changes to the RAM Structural System. It is important that all users are aware of these changes. Please distribute these release notes and make them available to all users of the RAM Structural System.
The previous steel tables and load combination templates supplied with the program will be replaced with new tables and templates of the same name. If you have customized any Master or Design tables or load combination templates supplied with the program without changing the file names, those file names should be renamed from the original RAM table names prior to installation to prevent your changes from being lost.
This version can only be installed by downloading the installation file from the Bentley SELECT web site. It can be found on the Bentley SELECT Services Downloads and Updates web page at: http://selectservices.bentley.com/en-US/Support/Downloads+And+Updates/
Select "Search Downloads" and log in using your User Name and Password. Perform a Search by searching for the "RAM Products", and select the latest version of the RAM Structural System.
Some program errors have been identified in V14.00.0x and corrected for Version 14.00.04. Corrections made to graphics, reports, Modeler functions, program crashes, etc that were considered minor are not listed here. The noteworthy error corrections are listed here in order to notify you that they have been corrected or to assist you in determining the impact of those errors on previous designs. These errors were generally obscure and uncommon, affecting only a very small percentage of models, or had no impact on the results. The errors, when they occurred, were generally quite obvious. However, if there is any question, it may be advisable to reanalyze previous models to determine the impact, if any. In each case the error only occurred for the precise conditions indicated. Those errors that may have resulted in un-conservative designs are shown with an asterisk. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Modeler SLOPING COLUMNS: Sloping columns whose sole support is a wall incorrectly had their bottom coordinates set to the bottom of the supporting wall instead of the top. Effect: Incorrect model geometry for sloping columns on walls.
Framing Tables LINE LOADS*: Line loads applied direct to and running parallel to the deck are distributed to the supporting beams or walls as point loads, but only in V14.00.03 the magnitude of the point load may have been only one-half of what it should have been. Effect: Unconservative loads applied to members in such cases in V14.00.03. This only occurred when the line load was applied directly to the deck, and only when it was parallel to the deck. The error did not occur if the load distributed directly to a column or directly to a point where two walls or beams intersected.
RAM Frame - Analysis IBC 2006 / ASCE 7-05 SEISMIC LOADS*: Eq. (12.8-6) was not correctly enforced when S1 was greater than or equal to 0.6g if Eq. (12.8-3) or Eq. (12.8-3) gave a smaller value than Eq. (12.8-6). Effect: Smaller value for Cs may have been used, resulting in a smaller base shear than required.
AUSTRALIA RESPONSE SPECTRA LOAD CASE*: Calculated response spectra loads were incorrect (they were not adjusted with correct value of "g", gravitational constant). Effect: Calculated forces were not valid. RAM Concrete - Beam TORSION CODE REFERENCE: The beam torsion check for ACI 318-08 referred to section 11.6.3.1 rather than section 11.5.3.1. Effect: Reporting problem only.
PERIMETER BEAM STIRRUPS*: ACI 318-08 does not allow open stirrups to be used in fulfillment of 7.13.2.3. However RAM Concrete was not delivering a design warning when stirrup type 135 deg hook was used for perimeter beams with ACI 318-08 as design code. Effect: Warnings were not delivered to user in this case.
DESIGN OF BEAM STIRRUPS: For IMF or SMF beams, beams of a certain depth were designed such that a single shear zone of the stricter spacing requirement along the entire span was used when it was possible to use three shear zones with a less stringent spacing in the middle portion of the span; that is, outside of the 2h zones at the ends of the beam. Effect: Overly conservative optimized beam stirrup layouts for lateral members of IMF or SMF frames.
CONCRETE BEAM STIRRUP DESIGN: Section 21.10.4.3 of ACI 318-99, -02, and -05, and Section 21.3.4.3 of ACI 318-08 were implemented so that the stirrup spacing enforced by the program was more stringent than the actual code provision required. Effect: Overly-conservative stirrup spacing along the middle portion of the beam span for lateral beams when using the Intermediate frame designation.
CONCRETE BEAM STIRRUP DESIGN: For stirrup design in Special Moment Frame beams, the provisions of ACI 318-08, 21.5.3.1 (and corresponding section of older versions of code) were applied to the entire span of the beam in some circumstances, rather than only at the outer portions of the spans. Effect: Unnecessarily conservative stirrup layout in special moment frame beams in some circumstances.
CONCRETE BEAM STIRRUP DESIGN*: In the View/Update dialog, when special moment frame provisions were used, when changing the stirrup type to something other than CLOSED or HOOP, the program did not deliver the warnings associated with ACI 318-08, Section 21.5.3.1. Effect: Design warning was not delivered to user.
CONCRETE BEAM DESIGN REPORT: The Concrete Beam design report and design summary report always reported stirrups of type "Hoop" or "135 Hook" as "Open". The correct stirrup type was reported in the View/Update dialog. Effect: Reporting error only.
RAM Concrete - Column ACI SLENDERNESS PROVISIONS: Section 10.13.5 of ACI 318-05 was removed from the ACI 318-08 update to the code, but the check was still being done when ACI 318-08 was the selected code. Effect: Possibly overly-conservative moment magnification for columns in sway frames that met the condition of ACI 318-05, Section 10.13.5 when the selected code was ACI 318-08.
SLENDERNESS CODE REFERENCES: The following code reference errors have been corrected: Equation 10-9 in ACI 318-02 and -05 was incorrectly referred to as equation 10-10. Equation 10-12 in ACI 318-08 was incorrectly referred to as 10-10. Section 10.10.6 in ACI 318-08 was incorrectly referred to as 10.12.3. Effect: Reporting error only, the designs where based on the correct equations.