RAM Elements CONNECT Edition v15.0 Release Notes

RAM Elements CONNECT Edition v15.0 Release Notes

RAM Elements CONNECT Edition v15.00.00.018 Release Notes – Updated August 2018

Enhancements:

1. AISC 360/341-16. This release includes the latest edition of the Specification for Structural Steel Buildings of the American Institute of Steel Construction (Allowable Strength Design (ASD), Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD)), as well as the most recent edition of the Seismic Provisions for Structural Steel Buildings. Torsional analysis per DG 9 is also included.
2. AISI S100-16. This release also includes the latest edition of the North American Specification for the Design of Cold-Formed Steel Structural Members of the American Iron and Steel Institute (Allowable Strength Design (ASD) and Load and Resistance Factor Design (LRFD)).
3. 64-bit Version. RAM Elements is now compiled in 64 bits and fully compatible with 64-bit versions of Windows.
4. New File Format. RAM Elements’ models are now in SQLite format which are smaller in size and frequently faster to read and write. This modification caused a change in the file extension of the files from *.ETX to *.RETX.
5. Automatic Mass Generation without Diaphragm. Addition to generate masses used in dynamic analysis for structures without rigid diaphragms, by using element’s (members and shells) self-masses.
6. Automatic Wind Load Generation. RAM Elements now includes tools to generate wind loads in closed (using the existing load areas feature) and open (using the member distributed loads feature) structures per ASCE 7-16.
7. ISM 6.0 Enhancements. RAM Elements now synchronizes concrete reinforcement steel bars for beams and columns as well as built-up sections and tapered members.
8. Center of Rigidity. The software can now report the center of rigidity for each rigid diaphragm.
9. New Modeling Tools. The selection of invalid (missing section or material) members and invalid (missing nodes, material or thickness) shells is now possible. The ability to copy in a circular or spiral fashion is also part of this release.
10. New Themes. RAM Elements now ships with three color themes that can be selected in the Configuration dialog.
11. Beam Design Module. The ability to show the reinforcement outside the beam for better detailing as it was possible in older versions of the software (RAM Advanse) is now back.
12. Masonry Wall Module. 4 inches block units have been added to the block database.

Resolved Issues:

• Fix in the design of WT and double angle T sections, that was incorrectly being done based on principal axis. This has now been corrected and for these types of sections, is now based in local axis.
• Wide flanges with a channel on top (W&C sections) were being designed with incorrect equations for Lp and Lr. This has now been corrected and uses Section F5.
• Out-of-plane shear in masonry, concrete and tilt-up walls had differences between the standalone mode and the integrated mode. The integrated mode has now been fixed, by utilizing the correct forces from the 3D model and now the shear is the same in both modes.
• When using MBMA provisions for tapered members the user input Cb was being ignored and always calculated by the software. This has now been fixed and if the user specifies a Cb for a tapered member, the software won’t override it with its own calculation.
• Tapered members per CSA S16-09 was being done as a constant depth member with the smallest side of the member. This has been corrected and it is now considering the member variance.
• Torsional design had differences if the initial and final nodes of identical members were inverted. This has now been corrected and the member orientation does not affect the torsional design.
• For single angles subjected to flexure and tension, the wrong section modulus was being used. This has now been corrected.
• Importing models from the RAM Structural System sometimes caused nonexistent point loads in beams to appear. This has now been adjusted.