RAM | STAAD | ADINA Wiki Importing Items into RAM Concept

Importing Items into RAM Concept

	Applies To
	Product(s):	RAM Structural System, RAM Concept
	Version(s):	Various
	Environment:	N/A
	Area:	Import/Export
	Original Author:	Bentley Technical Support Group

What Is Imported?

All concrete members including slabs, beams, columns (above and below slab), and walls (above and below slab).
Slab openings.
Member sizes.
Concrete material properties.
Column fixity.

Surface loads, point loads, and line loads on members. Labels for loadings in elevated slab models will match the label in the RAM Structural System model. Labels for loadings in mat foundation models will be imported into a loading with “(Transfer)” appended to the load case name.
Point loads on members.
Line loads on members.
Slab and beam self-weight are always considered in RAM Concept. It is recommended to always consider slab/deck and beam self-weight in the RAM Structural System model.
All live loads; Reducible, Unreducible, Storage, Roof (and partition loads in Ram Concept version 5.0 and later).
For transfer gravity loads the user chooses which of the RAM SS analysis results to import; Ram Concrete, Ram Frame or Ram Steel. See RAM SS Analysis Types for more on why these transfer forces can vary. A Green Model Status indicator light is required for the transfer gravity load reactions to be imported into Ram Concept. If you get a warning about zero forces, or notice a transfer load case in Ram Concept with no point or line loads on it whatsoever, check that the status light is green. A yellow light can happen, for example, if there is an unsized steel or other material beam in Ram Concrete Analysis.

Note, in Ram Concept, in order for Live Load reduction to occur the loads need to be of a reducible type and the Ram Concept - Criteria - Calc option setting for Live Load Reduction Code must be set (see below). Reducible live loads on Mat Foundations are the exception to this rule. Those loads come into Ram Concept already reduced. Reducible transfer loads for elevated slabs that are imported into RAM Concept are not reduced.

Wind and Seismic Load are imported as point loads at walls and columns as part of a Lateral Self Equilibrium load case (see Figure 1) . Please see RAM Concept Lateral Self Equilibrium for more information.

Figure 1. Imported Lateral Self Equilibrium Load Case.

In RAM Structural System v14.06.00 and earlier, all wind loads are imported as service type loadings and all load combinations are generated assuming this loading type. In RAM Structural System, wind loads that are generated using ASCE7-10 are ultimate loads, however. In models with ASCE7-10 wind loads, the loading type should be changed to ultimate loads after importing into RAM Concept (Criteria - Loadings) and, then, the load combinations should be rebuilt (Criteria - Rebuild Load Combos).

Members defined with steel or other type materials in RAM Structural System. For mat foundations, if columns are modeled as steel or other-type columns, they will not be imported.
Composite Concrete Flat Slabs. For elevated slabs, the slab must be defined as a concrete deck in RAM Structural System. If the deck is modeled as a composite flat slab, the slab area will not be imported into RAM Concept.
Sloping Concrete Slabs. Sloped slabs modeled in RAM Structural System will be imported as flat slabs into RAM Concept.
Beam fixity. Full fixity of beams is always assumed and beams are uncracked (though treated as no-torsion beams by default).
Wall fixity. Wall fixity is always assumed pinned near and far.