RAM Connection CONNECT Edition V13 Update 4 (v13.4.0) Release Notes

RAM Connection CONNECT Edition V13 Update 4 (v13.4.0) Release Notes – Updated December 2020

Enhancements:

1. Seismic enhancements for AISC 345-16 and AISC 358-16. Update AISC seismic provisions to latest code for all moment connections for moment frames and bracing connections for bracing frames. All FEMA - 350 checks were updated to AISC 358-16.4

                       Figure 1. AISC 358 - 16 checks

2. New gusset to brace interface connections for AISC / CSA / AS / NZS.    

• Forked plates
• Forked tee
• Slotted with cover plates
• Tee with cover plates
• Flattened tubular
• Rods

Figure 2. Forked plates Figure                 Figure 3. Forked tee                                 Figure 4. Slotted with cover plates

Figure 5. Tee with cover plates                Figure 6. Flattened tubular                      Figure 7. Tie rod

3. New joint dialog for joint type selection. Now it is much easier to identify joint groups and all joint type options.

Figure 8. New Joint dialog

4. Several connection enhancements like:

• New circular base plate for AISC. Now it is also possible to select between a rectangular or a circular base plate together with a regular. circular o custom anchor arrangement. For circular base plates with a circular hollow section it is also possible to define an opening for monopoles.

Figure 9. Circular base plate including an opening

• Horizontal braces connections to support vertical offset and only connected to one beam. Now it is possible to enter a vertical offset to locate the gusset on a required level. It is also possible to define the current joint members.

Figure 10. Horizontal gusset connection for a brace connected only to a girder.

• Chevron to support only one brace. This is required for knee brace connections that require only one brace to be connected to the beam at top, bottom or both.

Figure 11. Knee brace connection (chevron).

Resolved Issues:

• There was an issue that was causing connections to be shown as Not Designed in RAM Structural System when model modifications were done in the Modeler. This is fixed now and RAM Connection correctly identifies connections not longer
• AISC 360 gusset base plate had some incorrect orientation relative to braces. This was corrected and now columns show correct orientation for all cases.
  
  
• AISC 360 tapered beam members were showing an error when a Tee section was selected for haunch. This was fixed and now all I and Tee sections can be defined as haunch.
  
  
• Plate detailing info was missing for splice packing plates. Now both the DXF and the parts report show the packing plates information correctly.
  
  
• AISC 360 directly welded connections did not calculate the web panel shear correctly for SMF framing system. This is fixed now and the panel shear is calculated correctly for all framing systems.
  
  
• AISC 360 HSS truss connections were not calculating correctly the local yielding for branches with rotated sections. This was corrected and now all limit states are calculated properly regardless the members orientation.