Release Date: November 2022
Version: RAM Concept CONNECT Edition V8 Update 4
Version Number: 08.04.00.122
Current and past RAM Concept releases can be downloaded from the Bentley Software Downloads page. After signing-in, the RAM Concept installers can be located by selecting RAM in the Brand menu and clicking Apply or searching for RAM Concept in the Product Search box.
RAM Concept V8 CONNECT Edition Update 4 can also be installed through the CONNECTION Client update service or through the Structural WorkSuite Hub.
RAM Concept V8 CONNECT Edition Update 4 can be installed concurrently with versions prior to V8. The installation of this version will automatically uninstall RAM Concept V8 or later.
More information on product licensing can be found here. A download link to a licensing user guide, which includes instructions for setup and configuring license threshold alerts, can also be found on that web page.
The Early Access Program (EAP) for the iTwin Synchronize to Cloud Workflow continues with this version. A practical application of this technology is the ability for RAM Concept users push PT tendon profiles to a 3D analytical iTwin and review those profiles in elevation/cross section views across the floor (see image below). RAM Concept users can access the capabilities of this workflow at no additional charge by participating in the program. After the EAP concludes, a separate license will be required to access the cloud synchronization features. The local iTwin Synchronize to File Workflow is and will continue to be included with the RAM Concept license. More information on participating in the EAP can be found here.
RAM Concept CONNECT Edition V8 Update 4 includes the new features discussed below.
Deflection Checks
Maximum and minimum deflection limits can now be defined and checked during the design calculations. The deflection limits can be based on absolute deflection or span deflection (L/D) and are compared to calculated deflections, which can be total deflections or differential deflections between any loading, load combination, or load history step.
Deflection limits can be assigned to span segments or to new deflection check line objects, which can be modeled at any location on the floor.
The results and design status of each deflection check are summarized on a new Deflection Check Layer.
RAM Concept CONNECT Edition V8 Update 4 includes the enhancements discussed below.
PT Design Optimization Changes
Organizations with active subscriptions of any of the following can continue to use the PT Design Optimization feature at no additional charge:
Organizations that do not own a qualifying subscription are automatically prevented from starting or resuming optimizations.
A maximum monthly compute time restriction has been set for each organization to protect Bentley Systems from incurring excessive cloud costs. When the maximum compute time threshold is reached, all users in the organization are prevented from starting or resuming optimizations until the start of the next calendar month.
Bentley Systems does not invoice organizations for RAM Concept PT Design Optimization usage. Access to the PT Design Optimization feature is pre-paid as part of a qualifying subscription. If your organization has reached its monthly compute time threshold or does not own a qualifying subscription, you will be prevented from starting or resuming optimizations and will not be invoiced for over usage at a later date.
The following changes have been made to improve the PT Design Optimization workflow:
Tendon Parameter Object Changes
The following enhancements have been made to tendon parameter objects to improve the PT Design Optimization workflow:
Split Span Segment Tool
A split span segment tool is now available for splitting previously modeled design span segments where they intersect a defined splitting line. This can be useful, for example, when design properties need to vary along a design span.
iTwin Synchronization Improvements
Individual RAM Concept models can now be synchronized into a single local or digital iTwin repository. This allows users to create full 3D iTwin repositories from floors modeled in separate RAM Concept files.
A tutorial for this workflow, including sample files, is also available. See “Other Changes” section below for details.
Wall Element Properties
Wall length and area are now tabulated for each wall element group. These properties can also be extracted using the scripting API. Wall reactions per unit wall length can be calculated by associating Wall Group Names with Wall Group Reactions and the new Wall Element Total Length property.
Unselect Objects Using ESC Key
Selected objects can now be unselected by clicking on the ESC key. When multiple objects are selected, ESC will clear all selections.
RAM Concept CONNECT Edition V8 Update 4 also includes the changes discussed below.
AS 3600-2018 Strut Angle Selections for Shear/Torsion Design
New options have been added to control the diagonal compression strut angle determined for the AS 3600-2018 shear/torsion model.
In previous versions, an initial flexural/axial design was performed to determine the longitudinal reinforcement strain, which was then used to calculate the strut angle. For slabs, the design was performed to limit the strain to the maximum value that would prevent the need for transverse reinforcement. For beams, the strain was designed to the maximum value that would satisfy strength using only minimum transverse reinforcement and was never designed less than 0.001.
The new strut angle determination options include:
The Minimize Longitudinal Reinforcement option is the default for new files. The Automatically Calculate option will be selected in files that were saved in a previous version and opened in this version.
Calc Partial Dialog Changes
In the Calc Partial dialog, the Extent of Calculation options have been changed and now include an option to include the Load History Deflection calculations in the analysis. The “+ Load History D” will be useful when using deflection checks that reference load history layers.
This option will also allow for load history deflection calculations to be run to completion without interrupting errors or warning messages. This can be done by using the “Don’t interrupt calcs for warnings” option when the “+ Load History D” option is selected.
Enveloped Results for Hyperstatic Loadings
RAM Concept calculates the effects of the hyperstatic loading (Fh) by subtracting the effects of the physical tendon force (Fp) contained in the section from the effects of the balance loading (Fb):
Since hyperstatic effects can only be rigorously calculated on design cross sections, they have less meaning in slab contour plots. An assumption is required to calculate the hyperstatic effect for such analysis results.
In previous versions, enveloped results for the hyperstatic loading were calculated assuming Fh = Fb. This conflicted with the standard results, which were calculated assuming Fh = 0.
Now all hyperstatic loading effects (standard, max, and min contexts) are calculated using the Fh = 0 assumption.
Warnings for Duplicate Supports
A warning is now displayed during mesh generation when one or more area springs, line springs, or line supports are modeled at the same exact location.
Assign Project Dialog for New Files
The Assign Project dialog no longer opens when new files are created. CONNECTED projects can still be associated with RAM Concept using the options in the Bentley Cloud Services menu.
Import DWG Files
DWG files can now be imported while the drawing is opened. Previously, an error was displayed while attempting to import the DWG file if it was open in another application or on another machine. The error stopped the import process.
Location and Links to RAM Concept Tutorial Files
The RAM Concept tutorial files are now saved in the following location:
C:\ProgramData\Bentley\Engineering\RAM Concept
Sample files and Getting Started Guides are now available for PT Design Optimization and the iTwin Synchronization workflows outlined in the Enhancement section above.
The Help menu now includes links to easily access the sample models and tutorial documents (see image below). When choosing these options, a File Explorer window will open to the directory where the respective files are saved.
RAM Concept CONNECT Edition V8 Update 4 includes fixes for the issues discussed below.
ACI 318 Span Detailing Requirements
In the final design pass, the beta1 factor may have been calculated incorrectly based on the provided shear reinforcement. This caused Vu,min to be calculated incorrectly and caused the fitment spacing check to fail. When this issue occurred, the shear design was correct, but a failure was incorrectly reported.
Exception Error when Importing DWG Files
In rare cases, an exception error prevented certain DWG files from being imported into RAM Concept.
Errors when Opening and Printing Results Tables
In v08.03.00 and v08.03.01, some default reaction tables were setup to plot max or min context results when only standard results were available. This issue prevented users from opening the affected tables and caused an error to be displayed for the missing values when generating reports.
RAM Concept CONNECT Edition V8 Update 4 can read all previous file formats but writes files in a format that cannot be read by previous versions.
Not applicable to this release.