RAM Concept 2023 - Release Notes


Release Date: August 2023

Version: RAM Concept 2023

Version Number: 23.00.00.81

 

Product Version Naming Convention

This release of RAM Concept adopts a new year-based naming convention that is consistent with industry practice. The previous version of RAM Concept was Version 8 Update 4 (v08.04.00). This release is RAM Concept 2023 (v23.00.00).

Download and Installation Instructions

Installation files for 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.

This version of RAM Concept cannot be installed through the CONNECTION Client update service or through the Structural WorkSuite Hub. Subsequent update releases for the RAM Concept 2023 series will be made available through these applications.

RAM Concept 2023 can be installed concurrently with previous versions of RAM Concept. Installing this version will not automatically uninstall any previous versions of RAM Concept.

Product Licensing Changes

In April 2023, the RAM Concept Post Tension Module license/subscription was merged with the base RAM Concept license/subscription.

As part of this product licensing change, existing contract quantities of the base RAM Concept license were automatically converted to the new, consolidated RAM Concept license. There was no upgrade fee for this license conversion. 

This change affected all accounts owning RAM Concept perpetual licenses under a SELECT subscription or RAM Concept Virtuoso subscription. The change did NOT affect accounts that access RAM Concept through the Structural WorkSuite license, including enterprise accounts (E365/EPS 365 or ELS subscriptions).

All RAM Concept users are now entitled to all RAM Concept product features, including the post-tensioning (PT) features, even if their organization did not previously own the RAM Concept Post Tension Module.

More information on this licensing change can be found here.

Early Access Program - iTwin Synchronization to Cloud Workflow

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 as shown in the image below.

Figure 1 - Tendon Visualization Mode in iTwin Synchronize to Cloud Workflow

The tags in the image highlight tools and features available in this workflow:

  1. Tendon Visualization Mode – activates the Tendon Visualization mode when working in iTwin Analytical Design Review.
  2. Tendon Selection Tool – selects a tendon profile in the 3D View.
  3. Tendon Elevation View – displays the profile of the selected tendon in a floor cross section view. Use this view to review tendon cover dimensions at any point along the tendon profile.
  4. Tendon Property Pane – displays the properties of the tendon selected in the 3D View.

RAM Concept users can participate in the EAP and access the capabilities available in this workflow at no additional charge. More information on registering in the EAP can be found here.

Enhancements        

RAM Concept 2023 includes the enhancements discussed below.

Tendon Property for Duct Centroid Location

PT tendon object properties now include a parameter that defines the vertical offset between the strand and duct centroids. RAM Concept users can utilize this property to determine chair height elevations for bonded PT systems and verify duct cover requirements using iTwin workflows.

This property is available for all tendon objects, including banded tendon polylines, distributed tendon quadrilaterals, and manual tendons.

The offset property does not currently affect the design of PT concrete sections or the visualization of tendon profiles in RAM Concept.

Figure 2 - New CGS to Duct Centroid Offset Property for Tendon Objects

PT System Material Changes

The definition of PT Systems in the Material Specification table (Criteria > Materials) has changed. PT Systems properties are now organized by strands, ducts, and anchors. New properties, which define the geometry of ducts and anchors, have also been added.

New PT System properties include:

None of the added properties currently affect the design of PT concrete sections in RAM Concept. The purpose of the new PT System properties is to represent the tendons better graphically in the iTwin workflows.

Figure 3 - New PT System Material Definitions and Properties

Graphics Improvements for High-Resolution Displays

RAM Concept now automatically scales graphical user interface items, like text and tool buttons, based on the pixel density of the display. Without the scaling, tables and buttons were unreadable when using RAM Concept with high-resolution displays.

Other Changes   

RAM Concept 2023 also includes the changes discussed below.

Component Upgrades

Several internal program components are updated, including the following:

PT Design Optimization Genetic Algorithm Changes

In the previous version, the PT Design Optimization feature successfully found low-cost solutions, but did not effectively eliminate isolated failures in some cases. A minor change was made to the genetic algorithm to better resolve design code failures during the optimization.

New Default for Edge Treatment Property for Punching Shear Checks

Sector Voids is now the default option for the Edge Treatment Property for Punching Shear Checks. Failure Planes was used as the default option in previous versions.

The Sector Voids option decreases calculation time for punching shear checks that include multiple slab openings that are completed contained within the punch check search radius.

Ancon Shearfix Punching Shear Solution

The following changes were made to the Ancon Shearfix SSR System manufactured by Leviat:

Figure 4 - Ancon Shearfix Reference Code in Punching Shear Report

New Installer Framework

RAM Concept now uses an installer framework that matches the installers used by other Bentley applications.

Manage License Restriction Option for Post Tensioning Features

The option to disable/enable access to the post-tensioning features (Help – Licensing > Manage License Restrictions) was removed from the program. This option is no longer needed following the licensing change noted in the “Product Licensing” section.

Bentley Cloud Service Menu

The Bentley Cloud Services menu was removed from the program. This menu included options for associating or disassociating “CONNECTED Projects” to RAM Concept model files. Project association is now handled through the iTwin Services workflow. The menu also included a link to the CONNECT Center. This web page can be accessed through the CONNECTION Client application.

Resolved Issues

RAM Concept 2023 includes fixes for the issues discussed below.

Deflection Checks with Segmented Span Segments and Skewed Sections

When spans were modeled with a series of segmented span segments and the orientations of the cross sections within the segments varied, the deflection check calculations were affected by the following issues:

  1. Deflection limits were evaluated at stations along the span segments that deviated slightly from the design strip cross section locations.
  2. The error below, which prevented the calculations from completing, may have occurred.

Figure 5 - No Deflection Found for Point Inside Slab in Span Segment::deflectionAnalysis()

Critical Section Not Found for Punching Shear Checks Due to Skewed Slab Edge

In rare cases, no critical sections were found for punching shear checks near skewed slab edges. For affected punching shear checks, the warning below was generated during the analysis and no punching shear calculations were competed.

Figure 6 - No Column Critical Sections were Found at Punch Check

Copy/Paste Fails Intermittently

On isolated machines, the error below was generated when attempting to copy objects or perform a copy-move operation. In a few cases, no error was displayed but a program crash occurred.

Figure 7 - An Error Occurred While Trying to Move the Selection. End of File

Table Rows Obscured by Horizontal Scroll Bar

When a criteria table contained a single row and the table width exceeded the active window width, a horizontal scroll bar may have hidden the table row. When this problem occurred, the table data could not be viewed unless the table or window was resized or a row was added to the table.


File Compatibility Warning

RAM Concept 2023 can read all previous file formats but writes files in a format that cannot be read by previous versions.

Security Release Notes

Bentley is committed to continuously investigating and rectifying security vulnerabilities affecting its products and services. Regular checks and security fixes are a part of our releases to ensure better resilience to security vulnerabilities.

This release of RAM Concept includes component upgrades and other changes to address potential security threats.

Details of known security vulnerabilities in Bentley applications are published on the security advisory page in our Trust Center.

There were no known security vulnerabilities associated with RAM Concept 2023 at the time of this release.