RAM Elements 2023 (v.23.0.1) Release Notes – Updated September 2023

Features:

1. Shell Stiffness Adjustment Factors: A new spreadsheed has been added for Shells, where it is possible to define the stiffness factors for in-plane and out-of-plane DOFs. The spreadsheet is divided in two sections: the left section is used to define releases, which represent a stiffness factor of zero, and the right section used to define the factors as required.

Figure 1. Shell stiffness adjustment factors and releases spreadsheet.

A new tool has been added to simplify the definition of cracked concrete factors for shells. It is possible to define two factors: one for in-plane stiffness and another for out-of-plane stiffness , with a default value of 0.8.

Figure 2. Assign cracked concrete factor tool.

This enhancement has also been included in the Concrete Wall design module. In the Advanced options, it is now possible to define the cracked factors for in-plane and out-of-plane stiffness.

Figure 3. Cracked factors in the Concrete Wall module advanced options.

2. Display Analysis Results for Maximum and Minimum Values: It is now possible to select the Min and Max options to display the maximum or minimum analysis results (member forces and reactions) along the controlling load condition. 

The Max and Min buttons are located to the right of the Analysis group on the View tab.

Figure 4. Min and Max tools.

These options are enabled when member forces or reactions are selected to be displayed after analysis. The Max and Min options display the analysis results for the selected element with along with the corresponding load condition.

Figure 5. Max option displayed for member forces.

3. Retaining Wall Module Enhancement for Stability Results Display: The Retaining Wall module now displays stability results in the module graphic area. These results include the sliding, overturning and bearing capacity checks which are automatically updated when a wall dimension or parameter affecting the stability change. This eliminates the need to repeatedly check this results in the report.

Figure 6. Stability results displayed in the Retaining Wall module graphic area.

4. Footing Design Module Enhancement to Include Pedestal Self-weight: Previously, the pedestal weight was not considered, requiring users to either include it as a load or physically model the pedestals in RAM Elements. The pedestal weight is often used to counteract the uplift conditions. This new option is available in the module, eliminating the need for other methods to account for it.

Resolved Issues:

• Shell internal stresses glitch when displaying "Smooth" option. This was causing the internal shell stresses to change largely when using this option to display values in graphical area. This has been fixed and the smooth values are now determined and displayed properly.
  
  
• Member stresses displayed in the graphical area using the Stress tool was not showing correct results for angles and double angle sections as stresses were calculated using local properties instead or principal. This is fixed now, and results match principal axes stresses.
  
  
• Tilt-Up Wall module simplified analysis was not considering the loads from seismic weight factor which was causing different results between the simplified analysis and FEM. This is fixed now, and the simplified option now provides closer results to the FEM option.
  
  
• Retaining Wall module for ACI 318-19 shear strength was being calculated with equation c from Table 22.5.5.1. As the equation depends on the longitudinal reinforcement, for plain concrete, this equation was not giving correct results. Now when the heel and/or toe are unreinforced (plain), the shear strength Vc is calculated using Table 14.5.5.1.
  
  
• AS 4100 steel member design was not determining properly if the member had transversal loads. The method to determine it has been enhanced to consider the different number of design stations.
  
  
• NDS 2018 wood design for user defined materials was swapping the values for design between Fcp (compression strength perpendicular to grain) and Fc (compression strength parallel to grain).
  
  
• NDS 2018 wood design was not considering the Cr factor for the adjusted bending design value as a conservative value of 1.0 was being considered. This is fixed now and the correct Cr value is taken into account for bending calculations.