Release Date: August 20, 2009
This document contains important information regarding changes to the RAM Structural System. It is important that all users are aware of these changes. Please distribute these release notes and make them available to all users of the RAM Structural System.
The previous steel tables and load combination templates supplied with the program will be replaced with new tables and templates of the same name. If you have customized any Master or Design tables or load combination templates supplied with the program without changing the file names, those file names should be renamed from the original RAM table names prior to installation to prevent your changes from being lost.
This version can only be installed by downloading the installation file from the Bentley SELECT web site. It can be found on the Bentley SELECT Services Downloads and Updates web page at:
http://selectservices.bentley.com/en-US/Support/Downloads+And+Updates/
Select "Search Downloads" and log in using your User Name and Password. Perform a Search by searching for the "RAM Products", and select the latest version of the RAM Structural System.
Some program errors have been identified in V14.00.01 and corrected for Version 14.00.02. Corrections made to graphics, reports, Modeler functions, program crashes, etc that were considered minor are not listed here. The noteworthy error corrections are listed here in order to notify you that they have been corrected or to assist you in determining the impact of those errors on previous designs. These errors were generally obscure and uncommon, affecting only a very small percentage of models, or had no impact on the results. The errors, when they occurred, were generally quite obvious. However, if there is any question, it may be advisable to reanalyze previous models to determine the impact, if any. In each case the error only occurred for the precise conditions indicated. Those errors that may have resulted in un-conservative designs are shown with an asterisk. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
RAM Steel - Beam
FLOOR VIBRATION CHECK: The floor vibration check using Design Guide 11 caused the program to crash when a beam had noncomposite deck on the left and composite deck on the right side of the member
Effect: Crash in Steel beam module. User cannot perform a floor vibration check using AISC/CISC Design Guide 11 where deck types are different (composite and noncomposite) each side of the beam.
RAM Frame - Analysis
COLUMN RIGID END ZONES: In some rare cases, the program fails to calculate column rigid end zone lengths at column bottom ends due to a numerical tolerance issue
Effect: If this situation occurs, a zero rigid end zone length is used at the bottom end of the column. This affects analysis results since such columns are now more flexible than expected. This is a rare situation.
MESHING WALL ERROR: In some situations a wall sharing a common edge with an opening will experience a meshing error.
Effect: For situations described above the program could not mesh and required a change in the mesh criteria (size) to correct.
MISSING LINE LOADS ON BEAMS UNDER TWO-WAY SLAB*: Line loads applied directly to beams (including self wt loads) under a two-way slab, in a floor that contains both one way deck and two-way slab were ignored.
Effect: Self wt of beams and line loads applied to beams were not considered in the concrete analysis and hence the design forces were less than they should be. This issue only occurs on floors with mixed deck types (one-way and two-way).
RAM Frame - Steel Seismic Design
DYNAMIC LOAD CASES FOR EBF*: Dynamic load cases were not considered when determining the link over strength factor for performing EBF member design checks. If only dynamic load cases were analyzed (no static seismic load cases) the program would crash. The program has been enhanced to consider dynamic load cases for determining the over strength load factor to apply in EBF member design checks.
Effect: The dynamic load case was not considered in determining the required seismic load factor to be applied to seismic load cases for checking EBF members outside of the link.
RAM Concrete - Analysis
MISSING LINE LOADS ON BEAMS UNDER TWO-WAY SLAB*: Line loads applied directly to beams (including self wt loads) under a two-way slab, in a floor that contains both one way deck and two-way slab were ignored.
Effect: Self wt of beams and line loads applied to beams were not considered in the concrete analysis and hence the design forces were less than they should be. This issue was only introduced in version 14.00.01 and only occurs on floors with mixed deck types (one-way and two-way).
RAM Foundation
CONTINOUS FOOTING DESIGN LOADS*: Where a brace or only one end of a wall sat on a continuous foundation it may have resulted in the load from column(s) at the end of the footing being ignored.
Effect: This error was introduced in version 13, and where the situation above occurs the load from some of the columns being ignored would result in inadequate consideration of axial loads in the footing design.