This dialog box is used to specify globally (for the entire structure) if the columns are Braced or Unbraced against sidesway (sway or non-sway columns). The third option, Partially Braced, refers to the case where a structure is braced against sidesway in only one direction e.g., a moment frame in the x-direction and a shear wall in the y-direction. An example of a partially braced setting is provided below. Note that this criterion is not utilized unless the user has selected to consider column slenderness in the Criteria-Analysis dialog box (see Section 2.5.2). The sidesway affects the column slenderness calculation determining if the column is a sway column (ACI 10.13, BS8110 3.8.1.6.1) or a non-sway column (10.12, BS8110 3.8.1.6.1).

Clicking OK will save the Sidesway setting. Modifying the Sidesway criteria after a analysis or code check has been performed will invalidate the results of that analysis and/or code check.

Clicking Cancel will return you to the RAM Concrete without changing the Sidesway criteria.

The engineer can also assign sidesway on a member-by-member basis, overriding the global criteria, using the Assign - Column-Sidesway menu item.