ISM and iTwin Analytical Synchronizer

The ISM features have been renamed, reconfigured, and moved out of the File menu and are now included under the Bentley Cloud Services menu: Bentley Cloud Services iTwin Services. When this command is invoked, the panel on the right side of the RAM Manager screen will display the Synchronize to File commands. To create a new iTwin or to update an existing iTwin, select the Push to file command (this is the same as the old File > ISM > Create ISM Repository and File – ISM – Update ISM Repository commands). To create a new RAM Structural System model or to update an existing RAM Structural System model from an iTwin, select the Pull from file command (this is the same as the old File – ISM – New From ISM Repository and File > ISM > Update From ISM Repository commands). The Structural Synchronizer is now the iTwin Analytical Synchronizer. Defaults used in creation of the iTwin model for the iTwin Analytical Synchronizer can be found in the File > iTwin Analytical Synchronizer Defaults command.

These organizational changes have been made to provide for some powerful new capabilities that will soon be made available, including the ability to Synchronize iTwin models to and from the Cloud rather than to a local drive and a Design Review that allows you to share the model in a web browser, mark up and add comments, and view key analytical and design results. Watch for the announcement of this expanded feature.

ACI 318-19

The requirements of ACI 318-19 have been implemented in the Concrete and Foundation modules. Notable changes include revised shear strength equations, requirements for higher reinforcement bar grades, changes to phi given in Table 21.2.2, and seismic design details for shear walls, among others.

ACI 318 Limit on Second-Order Effects

ACI 318-19 Section 6.2.5.3 (and ACI 318-14 Section 6.2.6) requires that, when slenderness effects cannot be neglected, the ratio of the moment including second-order effects to the moment due to first-order effects not exceed 1.4. If that occurs, the column must be resized. If either the option to Apply Magnification Factor, delta, to all columns or the option to Apply Magnification Factor, delta-s, to sway frame columns in the Analysis Criteria dialog is selected, the program now checks for this condition when designing concrete columns and, if the ratio of second-order moments to first-order moments is greater than 1.4, gives a warning that the moment magnification factor exceeds 1.4. If this warning is given, the structural framing sizes are unacceptable and must be revised.

ACI 318 Slenderness Criteria

Previously, in the Criteria > Analysis command there was an option to Consider Column Slenderness. When this option was selected the program:

• Applied the moment magnifier given in ACI 318-19 Section 6.6.4.5 to Nonsway members. It was not applied to Sway members.
• Did not apply the moment magnifier given in Section 6.6.4.6 (because it was assumed that the user performed a P-delta analysis in RAM Frame, so this magnifier was not necessary).

This command has been modified; instead of the single Consider Column Slenderness option, now there are two separate options: Apply Magnification Factor, delta, to all columns and Apply Magnification Factor, delta-s, to sway frame columns.

When the option to Apply Magnification Factor, d, to all columns is selected, the program:

• Applies the moment magnifier given in ACI 318-19 Section 6.6.4.5 to both Sway and Nonsway members.
• Does not apply the moment magnifier given in Section 6.6.4.6 (it is assumed that the P-delta analysis in RAM Frame is performed)

When the option to Apply Magnification Factor, ds, to sway frame columns and the frames are not braced against sidesway, the program:

• Applies the moment magnifier given in Section 6.6.4.5 if the members are designated as Nonsway.
• Applies the moment magnifier given in Section 6.6.4.6 if the members are designated as Sway.

IBC 2021 Load Combinations

New load combination templates have been added based on the requirements of IBC 2021. The combinations of ASCE 7-16 are mandated by IBC 2021, but IBC 2021 has some additional requirements for the factor to be applied to the snow load in allowable stress design combinations that include both snow and seismic forces. The templates provide options to generate the combinations based on either the original ASCE 7-16 requirements or as modified by IBC 2021. These new combinations are available for the Steel Standard Provisions and Steel Seismic Provisions in RAM Frame, ACI 318-19 commands in RAM Concrete and RAM Foundation, and in the soil combinations for RAM Foundation.

Pen Colors

The Pen Colors dialog has been enhanced to allow the Background color to be specified (previously it was always black). If a Background color is selected that is the same color as other entities, a warning will be given that those entities will not be visible. Also, for Concrete and Other columns and walls, the Outline and the Fill colors can be specified separately.

Modeler Enhancements

Enhancements have been made to features in the Modeler:

• If Slab Openings have been erroneously modeled with Slab Edges, the DataCheck now checks for that condition (it checks to see if there is a Slab Edge polygon inside of a Slab Edge polygon), and gives an error message with instructions to use the Slab Opening command.
• When adding Rigid Offsets to a column it was possible to add a zero-length offset by double-clicking the column, which subsequently created bad results or caused a program crash. Furthermore, the DataCheck didn’t check for zero-length rigid links. Zero-length offsets are now prevented, and the DataCheck gives a warning if any somehow occur.
• If a Slab Edge polygon is created such that it closes on itself (essentially creating two distinct polygons that share a single common point), incorrect loads are calculated for the supporting members. The DataCheck now checks for that condition and gives an Error that the Slab Edges create an irregular polygon, with instructions to reconfigure the framing and/or the Slab Edges so that no more than two Slab Edge segments reference that location.
• The Add Cantilever command allowed Extension and Stub cantilevers to be added that crossed over an adjacent column. This is now prevented.
• When the Story Data has been generated using the Generate command the dialog remembers the selections used in the generation, and fills in the various fields. However, if the user wanted to make a change to a single level using the Use command, the Story Label always had to be re-entered in the Use edit box, rather than automatically being filled in. Now, the Story Label edit box is always filled in with the currently selected story’s label.

Show Member Length in Steel Beam

The View > Show Member Lengths commands, previously only available in the Modeler, have been added to the Steel Beam module. There are options to display either the Projected lengths or the Actual lengths (which is different than Project lengths for sloping members). The lengths are displayed for beams and walls.

AISC ASD Standard Provisions Joint Checks

The ability to perform the Standard Provisions Joint Checks in RAM Frame – Steel – Standard Provisions Mode was disabled in V17.02 if the selected Code was AISC 360-05 ASD, AISC 360-10 ASD, or AISC 360-16 ASD. when it was discovered that the program was using ASD load combination forces, but was using LRFD design checks, which was unconservative. This has now been corrected, and the AISC ASD joint check capabilities are once again available.

Transverse Reinforcement

In the Steel Beam module, for Eurocode and BS 5950 composite beam design, the Reports > Transverse Reinforcement command creates a report that lists all of the beams that require more transverse reinforcement than is indicated by the user as the typical reinforcement, listing the beam size, the number of studs if composite, the deck sheeting condition at the beam (continuous or discontinuous), and the total Asv required. This command has been enhanced; it now highlights all beams that have been included in that report so that they can easily be located. Use the View > Show Designs command to show the sizes, and then use View/Update or the Assign > Beam Size command to change beam sizes if desired. A Show Beams with Transverse Reinforcement Check Warnings button has been added to the tool bar to invoke this command. Select this button again to turn off the highlighting.

Panel Zone

Explicit panel zone elements can be assigned to the beam-column joints in RAM Frame using the Assign > Columns > Panel Zone command. This is applicable to joints of steel, concrete, or any material members. The panel zone stiffness can be either assigned a specific value, or in the case of steel framing it can be automatically calculated (see the RAM Frame Manual for details). With HSS columns the panel zone stiffness can be calculated in the strong and weak axes. This panel zone element provides a more accurate analytical model, rather than trying to approximate the influence of the panel zone through the use of Rigid End Zones. Typically, Rigid End Zones should not be specified when panel zone elements are assigned.

Construction Sequence Assignment Display

When members have been assigned a Construction Stage for Construction Sequence Analysis, the Stage number can be displayed using the View > Members command. Previously if a member had not been assigned a Construction Stage, nothing was displayed for that member, making it hard to identify which members had not been assigned. Now "None" is displayed for those members.

DuraFuse Enhancements

Working with and at the request of the engineers at DuraFuse Frames, some enhancements have been made to the implementation of the DuraFuse moment frame connection in RAM Frame:

• The thickness of the coverplate is now rounded to standard plate thicknesses rather than to 1/16” increments.
• There has been some loosening of the rules dictating the allowable difference between the column width and the beam width that can be accommodated by the connection. This allows for a greater mix of beam and column sizes. A warning is given if beam flange copes are required to accommodate the plates.
• The calculation of the panel zone stiffness has been refined for some configurations.

DXF Beam Schedule Color/Layer Options

The Concrete Beam Schedule DXF drawing options have been enhanced to include a distinct Color Number and Layer Name for Ties/Stirrups, and it makes better use of the Color and Layer options for other parts of that drawing, giving the user more control over the format of the DXF drawing.