Ground Level
The command provides means to explicitly state the story at which the ground level meets the structure. The default is the base of the structure but can be set to any story except the upper-most level.
When a story is specified as Ground Level, diaphragms at the story and any below it are restrained against translation in the X-Y plane and rotation about the vertical axis. Note that if a member attached to one of these diaphragms but manually disconnected from the diaphragm by the user or a member is already disconnected from the diaphragm (for instance, it stays outside of the diaphragm), the restrain conditions do not apply to such members.
Making changes to the Ground Level Settings criteria after a model has been analyzed necessitates a re-analysis of the structure.
Ground Level for Wind
In RAM Frame, the Ground Level is assumed by default to be at a level below the lowest Story. However, the user has the ability to specify any level as the Ground Level, for example when a structure has a basement. Not only does this impact the lateral constraints for the analysis of levels at and below the Ground Level, it also impacts the generation of the wind loads. The program allows the Ground Level for wind loads to be specified independently of the Ground Level for analysis.