The Mode menu is used to change between the Concrete Analysis, Concrete Beam, and Concrete Column modes. A checkmark appears beside the mode that is currently active. The drop-down combo box located on the tool bar can be used for this purpose as well.
The menu is where the user preferences for reinforcing design and code-specific design checks are specified. The criteria set through this menu apply to all concrete beams in the model.
When any design criteria are changed in this menu, all concrete beam designs in the model are invalidated. The design data for any beam lines which held an optimized design will be cleared. Note that when this happens the status color of the beam line turns from either green or red (depending on whether the previous optimization produced a design that passed or failed) to yellow. The design data for beam lines that were "frozen" will be saved and checked against the new criteria when the next design is performed.
| Setting | Description |
|---|
| Reinforcement Tab |
The following design parameters are set in the Reinforcement tab: | Setting | Description |
|---|
| Minimum Clear Bar Cover |
Set the cover to the top, bottom, and sides of the beams. |
| Minimum Gap Between Main Bar Layers |
Defines the clear bar spacing between the upper or lower main bar layers. |
| Bar Sizes to Consider for Design |
Sets the minimum and maximum allowable bar sizes to be used for flexural and shear reinforcement. |
| Shear Reinforcement |
Sets the minimum shear reinforcement spacing and number of legs to be used. |
|
| Design Checks/Forces Tab |
The following design parameters are set in the Design Checks/Forces tab: | Setting | Description |
|---|
| Shear |
Select either centre line or column face. Select Enhanced Shear Effects to include Clause 3.4.5.8. |
| Side Bar Design |
Set either the minimum bar size to be used or let the program calculate which bars can be used to achieve a 250 mm c/c spacing on deep beams. |
| Gravity Forces on Lateral Beams |
Also within this tab, the user specifies the desired source of gravity forces on lateral concrete beam members. There are two unique sets of gravity analysis results available for lateral members in RAM Concrete Beam: the analysis performed in RAM Concrete Analysis and that performed in RAM Frame. To aid in understanding the differences between the two sets of results, we review a few fundamental characteristics of each analysis:
- Ram Frame performs both a gravity and a lateral load analysis.
- The Ram Frame analysis includes only members designated as lateral. Thus, the stiffness of gravity members is not accounted for in the RAM Frame analysis.
- Ram Frame uses RAM Gravity to apply the reactions from gravity members to supporting frame members.
- RAM Frame does not perform skip loading.
- RAM Concrete Analysis performs only a gravity load distribution and does not deal with lateral forces.
- RAM Concrete Analysis includes both gravity and lateral members. Thus, the stiffness of gravity members is accounted for in the RAM Concrete Analysis.
- RAM Concrete Analysis skip loads the live loads to generate a controlling envelope.
|
|
