RAM Concept Help

Analysis of slab and beam elements

RAM Concept assumes that beam elements and slab elements behave the same; unless their "behavior" is specified for the finite elements.

The first analysis assumption that RAM Concept makes for slab elements is that "linear sections remain linear"; this is analogous to "plane sections remain plane" in beam theory.

Linear Sections Before Deformation

Linear Sections After Deformation

The second analysis assumption that RAM Concept makes for slab elements is that the force and stress patterns in the element are that of a typical slab location. The following table shows the possible slab element forces and their associated stresses.

Table 1. Relation between force and stress
Symbol	Force	Related Stress
Fx	Axial force on x-face	Uniform axial stress, σ_x
Fy	Axial force on y-face	Uniform axial stress, σ_y
Vxy	In-plane shear force	Uniform shear stress, σ_xy
Vxz	Transverse shear force on x-face	Parabolic (along z-axis) shear stress, σ_xz
Vyz	Transverse shear force on y-face	Parabolic (along z-axis) shear stress, σ_yz
Mx	Bending moment about x-axis	Linear (along z-axis) axial stress, σ_y
My	Bending moment about y-axis	Linear (along z-axis) axial stress, σ_x
Txy	Torsional moment	Linear (along z-axis) shear stress, σ_xy

In-Plane Actions (Plan View)

Out-of-Plane Actions (Plan View)