RAM Concept Help

Design section properties

Design sections have similar properties to design strips. See Span segment properties for definitions and explanations.

The following properties are unique to design sections:

Design section properties - General

Setting	Description
Top Ignore Depth	The top concrete ignored in flexural and one-way shear design. See About ignore depths for more information on this important issue.
Bottom Ignore Depth	The bottom concrete ignored in flexural and one-way shear design. See About ignore depths for more information on this important issue.

Design section properties - Design Parameters

Setting	Description
Span Length	Used to calculate the following: Minimum reinforcement rules for some codes. The upper bound on f_ps for unbonded tendons based upon the selected code’s criteria (these criteria often include a span length parameter).
Tributary Length	This creates a zone over which the reinforcement required by the design section must be provided (development lengths, if required, are in addition to this zone). The zone length on the right side of the design section is the smaller of these two values: TributaryLength/2.0 (SpanRatio - 0.0) * SpanLength The zone length on the left side of the design section is the smaller of these two values: TributaryLength/2.0 (1.0 - SpanRatio) * SpanLength The intent of the span-ratio-based limit is to restrain the reinforcement zone to within the span, even if the design section is at the beginning or end of a span. Note: The Visible Objects dialog can be used to show the reinforced zone to be outlined and hatched. The region displayed also considers all the span ratio implications. The hatched region does not display before a calc-all.
Span Ratio	Determines the location of the design section relative to supports and midspan.
Strip Type	(Eurocode 2 only) Determines the type of strip defined by this design section. The choices are: Col. Strip (Full Width): Use design rules for full bay width cross sections (generally used without middle strips). Col. Strip (w/ Mid. Strips): Use design rules for partial bay width column strips (generally used in conjunction with middle strips). Middle Strip: Use design rules for partial bay width middle strips (generally used in conjunction with column strips).
CS Service Design Type	(Eurocode 2 only)The service design type for members defined as PT for the design strip. The choices are: Stress: Perform a hypothetical stress limit design as prescribed in TR43. Crack Width: Perform a crack width design in accordance with Eurocode 2 clause 7.2/7.3. Stress & Crack Width: Perform both Stress and Crack Width design. See EN 1992-1-1: 2004 (Eurocode 2) With TR43 Design for additional information.
CS Crack Width Limit (Eurocode 2 only)	The crack width limit w_max to use when designing for Eurocode 2 clause 7.3. When "Code" is selected the values in UK National Annex Table NA.4 are used.
Number of Stories for Accident Design (Eurocode 2 UK NA only)	This input will only be visible when the Eurocode 2-2004 (UK Annex) is the active Design Code. It is used to determine the number of stories that are used for accident rule set calculations for this span.