RAM Concept generates program transverse reinforcement from the results of its shear and torsion calculations. This generated reinforcement is for display purposes only—it is not used in calculations. It can be changed to user reinforcement in order to include it in the design/analysis calculations. At locations of complicated geometry (such as multiple beams in a single span design, or curved beams), RAM Concept may not be able to create an appropriate representation of the reinforcement required by the design calculations. The correct design quantities can always be viewed in the Section Design plots of the Design Status Layer.

User transverse reinforcement is considered in the design and analysis of cross sections. The properties of the user transverse reinforcement that intersect a shear core are considered to fully reinforce that section, regardless of how far the reinforcement extends beyond the core. Because capacities are only calculated at each cross section location, caution should be exercised to extend each user reinforcement region an appropriate amount beyond the section (i.e., half the distance to next cross section).

User transverse reinforcement assumes the reinforcement is oriented and sized optimally to reinforce each cross section. This assumption means that the assumed transverse reinforcement will lie in parallel planes to the cross section planes. If a user transverse reinforcement region intersects multiple cross sections that are not aligned, the resulting assumed transverse reinforcement will be aligned with each cross section at each intersection location. The assumed size of user transverse reinforcement (which affects calculated shear and torsion properties) is based upon the dimensions of the shear core and the location of the longitudinal program bars (whether any were actually designed or not), along with the minimum diameter of any design or user transverse bars in the cross section.

RAM Concept generates transverse individual bars from user and program transverse reinforcement. These transverse individual bars are for display purposes only and are not used directly in the calculations. At locations of complicated geometry, RAM Concept may not be able to create an appropriate representation of the detailed reinforcement. However, even in complicated geometry the user transverse reinforcement properties at each intersecting cross section are considered correctly.