RAM Concept automates a large percentage of the design strip process. It is relatively straightforward to rationalize the layout of design strips when the support arrangement is rectilinear.

The more complicated the geometry the more you have to think about the design strip layout and make manual changes.

If there is a lot of repetitive geometry in a floor then it should not be necessary to use design strips everywhere. You should only use as many as required to adequately design the floor. For example, if a floor has many beams of the same loading, tributary area, span and size then there is no need to use design strips for each similar beam. This is just as you would not perform hand calculations for each of twenty identical beams. Not withstanding, although slabs or beams may appear identical, continuity effects and other considerations may have a significant influence and the results could be different.

It is better to define design strips properly in some critical areas than to cover the floor with unsuitable strips.

When in doubt, draw a design strip, but keep in mind that the number of design strips affects the calculation time. Some engineering judgement is always a good thing.

Keep in mind that any area without strips will not have the finite elements improved when you regenerate the mesh.

In general, design strips for one span set (latitude or longitude) should not overlap.

For beam and slab systems, you might consider placing design strips parallel and in between the beams. This is because the beam strips only collect the moments and shears over the width of the strip. If the beams are not significantly stiffer than the slab, there may be design reinforcement required for the slab.

The following sections discuss some situations with irregular geometry.