The environment setting affects which service rules RAM Concept selects in some codes.

Uses the net section axial force in bending design.

This is a very important setting related to the effect of axial force resultants (not necessarily axial loads) in a cross section. If you select this option, RAM Concept includes the interaction of the axial force with the bending in the cross section strain calculations, similar to typical column design using strain compatibility. We generally recommend the consideration of axial forces in strength design. For sections with net axial compression this will tend to reduce the reinforcement demand while for sections with net axial tension it will typically increase the reinforcement demand.

This option is only be visible when ACI 318-19 is the active Design Code. It is checked by default in new models that are created when Mat Foundation is selected for Structure Type. The intent of this option is to ignore the size effect factor when designing foundation members as permitted by ACI 318-19 13.2.6.2.

When this option is selected, the design forces are always more conservative than when the option is not selected. This option should not be used without due consideration.

See Using the Don't Reduce Integrated M and V due to Sign Change option for explanation.

Enables RAM Concept to decide which code rules are used.

This determines if the design strip segment is checked for initial service design code rules (for the Initial Service LC) and whether RC or PT code rules are used (some codes do not make this distinction).

Determines how precompression is calculated and used to plot Section Analysis results on the User Minimum Layer. See also Creating a new precompression plan.

The choices are:

• None: No precompression calculation is performed. This is the default setting.
• Balance Loading: Precompression is calculated using the resultant axial force in the cross section divided by its area. This calculation includes the loss of precompression due to support restraints.
• FseAps/Ac: Precompression is calculated using the effective tendon force multiplied by the perpendicular vector component of the tendon area intersecting the section divided by the cross section area. This calculation does not include the loss of precompression due to support restraint.

This determines how RAM Concept calculates the span width.

This option instructs RAM Concept to combine the column and middle strip forces into a single resultant at the centroid of the column strip cross section. The middle strip cross sections will still be generated, but the resulting forces in them will be zero.

This can be useful, for example, when designing a beam with a column strip sized for the effective flange width and middle strips for the slab between the beam effective flanges. Using this option in this scenario will result in the beam cross section being designed for all forces in the entire bay. The middle strip cross sections will not have any design forces, but can still be designed for minimum reinforcement.

Determines how many design cross sections per span.

For N divisions there are N+1 design cross sections. It is generally advisable to make N an even number. The upside of more divisions is greater design accuracy; RAM Concept ’s ability to find critical design locations and length of reinforcement is a function of the number of divisions. The downside of more divisions is that calculating takes longer; for large models, you might consider using a small number of divisions (say, 4) and then increasing the number for final design (but you should consider the effect of the next property).

There is no reason for all design strips to have the same number of divisions. Should you be designing a transfer beam within a flat plate it would probably make sense to have more divisions for the beam design strip.

• the presence of supports at ends of span segments and overrides "Consider End as Support" and "Support Width".
• where the span spine is near the slab edge and "pulls back" the closest cross section by "x", where x is the bar end cover plus 1 inch / 25 mm.
  • This is done by setting the support width to x.
  • If the spine end near the slab edge has detected a support, then the slab edge detection is NOT performed (and the regular support width calcs are used).

Places the first and last cross section in the design strip at a distance equal to the specified ratio times the distance from the support centerline to the support face. The default value is 1 for all design codes expect AS 3600 design codes, which uses a default value of 0.7 (refer to AS 3600-2018 6.2.3). A value of 1 places the first and last cross section in the design strip at the face of the support.

The label used to identify the reinforcing bar used for one-way shear design.

The label is not necessarily the bar size. Reinforcement bar labels (and their properties) are specified in the Criteria > Materials. It is possible for different design strips to have different bars.

After completing the calculation process, RAM Concept reports design strip reinforcement requirements based upon the bars specified in the design strip properties. You can view the required reinforcement area in plots and tables.

See the ACI 318 and Eurocode 2 code implementation chapters for additional information.

• Code: Designs minimum transverse reinforcement for shear and/or torsion as required by code
• Shear: Designs open transverse reinforcement per ACI 218-19 9.6.3.4 or AS 3600-2018 8.2.1.7 even if not required otherwise
• Shear and Torsion: Designs closed transverse reinforcement per ACI 218-19 9.6.3.4 or AS 3600-2018 8.2.5.5 even if not required otherwise

The method used for torsion design.

See Torsion Considerations for further explanation.

The design system (beam / one-way slab / two-way slab) for the design strip.

Minimum reinforcement and other rules are dependent upon what type of system is in use in the span. For example, the minimum requirements for beam stirrups are different to those for a one-way slab.

(Eurocode 2 only) The service design type for members defined as PT for the design strip.

• Without Direct Calculation (Tables): Reinforcement stress is limited to the values in Tables 8.6.2.2(A) and (B) or Table 8.6.3 for beams or Tables 9.5.2.1(A) and (B) or Table 9.5.2.3 for slabs.
• Crack Width Calculation: Crack widths are calculated directly using the equations in 8.6.2.3

The detailing system used. See Span detailing .

Determines the face for minimum reinforcement.

The choices are:

• Elevated Slab: Some minimum tensile reinforcement code rules do not consider flexural stress conditions; they determine minimum reinforcement based solely on geometry and the "expected" tensile face. For example, ACI 318-99 Rule 18.9.3.3 stipulates that the minimum reinforcement at a column in an elevated slab should be in the top face. This setting ensures RAM Concept uses that face.
• Mat Foundation: Similar to above, you would expect the minimum reinforcement at a column in a mat to be in the bottom face.
• Tension Face: This setting details the minimum reinforcement on the tensile face, or the face with the least amount of compression.
• Top: This setting details the minimum reinforcement on the top face, regardless of the concrete stresses.
• Bottom: This setting details the minimum reinforcement on the bottom face, regardless of the concrete stresses.
• None: No minimum reinforcement is detailed.