RAM Concept allows you to choose the sign convention for loads, analysis and reactions.

RAM Concept uses the Cartesian coordinate system with the following sign convention for axes:

You cannot change the sign of the coordinates’ axes.

Sign convention dictates how you input parameters and how RAM Concept displays results. For example, the sign convention of an applied load dictates whether the input value is positive or negative.

Note that changing a sign setting does not change the real value of any previously specified data. For example if a +10 kips downward load was specified when RAM Concept had a downward-positive load sign convention and then the load sign convention was changed to upward-positive, the load value would now be reported as -10 kip, but the load would still be a 10 kip downward load. Similarly, a change in sign convention does not affect the true value of results.

When you add loads after a change in sign convention, you must observe the new sign convention.