In some situations, users may want to apply both diaphragm and nodal loads in a single load case. Nodal loads are created in the RAM Modeler, diaphragm (Story Forces) loads are created in RAM Frame. A new load case that is a combination of both the diaphragm loads and nodal loads can be created in RAM Frame using the Loads – Merge Load Cases command. This command enables users to merge nodal loads and diaphragm loads that are of the same type (both are Wind or both are Seismic load cases) into a single, new load case. This new load case is then treated as any other load case: it can be analyzed, results obtained, included in load combinations, etc.

The merged load case feature allows for multiple merges using the same story and/or nodal load cases; a load case may be used in multiple merged load cases.

Once two load cases have been merged to create a new load case, the original individual load cases are no longer available to analyze, view results, etc.