In RAM Modeler, C-Beam™ is treated as a distinct Material, along with Steel, Steel Joist, Concrete, and Other. To add C-Beam to the model, select the Material command and select C-Beam. While in C-Beam Material mode, all commands in the Layout / Beam menu pertain to C-Beam. For example, the Add On-Grid, Add Off-Grid, and Add Generation commands are available in the Layout > C-Beam menu and are used to add C-Beam while in C-Beam Material mode, just as those same commands are used to add Steel beams while in Steel Material mode.

When C-Beam are added, the Composite Flag (i.e., Composite or Noncomposite) and Fy need to be specified. The Type of C-Beam –Castellated or Cellular– also needs to be specified.

The Options > Set Show Options can be used to highlight beams that have been assigned to be Castellated versus those assigned to be Cellular. Select the Castellated C-Beam or the Cellular C-Beam option on the Beam tab.

Beams already modeled in another material (such as Steel or Steel Joist) can be easily changed to C-Beam using the Layout > Beams > Change Material command.

While in C-Beam Material, there is no Add Cantilever command available. In the RAM Structural System, C-Beam cannot be used as cantilevered beams. They also cannot be specified as part of the lateral frames. These are limitations of the program, not of C-Beam. Contact SteelFab, Inc. directly for assistance in the design of C-Beam in cantilevered or moment frame applications.