In conformance with the Code requirement that placement of live loads (live load skipping) be such that the maximum design conditions are created , RAM Steel Column Design skips the beam live load reactions around the column to create the worst case of axial load and unbalance moment. Such skipping results in larger unbalanced moments but smaller axial loads. This is done at both the top of the column and the bottom to include the impact of single curvature versus reverse curvature. This results in the investigation of a large number of design load cases.

Table 3‑1 shows the combinations of applied reactions and axial loads to create each Load Condition. There are nine possible Load Conditions for positive (downward) live loads and nine for negative (upward) live loads. The table indicates the sides at which the live load reactions are applied as indicated by a "+" sign for positive loads and a "‑" sign for negative loads. It also indicates that the positive axial load is used in conjunction with the positive beam reactions and the negative axial load is used in conjunction with the negative beam reactions. The area used in calculating the corresponding Live Load Reduction Factor on the column is indicated in the last column. Note that a number of additional Load Conditions occur if positive loads and negative loads are applied concurrently (e.g., a positive live load is applied on one side of the column and a negative live load is applied on the other). These additional combinations are not investigated by the program.

Table 3‑2 shows the Load Cases that occur due to the various combinations of Load Conditions at the top and bottom of the column. These are the Load Cases that are investigated by the program. References to Load Cases in the output correspond to these load cases. Load Cases 1 through 17 are positive live load cases; Load Cases 18 through 34 are negative live load cases. Note that Load Cases 1 and 18 are the unskipped cases (i.e., the reactions are applied to all sides simultaneously).

To determine the skip load condition for a given Load Case, refer to Table 3‑2 for the Load Condition used for that Load Case. Refer to Table 3‑2 for that Load Condition to determine the reactions which are being applied. For example, Load Case 6 uses Load Condition 2 at the top of the column and Load Condition 8 at the bottom of the column (per Table 3‑2). Load Condition 2 applies the positive live load reactions on sides 1, 2, and 3, but not side 4; Load Condition 8 applies the positive live load on sides 3 and 4, but not sides 1 and 2 (per Table 3‑1).