Files of beam shapes to be used by the RAM Steel Beam Design module may be created and modified. Use spaces, not tabs, between data items. The file name must have the extension .BMS.
CAUTION: The file must be edited using a simple text editor, not a word processor as it might embed control characters into the file.
The file has the following format:
The first line is an optional comment line indicating which Master Table is to be used in conjunction with the Design Table.
The section groups follow. Groups are separated by a blank line. Each section begins with a heading with the following format:
Group
where:
| Setting | Description |
|---|
| Group |
the Group Shape:
- I indicates I-beams
- TS indicates TS and Square and Rectangular Hollow sections
- Channel indicates Channels
|
Each subsequent line has the following format:
Label Flag
where:
| Setting | Description |
|---|
| Label |
the member size (e.g., W8x10). |
| Flag |
Flag is a single character that indicates how the program will consider the member:
- / indicates that the size is to be ignored. It has the same effect as deleting the member from the table.
- * indicates that the size is considered a "common" size. When selecting the optimum beam size the program investigates only the asterisked sizes when designing simple composite beams, or when designing any beam when the criteria Check Unbraced Length is not selected, unless there is a beam depth restriction. This speeds up the design of beams significantly because it allows the program to ignore unusual sizes when designing for simple conditions. Thus, when the table is to be used to design such members, at least some of the sections must have an asterisk. In the RAMAISC.BMS table supplied with the program, the asterisked sizes are those shown in bold in the "Allowable Stress Design Selection Table - Sx" and "Load Factor Design Selection Table – Zx" tables in the AISC manual.
- + indicates that the size is to be considered in optimization except as explained for *.
|
When there is a depth restriction or an unbraced length consideration the program investigates sizes flagged by either a plus sign or an asterisk until an acceptable size is found. The plus symbol should be used for any sizes (e.g., small sizes) that the you do not want designed as composite beams.
The order in which the members are listed is critical to the proper performance of the program. The members must be listed in the optimum order (least expensive, generally least weight), beginning with the smallest member and ending with the largest member. The program selects the first member it encounters that satisfies all design requirements and constraints.
If there is no size in the table which satisfies all of the design criteria and requirements for a given member, the program will indicate No Design on the output, View/Update, and on-screen. You must then take whatever action is appropriate.
The file may contain 2000 member sizes.
The following is a sample listing from the RAMAISC.BMS file:
;MasterTable=RAMAISC.TAB
I
…
W6X9 /
M12X10 /
W8X10 *
M12X10.8 /
M12X11.8 /
W10X12 *
W6X12 /
W8X13 +
…
Channel
C3X4.1 /
C3X5 /
C4X5.4 +
C3X6 /
MC10X6.5 +
C5X6.7 +
…
TS
HSS2X1X1/8 /
HSS3X1X1/8 /
HSS2.5X1.5X1/8 /
HSS2X1X3/16 /
…
