The following assumptions and criteria have been made in the implementation of the AS 4100 design code in RAM Frame (all references are to Sections in AS 4100-98):

• The analysis is Elastic per 4.4 with second order affects based on both amplified moments per 4.4.2/3 and directly per Appendix E.
• No net area checks are performed (i.e. no consideration is given for bolt holes due to connection details).
• The program conservatively assumes the unbraced segments are not rotationally restrained at the ends of the segment as discussed in 5.4.3.4 and 5.6.3(3).
• The structure is assumed to be a rectangular for the purposes of calculating secondary moment of sway frames per clause 4.4.2.3.
• The corrective factor for distribution of forces according to 7.3 is assumed as follows. Note however as bolt areas are not provided these should not impact the design currently.
  • 0.75 for braces
  • 0.90 for Tee and Channels
  • 1.00 for other members
• No torsion is considered in the design
• In the RAM Manager the engineer can designate if loads applied transverse to a member are applied at the shear centre or top of section. This setting is considered only for beam design in RAM Frame. For columns and braces where forces are only applied at the ends of a member they are assumed to be through the shear center. Similarly for beams the longitudinal position of the load with respect to Table 5.6.3(2) is considered to be within the segment, for braces and columns it is considered to be at the segment ends.
• Rolled sections other than tubes and pipes are assumed to be Hot Rolled (HR) per table 5.2. Rolled tubes and pipes are assumed cold formed (CF) per Steel Designer Handbook. All welded sections must be designated as either Heavy Welded (HW) or Light Welded (LW) as selected by the user in the RAM Manager.
• For beam design the twist restraint factor (Kt) is conservatively set to 1.1 per 5.6.3.