In RAM Frame an iterative process is used to quickly hone in on an optimal steel frame design.

Initial member sizes are assigned to frame members in the RAM Modeler, or for steel beams and columns, by performing a Design All in the RAM Steel Beam and Column Design module.

Load cases are defined and an initial analysis is run in Analysis mode. The engineer switches to Steel-Standard Provision mode, selects a steel design code and performs a member and/or joint code check.

For the member code check the color-coding identifies over- and under-stressed members. The members can then be investigated on an individual basis, and resized using the View/Update command until a suitable design is found. The new size is then saved to the database using the Update Database command in View/Update. Sizes can also be assigned to members using the assign size commands (from the Assign-Beam/Column/Brace-Size command) in this mode.

For the joint code check the color-coding of the joints identifies which joints could be checked, and if checked which required reinforcing. The joints can then be investigated on an individual basis, and the column at the joint resized using the View/Update command, until no joint reinforcing is required. The new size is then saved to the database using the Update Database command in View/Update. Sizes can also be assigned to columns using the assign size commands in this mode (from the Assign-Column-Size command).

Once the interaction equation values for all members are within acceptable limits, and all joints are suitably reinforced, the structure should be reanalyzed in Analysis Mode. This is to obtain a valid analysis (member forces) based on the new sizes. Once reanalyzed member and joint code check should once again be invoked. It is possible that some members will again be overstressed or under-stressed, or some joints requiring to be reinforced when they were adequate before. This is because of the redistribution of forces caused by the new sizes. If so, they can be modified once again with the View/Update command, and the process repeated.

This process of analyzing, Code Checking and modifying is repeated until all members are within the limits acceptable to the engineer.