Design Criteria

The design of beams is guided by the various criteria set under the Criteria menu. For each of the design modules it is critical that the user understand the criteria completely. In this tutorial you can use the default criteria of modify the settings to match the values shown hereafter. Refer to the Steel Beam Module documentation for a more detailed explanation of the various criteria.

Note: These criteria can also be set through the RAM Defaults Utility in RAM Manager so that future projects use the setting you choose.

Select Criteria > Design Defaults.
Modify the defaults as indicated if using LRFD.
Click [OK].

Note: When using different design codes, the wording of the criteria dialog boxes may vary slightly. In some cases there are even code-specific options to choose. Below are the same options when using the BS 5950:2000 code.

Modify the defaults as indicated if using BS 5950.
Click [OK].

When the Design Criteria are altered, a warning will pop up indicating the following:

Click [OK] to proceed.
Select Criteria > Deflection Criteria.
Set the L/d Default criteria for Unshored construction to L/360 for Post Composite Live Load, 240 for Post Composite Superimposed and 240 for Net Total.
Set the Noncomposite criteria for Live load to 360 and the Net Total to 240.

Note that this tutorial has noncomposite steel beams (and joists) as well as composite, unshored beams. There are no shored beams because there is no shored deck defined in the model.

Select Criteria > Camber > Composite.
Modify the defaults as indicated above (similar for SI models).
Click [OK].
Select Criteria > Camber > Noncomposite
Check the box that says Do not Camber.
Click [OK].
Select Criteria > Stud Criteria.
Modify the defaults as indicated above (similar for SI models).
Click [OK].
Select Criteria > Web Opening.
Modify the defaults as indicated above (similar for SI models) and click [OK].
Select Criteria > Joists.
Modify the defaults as indicated above.
Click [OK].