Design Error Messages
Rather than halting the Design All process and displaying a message when a design error is encountered, the program writes the message to a file and proceeds with the design of the other beams. At the conclusion of the design, a message is given indicating the number of design errors and the name and location (in the Reports directory) of the file containing the list of error messages. The Design Warnings report may be viewed on-screen. The error message lists the floor type, beam number, and nature of the error.
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To aid in locating any beams that have design warnings, the View – Show Beams with Warnings command can be used to highlight in white all beams with design warnings. This feature will automatically turn on after a Design All if the user views the warnings. This option is not available unless the beam designs are currently valid (see Model Status ). For example, changing the ‘Steel Design Codes’ Criteria to a new design code will disable the beam warning highlighting feature until a Design All is performed. |
When a user-specified size fails the deflection criteria, is overstressed, or exceeds the allowable capacities, error messages are given accordingly.
When the concrete is overstressed in a composite beam using ASD, the program issues a "Concrete Overstressed" message. In this case the program has selected a beam size which works stress-wise without contribution from the composite action, but which may require composite action to meet deflection criteria. The user can then choose to either ignore the message or else change the beam to noncomposite either in the RAM Modeler or using View/Update.
When the program is unable to add sufficient studs to create a beam that is at least the code-required minimum percent of full composite, the program issues a message saying, Cannot fit enough studs for 25% composite action (or whatever the code minimum is). This is generally caused by the beam being sharply skewed with respect to the direction of deck, by a narrow beam flange, or by a large concentrated load near the support. In this case the program has selected a beam size that works as a noncomposite beam, assuming the same bracing conditions as for a composite beam, and calls for zero studs. The user can then choose to either ignore the message or else change the beam to noncomposite either in the RAM Modeler or using View/Update or, using the Assign – Ignore Rib Spacing command described in Section 2.10 the user can specify that the rib spacing be ignored when determining the number of studs that will fit. Alternatively, the user may override the program by selecting a smaller beam and adding more studs. This is a trial and error process, as the program will cause the number of studs to revert to zero each time unless the percent of composite is greater than 25%. This should be done with caution since the studs will not fit on the beam unless special measures are taken.