Column Forces
To track the current state of the forces and the interaction between the programs select . This opens the Column Design Forces dialog.
The RAM Structural System can use the column and wall forces that are exported from RAM Concept in the RAM Concrete Analysis and RAM Concrete Column Design Modules. This feature is only available with RAM Concept v1.4 or later, and applies to RAM Concept models that are created in the RAM Structural System and then imported into RAM Concept. Refer to the technical section Integrating RAM Concept column forces for additional details.
The interaction between RAM Structural System and RAM Concrete Analysis occurs through the RAM Model. The column forces dialog will appear.
To use RAM Concrete Analysis column forces (ignore any RAM Concept forces) select the option Use RAM Concrete Analysis Forces at all levels. If RAM Concept forces are available to be used, you can select the option Use RAM Concept Analysis Forces at Selected Levels.
The columns of the table provide the following information:
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Use | Select the stories for which RAM Concept forces are to be used. Note that only stories with a green or yellow status can be selected. |
| Story | The RAM Structural System story. |
| Source Story | This represents the story that was originally read by RAM Conceptand whose analysis results were exported to this story. RAM Concept can export member forces into any story that is of the same layout type as the story it originally imported. For example if 2nd and 3rd story in the RAM Structural System model use floor type A, then RAM Concept can read the data from story 2nd, analyze the floor and provide forces back to both stories 2nd and 3rd in the RAM Structural System (even though no data was ever imported from story 3rd into RAM Concept). |
| Read | This represents the time that RAM Concept last imported the major information (geometry) from this story. |
| Saved | This represents the time that RAM Concept last exported member forces for this story. |
| Concept File | The name and path of the RAM Concept file that was used to produce the forces sent back to the RAM Structural System. |
| Status | Indicates the current state of the RAM Structural System model relative to the RAM Concept model. Only stories whose status is Current (green) or Not Current (yellow) can be selected to have their forces integrated with RAM Structural System. Stories that have a state of Not Available (red) cannot be selected. If the use RAM Concept force is selected, clicking on any of the status dots will report the reason for the current state. |
Refer to the technical notes section for more information on RAM Concept Column Force Integration.