The traditional "beam" sign convention is used for columns, beams and braces. In this convention, moments that create compression in the top flange of beams and braces are positive.

The Process > Results > Member Forces command displays on the screen the magnitude of the member forces. When in a plan or elevation view where the view plane coincides with the axis for which forces are being shown, the value is listed on the side of the member considered to be the "positive face", where the positive face is defined as the face in the direction of the positive local axis. A positive number for the moments, for example, indicates that the face on which the value is listed is in compression.

Figure below shows direction of positive member forces for beams and Sign Conventions for Column Member Forces. shows the direction of positive member forces for columns and braces.

Sign Convention for Beam Member Forces.

Output for the individual wall elements consists of axial force, major axis shear and major axis bending moments. The axial and shear forces on a given wall are constant through the depth of the wall. The bending moments of wall elements, on the other hand, correspond to the moment at the bottom of the wall.

For C or L shaped wall systems, even though RAM Frame captures the 3-D behavior, the member forces given are for the individual components of the wall and not for the system. The integration of the wall forces for such wall systems is done separately by the program for wall groups defined by the user. The Results > Wall Group Forces command displays the integrated wall group forces at the centroid of the wall group.