| RAM Concept Wall and Column Forces |
RAM Concept exports column moments at the base of the columns at the level above the story being analyzed, and column top moments and axial forces for the columns below the story being analyzed. The wall forces for walls located below the story are also exported back into the RAM Structural System. No beam forces are exported from RAM Concept. Also, the levels which are affected by hanging column forces cannot be imported into RAM Structural System from concept. There is no change in the sign convention used in RAM Concrete. Refer to the manual for a description of the RAM Concrete Sign Convention and how RAM Concrete determines the design column forces for columns that span multiple levels. |
| Transfer loads |
All transfer loads are distributed during the RAM Concrete analysis. That is, if a transfer situation exists the forces exported by RAM Concept for the transfer story, do not include the contribution of the transfer load. The forces are transferred in RAM Concrete based on the support framing as modeled in the Structural System model. |
| Self weight |
The self-weight of slabs and beams is typically considered in the RAM Concept analysis. The column/wall forces provided by RAM Concept account for the effects of self-weight as specified in RAM Concept. It is the engineer's responsibility to ensure the self-weight settings of the RAM Structural System and RAM Concept are in synch. The self-weight (when indicated to be included) of walls and columns below a story being analyzed are calculated with RAM Concrete analysis and not provided by RAM Concept. |
| Missing Member Forces |
In some circumstances RAM Concept may only import a subset of the columns/walls at a story. This typically occurs at partial levels where some of the columns/walls may not be enclosed in the slab and hence are not considered in the Concept Analysis. Forces can then only be exported back to the RAM Structural System for those walls and columns that were imported. In these cases the program will report the columns and walls for which no Concept forces are provided during the analysis in RAM Concrete. In the case of the situation described this should not be a concern as the forces in these members are still carried down from the levels above where they were actively supporting slab or beam. |
| Column Design Forces |
Column design forces are calculated as previously described in the RAM Concrete Analysis manual. Skip loading forces provided by RAM Concept are utilized when the skip load condition is specified in RAM Concrete Analysis Criteria. Concept provides column forces for any/all of the following: Dead Load, Hyperstatic Load, Roof Live, Storage Live, Floor Live and unreducible Live loads. The live loads (excluding the roof) can be skip loaded and are shown as cumulative values in the design report (considering the appropriate live load reduction factors). |
