Design of RAMSteelColumn

RAM Steel Column
CONNECT Edition Update 15 – Version 17.01
User Manual
Last Updated: May 13, 2020
Disclaimer
The software and related documentation, including this documentation, are protected by both United States
copyright law and international treaty provisions. Any unauthorized copying or reproduction is strictly
prohibited and subject to civil and criminal penalties. Please refer to the License Agreement (EULA) for
authorization to make a backup copy of the software. You may not sell this software or documentation or give
copies of them to anyone else.
Except as expressly warranted in the License Agreement (EULA), Bentley Systems, Incorporated disclaims all
warranties, expressed or implied, including but not limited to implied warranties or merchantability and fitness
for a particular purpose, with respect to the software, the accompanying written materials, and any
accompanying hardware. All results should be verified to the user's satisfaction. The contents of these written
materials may include technical inaccuracies or typographical errors and may be revised without prior notice.
RAM Steel Column 2 User Manual

Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction ............................................................................................................ 7
Chapter 2: The Steel Column Design Module ............................................................................ 8
2.1 Terminology .............................................................................................................................................................................. 8
2.2 Column Tables ........................................................................................................................................................................ 10
2.3 Invoking the Column Module .......................................................................................................................................... 10
2.4 Building the Framing Tables ............................................................................................................................................10
2.5 Model Status ........................................................................................................................................................................... 11
2.5.1 Saving the Model ....................................................................................................................................... 11
2.6 Steel Column Color-Coding .............................................................................................................................................. 11
2.6.1 Model Colors ................................................................................................................................................11
2.6.2 Design Colors .............................................................................................................................................. 11
2.6.3 Interaction Colors ..................................................................................................................................... 12
2.7 Graphics Commands ............................................................................................................................................................12
2.8 The Toolbar .............................................................................................................................................................................12
2.9 Model Notes ............................................................................................................................................................................ 16
2.10 Criteria ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 17
2.10.1 Steel Design Codes .................................................................................................................................... 17
2.10.2 Design Defaults ...........................................................................................................................................17
2.10.3 Trial Groups Defaults ...............................................................................................................................18
2.10.4 Bracing ........................................................................................................................................................... 18
2.10.5 Base Plates ....................................................................................................................................................18
2.11 Assign .........................................................................................................................................................................................19
2.11.1 Bracing ........................................................................................................................................................... 19
2.11.2 Splicing ...........................................................................................................................................................19
2.11.3 Trial Groups .................................................................................................................................................20
2.12 Materials ...................................................................................................................................................................................20
2.13 Design Loads ...........................................................................................................................................................................21
2.14 Batch Column Design .......................................................................................................................................................... 21
2.15 Interactive Column Design ............................................................................................................................................... 22
2.16 Copy ............................................................................................................................................................................................23
2.17 Freezing and Clearing Designs ........................................................................................................................................23
2.18 Base Plate Design ..................................................................................................................................................................24
2.19 Output Reports from the Column Module ................................................................................................................. 24
2.20 Exiting the Column Module .............................................................................................................................................. 24
Chapter 3: Technical Notes ..................................................................................................... 25
3.1 Building Codes ....................................................................................................................................................................... 25
3.2 Steel Design Codes ............................................................................................................................................................... 26
3.3 Member Loads ........................................................................................................................................................................ 27
3.3.1 Load Properties ..........................................................................................................................................27
3.3.2 Self-Weight Calculations ........................................................................................................................ 28
3.3.3 Effects of Sloping Framing .....................................................................................................................29
3.3.4 Effects of Deck Type ................................................................................................................................. 30
3.3.5 Effects of Deck Orientation ................................................................................................................... 30

3.3.6 Loads on Slab Edges .................................................................................................................................. 30
3.3.7 Openings and Penetrations ...................................................................................................................32
3.3.8 Positive Loads, Negative Loads, and Skip Loading ..................................................................... 35
3.3.9 Live Load Reduction ..................................................................................................................................35
3.3.10 Gravity Loads on Walls ........................................................................................................................... 43
3.4 Design Loads ............................................................................................................................................................................43
3.4.1 Unbalanced Moments ..............................................................................................................................43
3.4.2 Reactions .......................................................................................................................................................47
3.4.3 Load Cases .................................................................................................................................................... 47
3.4.4 Moment Split ............................................................................................................................................... 48
3.4.5 Load Combinations ...................................................................................................................................48
3.4.6 Design Moments ........................................................................................................................................ 50
3.4.7 Design Axial Loads ....................................................................................................................................51
3.5 Column Splices ........................................................................................................................................................................51
3.5.1 User-specified Splice Designation ......................................................................................................51
3.5.2 Automatic Splice Designation .............................................................................................................. 51
3.5.3 Splice Flag Types ....................................................................................................................................... 52
3.6 Joint Translation ................................................................................................................................................................... 52
3.7 Column Bracing ..................................................................................................................................................................... 52
3.8 Unbraced Length ...................................................................................................................................................................52
3.9 Effective Length ......................................................................................................................................................................53
3.10 Slender Columns ................................................................................................................................................................... 54
3.11 Hanging Columns ...................................................................................................................................................................54
3.12 Offset Columns on Columns ............................................................................................................................................. 55
3.13 Offset Beams on Columns ................................................................................................................................................. 55
3.14 Design Yield Strength ..........................................................................................................................................................56
3.14.7 Steel Material Properties ........................................................................................................................ 58
3.15 Cross Section Classification ...............................................................................................................................................59
3.16 Section Capacity .................................................................................................................................................................... 59
3.17 Error Messages ...................................................................................................................................................................... 60
3.18 Base Plates ................................................................................................................................................................................62
Chapter 4: Column Design Output ...........................................................................................65
4.1 Gravity Column Design Criteria ......................................................................................................................................65
4.1.1 Default Splice Levels ................................................................................................................................ 66
4.1.2 Design Defaults ...........................................................................................................................................66
4.1.3 Trial Groups .................................................................................................................................................66
4.1.4 Column Bracing ..........................................................................................................................................66
4.1.5 Base Plates ....................................................................................................................................................66
4.2 AISC Column Design ............................................................................................................................................................ 66
4.2.1 Page Heading ...............................................................................................................................................66
4.2.2 Story Information ......................................................................................................................................67
4.2.3 Input Design Parameters ....................................................................................................................... 67
4.2.4 Controlling Column Loads .....................................................................................................................67
4.2.5 Calculated Parameters ............................................................................................................................ 68
4.2.6 Interaction Equation ................................................................................................................................68
4.3 Eurocode Column Design .................................................................................................................................................. 68
4.3.1 Page Heading ...............................................................................................................................................68

4.3.6 Resistance Of Cross Section .................................................................................................................. 70
4.3.7 Buckling Resistance of Members ........................................................................................................70
4.4 CAN/CSA-S16-01/ S16-09 / S16-14 Column Design ............................................................................................ 70
4.4.1 Page Heading ...............................................................................................................................................70
4.4.4 Controlling Column Shear Loads ........................................................................................................ 71
4.4.7 Controlling Column Flexural Loads ...................................................................................................72
4.5 British BS 5950 Column Design ..................................................................................................................................... 73
4.5.1 Page Heading ...............................................................................................................................................73
4.5.4 Controlling Column Shear Loads ........................................................................................................ 74
4.5.7 Controlling Column Flexural Loads ...................................................................................................74
4.6 AS 4100 Column Design .....................................................................................................................................................75
4.6.1 Page Heading ...............................................................................................................................................75
4.7 IS 800-07 Column Design ...................................................................................................................................................77
4.8 Column Design Summary ..................................................................................................................................................79
4.8.1 Allowable Stress Design ......................................................................................................................... 79
4.8.2 LRFD ................................................................................................................................................................79
4.8.3 Eurocode Design ........................................................................................................................................80
4.8.4 CAN/CSA-S16-01/ S16-09 / S16-14 Design ..................................................................................80
4.8.5 BS 5950 Design .......................................................................................................................................... 80
4.8.6 AS 4100 Design .......................................................................................................................................... 80
4.8.7 IS 800-07 Design .........................................................................................................................................81
4.9 Column Loads .........................................................................................................................................................................81
4.10 Column Load Summary ......................................................................................................................................................81
4.11 Column Design Takeoff ...................................................................................................................................................... 82
4.12 Base Plate Design ..................................................................................................................................................................82
4.12.1 Base Plate Dimensions ............................................................................................................................82
4.12.2 Column Data ................................................................................................................................................ 82
4.12.3 Bearing ...........................................................................................................................................................82
4.12.4 Calculated Dimensions ............................................................................................................................83
4.12.5 Eurocode Design ........................................................................................................................................83
4.12.6 CAN/CSA-S16-01/ S16-09 / S16-14 Design ..................................................................................84
4.12.7 BS 5950 ..........................................................................................................................................................84
4.12.8 IS 800-07 ........................................................................................................................................................84
4.13 Base Plate Design Summary ............................................................................................................................................ 85

Appendix A: RAM Steel Column Menus ................................................................................... 86
A.1 File ................................................................................................................................................................................................86
A.1.1 File Save ..........................................................................................................................................................86
A.1.2 Model Status ................................................................................................................................................. 87
A.1.3 File - Notes .....................................................................................................................................................87
A.1.4 Exit ....................................................................................................................................................................87
A.2 Criteria ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 88
A.2.1 Criteria - Steel Design Codes ................................................................................................................. 88
A.2.2 Criteria - Design Defaults ........................................................................................................................ 89
A.2.3 Criteria - Trial Group Defaults .............................................................................................................. 90
A.2.4 Criteria - Bracing ........................................................................................................................................ 91
A.2.5 Criteria - Base Plate ................................................................................................................................... 91
A.3 Assign ..........................................................................................................................................................................................91
A.3.1 Assign - Bracing ...........................................................................................................................................92
A.3.2 Assign - Splicing .......................................................................................................................................... 94
A.3.3 Assign - Trial Groups ................................................................................................................................ 96
A.4 Process ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 99
A.4.1 Design All ....................................................................................................................................................... 99
A.4.2 View/Update ..............................................................................................................................................100
A.4.3 Copy ...............................................................................................................................................................106
A.4.4 Freeze Design - Col Line ........................................................................................................................106
A.4.5 Freeze Design - All ...................................................................................................................................106
A.4.6 Clear Design - Col Line ...........................................................................................................................107
A.4.7 Clear Design - All ......................................................................................................................................107
A.5 Reports .................................................................................................................................................................................... 107
A.5.1 Design Criteria .......................................................................................................................................... 108
A.5.2 Column Design - Single ..........................................................................................................................108
A.5.3 Column Design - Col Line ..................................................................................................................... 108
A.5.4 Column Design - All .................................................................................................................................109
A.5.5 Col Summary ..............................................................................................................................................109
A.5.6 Loads ............................................................................................................................................................. 109
A.5.7 Load Summary .......................................................................................................................................... 109
A.5.8 Takeoff ..........................................................................................................................................................110
A.5.9 Base Plates - Single ..................................................................................................................................110
A.5.10 Base Plates - All ........................................................................................................................................ 110
A.5.11 Base Plates - Summary .......................................................................................................................... 110
A.6 View .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 111
A.7 Window ................................................................................................................................................................................... 111
A.7.1 Close ............................................................................................................................................................. 112
A.7.2 Maximize .................................................................................................................................................... 112
A.7.3 Scroll Bars .................................................................................................................................................. 112
A.7.4 Title bar .......................................................................................................................................................112
A.7.5 Toolbar ........................................................................................................................................................112
A.7.6 Window sizing border .......................................................................................................................... 112
A.7.7 Minimize .....................................................................................................................................................112
A.7.8 Restore ........................................................................................................................................................ 113
A.7.9 Status bar ................................................................................................................................................... 113

Introduction
1
RAM Steel Column is a powerful design tool to aid in the design of steel gravity columns. The RAM Steel Column
module uses the structural model and data created in the RAM Modeler. With RAM Steel Column, columns can be
designed individually with a powerful View/Update command or in batch. Base plates are also designed. The
numerous output reports available dramatically reduce the need for hand calculations. With time freed from the
tedium of number crunching, the engineer can explore variations on a design to produce the most efficient
structure possible.
The Steel Column Design Module (on page 8) explores the use of RAM Steel Column. It provides an overview
of the program, explains how to set and modify defaults, describes how design loads are calculated and gives a
brief description of the output reports available. It also describes the DXF Column Schedule capabilities.
Technical Notes (on page 25) provides a detailed look at the technical assumptions made by the RAM Steel
Column Module, primarily code interpretation. It is critical that the engineer read and understand this chapter
so as to be aware of how these assumptions affect each design.
Column Design Output (on page 65) gives a detailed explanation of the output reports available from the RAM
Steel Column Module.

The Steel Column Design Module
2
RAM Steel Column Design allows the engineer to design gravity columns in either interactive mode or batch
mode. It also allows for the design of base plates. The following is an overview of the Column Design module and
a brief discussion of its use. More information on specific Column Design commands is available in the on-line
help and in the Tutorials.
2.1 Terminology
When discussing the use of the RAM Steel Column module, it is necessary to differentiate between a single
column segment and a vertical stack of column segments. To avoid confusion, the following terminology will be
used:
An individual column segment is referred to as a column.
A stack of column segments is referred to as a column line. A column line is an important concept in RAM Steel
Column both inside and outside the program. A column line is generated based on certain rules which have been
formulated for resolving scenarios where multiple columns diverge or converge at a junction. The rules have
also been so structured to allow easier column schedule generation. These rules are as follows:
a. A single stack of columns always forms a column line
b. A column line generally stops at a point where it cannot resolve which path it must go further. This occurs at
a junction where there are multiple columns (for example, two or more sloping columns frame down onto a
single column) . The rule in this situation is that the column line continues with the column which frames
closest to 180° angle with its top column in the column line compared to other columns at that level. In case
there is a tie the column line stops at that junction.
Figures 1 and 2 show different column line scenarios and each individual column line is shown in a different
color.

Terminology
Figure 1: Single column lines
Figure 2: Column lines with multiple columns at a junction

Column Tables
2.2 Column Tables

RAM Steel Column module selects columns from a table of sizes specified by the user.
Two tables of AISC shapes are supplied with the program. RAMAISC.COL contains only those shapes that are
considered column sections. RAMAISC2.COL contains all AISC wide flange, rectangular hollow sections, and
circular hollow shapes, including the jumbo sizes.
Two tables of metric equivalent AISC shapes are also included: RAMAISCM.COL contains the metric equivalent
shapes of those contained in RAMAISC.COL, and RAMA2M.COL contains the metric equivalent shapes of those
contained in RAMAISC2.COL.
RAMEURO.COL contains the European column sections.
RAMCAN.COL contains the Canadian column shapes.
RAMUK.COL contains the British column sections. RAMUK_CF.COL is the same as RAMUK.COL except that it
contains the cold-formed HSS shapes.
RAMAS.COL contains the Australian column shapes
RAMINDIA.COL contains the Indian column shapes.
These tables can be modified (sizes reordered and regrouped, undesirable shapes deleted, etc.) or new tables
created. The RAM Manager manual provides information about the tables and contains instructions needed for
creating and modifying tables.
The Column Design Table to be used for a given model is assigned by selecting Criteria > Design Steel Tables in
the RAM Manager.
2.3 Invoking the Column Module

RAM Steel Column Design is invoked by selecting the Design - RAM Steel Column command from the RAM
Manager menu or by selecting the RAM Steel Column button on the Module toolbar.
In the Column Design module, a three-dimensional view of the structure is shown with all non-steel column
members colored dark gray and all steel columns colored to indicate their status.
2.4 Building the Framing Tables

Upon invoking RAM Steel Column, the database status is checked to determine whether or not the program
needs to perform the initial gravity analysis. This analysis is referred to as "Building the Framing Tables", or
"Framing". "Framing" is the process of analyzing a model and creating the database files that contain the
information on member interaction, Live Load Reduction, and individual member loading.

Model Status
If the Framing Tables were previously built by the program and no changes have subsequently been made to the
database, the program will not repeat that process when RAM Steel Column is invoked, and RAM Steel Column
will be brought up directly. If certain criteria have been changed or if the model has been modified, the Framing
Tables must be rebuilt. Framing will be performed, after which the RAM Steel Column commands will be
available. This entire process is handled automatically by the program.
2.5 Model Status

The design status of the database is indicated by a model status indicator light on the status bar at the bottom of
the screen. This indicates whether or not the designs are performed and current. A File – Model Status
command is also available for more detailed information. Refer to the Model Status Chapter of the RAM Manager
manual for more information.
2.5.1 Saving the Model

Any operations performed in the RAM Steel Column Design module are only saved to the Database when the File
– Save command is invoked in any module. This includes changes to Criteria, Design All and even Update
Database in View/Update. The changes are only saved in a temporary database until the Save command is
invoked. This allows the user to try various scenarios, and then discard the results. Refer to the Section on
Saving a Model in the RAM Manager manual for more information.
2.6 Steel Column Color-Coding

Three color schemes are used in the Steel Column module: Model Colors, Design Colors, and Interaction Colors.
The default scheme is Design Colors. The color scheme to be displayed can be selected by using the View –
Colors command.
2.6.1 Model Colors

The Model colors are those used in the Modeler, and are useful in distinguishing between members of different
materials and properties.
2.6.2 Design Colors

The Design colors indicate the design status of each steel column. All non-steel column members are colored
dark gray. The color of each steel column indicates its design status as follows:
Yellow Column is ready for design.

Graphics Commands
Green Column was designed and passed all design checks.

Blue Column design passed and the design was frozen.
Light Blue Column cannot be designed. A column cannot be designed because of one or more of following
reasons (1) column has a kinked situation which occurs when there is a change in slope between
the columns when moving from one level to another and there is no bracing in one or two axes
directions at the kink location, (2) columns self-weight flag is switched on and it has some columns
above which cannot be designed, (3) the steel column supports load from a two-way deck.
Red Column was designed and some design warnings were reported. The warnings can be viewed in
the View/Update dialog box or in the Column Design Report. If a column is frozen but has some
design warnings it will be colored red to indicate that design warnings were found (See Section
2.18 (on page 24) for more information on freezing the design).
Note: Once a design is performed on a column line, all columns in the column line will be color-coded to indicate
their new design status. Columns are repainted on a column-by-column basis according to their individual
status.
2.6.3 Interaction Colors

The Interaction Colors indicate the magnitude of the design interaction equation results, with blue indicating a
lightly stressed column and red indicating failure, with gradations of colors representing stress levels in
between. The Interaction Colors are determined and made available when the Process – Design All command is
invoked.
2.7 Graphics Commands

See the 3D Viewer manual for an explanation of the commands available for manipulating the views and the
graphics. Included therein are explanations of some of the Toolbar buttons and some keyboard commands (such
as the Arrow keys used to rotate the model on-screen).
2.8 The Toolbar

Two rows of toolbar buttons appear in the RAM Steel Column module. These actually consist of several tool bars,
which can independently be moved, docked or hidden. Each toolbar can be displayed or hidden by selecting the
View command. Note that holding the cursor over a toolbar button will display a tip on the function of the
button. Below is a description of the function of each of the toolbar buttons. Each command is discussed in
greater detail in subsequent sections.

The Toolbar
Table 1: The primary toolbar
Icon Description
Save saves the data to the database.
Data Check
Print prints the current view.
Model Notes allows notes to be added.
View 3D displays the current model in 3D view (default view).
View Plan displays a dialog to select a floor to view in plan mode.
View Elevation turns the cursor into a target cursor. Click on a beam or wall in the
frame to be viewed in elevation.
View Column Plan displays a plan view with all levels compressed into one plan. This is
the same view as a 3D view looking vertical down on the structure.
Find Member displays the Find dialog used to highlight a column, beam, wall or brace of
the specified member number.
View Members displays the Member Options dialog to allow control over the display of
members on the screen.
View Extents displays the Select Extents dialog to allow control over what “extent” of
the model will be displayed on the screen.
View Nodal Loads turns on and off the display of nodal loads.
Display Wall Opening Numbers turns on and off the display of wall opening numbers.
View Zoom Full restores the screen to its original scale.
View Zoom Fence is used for zooming in on a specified area. The desired zoom area is
enclosed by a rectangle drawn on the screen using the arrow cursor.

The Toolbar
Icon Description
View Zoom In incrementally zooms in on the area currently displayed on screen.
View Zoom Out incrementally zooms out on the area currently displayed on screen.
View Zoom Previous returns to the most recent (previous) zoom location.
Navigation Mode toggles between Pan mode and Rotate mode (used in conjunction
with the keyboard arrow keys).
Resolution Mode toggles between high, medium and low resolution, having reference
to the degree of complexity of the graphics used in the display of the structural shapes,
with low resolution being ‘stick’ graphics and high resolution being extruded, to-scale
shapes.
Non-Pertinent Member Mode toggles the view of the non-pertinent members. The
view toggles between, showing the non-pertinent members in the same resolution as the
pertinent members, showing the non-pertinent members at a low resolution as ‘sticks’
and hiding the non-pertinent members.
Projection Mode toggles between Perspective and Orthographic views.
Reset Model clears some temporary graphics that may be displayed by the module.
Colors toggles between Model Colors, Design Colors and Interaction Colors (if
available).
Pen Colors provides the user with means to change the color of the member types as
they appear on the screen using the Pen Colors dialog box.
Scale Text displays a dialog to adjust the size of the text displayed on screen.
Increase Text Size increases the size of the text on the screen by a given increment.
Decrease Text Size decreases the size of the text on the screen by a given increment.
Show/Hide Lateral Columns.

The Toolbar
Icon Description
Show/Hide Lateral Beams.

.
Show/Hide Lateral Walls.
Show/Hide Braces.
Show/Hide Gravity Columns.
Show/Hide Gravity Beams.
Show/Hide Gravity Walls.
Show/Hide Foundations.
Show/Hide Grids.
Show/Hide Slab/Decks.
Table 2: The Assign toolbar
Icon Description
Assign Bracing to assign the braced/unbraced condition for each axis at the top of the
specified columns.
Assign Splicing to assign the splice condition at the top of the specified columns.
Assign Trial Groups to assign Trial Groups to the specified column lines.

Model Notes
Table 3: The Process toolbar
Icon Description
Design All to Design All the columns not already designed.
View/Update command to analyze, design and change size of an individual member.
Copy command to copy one column line’s design to another.
Freeze Design – Column Line to freeze the current design of the specified column line.
Freeze Design - All to freeze the current design of all column lines.
Clear Design – Column Line to clear the current design of the specified column line.
Clear Design – All to clear the current design of all column lines.
Table 4: The View toolbar
Icon Description
View Bracing to toggle the Bracing symbols on and off.
View Splicing to toggle the Splicing symbols on and off.
View Trial Groups to toggle the Trial Groups text on and off.

Criteria
2.9 Model Notes

Icon Description
The Model Notes command opens a text file that may be used for entering any notes
that the user wishes to keep on the currently loaded model. The model notes file is
stored in the same directory as the model’s files and will have the format
modelname.txt. Model notes are made available by invoking the File – Model Notes
command.
2.10 Criteria
There are a number of criteria that can be specified by the user. By setting the criteria properly, designs can be
obtained that conform to the design philosophies of the engineer without requiring extensive member size
selection modifications. After a design has been performed, these criteria can be modified to further refine the
designs. Default criteria are set by the Defaults Utility in the RAM Manager but can be modified on a project-by-
project basis within the Column Design module.
If any criteria selections are modified after a model has been analyzed and designed, the optimized member
designs will be cleared from the database so that new optimized designs can be obtained based on the newly
specified criteria. Modifying the Design Defaults criteria and Bracing criteria also causes the Framing Tables to
be rebuilt (see Section 2.4 (on page 10)). Upon issuing the command to change a criteria item, a warning dialog
box will appear on the screen stating that proceeding with this command will clear all previously optimized
sizes. The command can be canceled at this time without affecting the database.
2.10.1 Steel Design Codes

The Steel Design Code may be selected independently for columns and base plates. The design may be based on
AISC 360-16 (ASD and LRFD), AISC 360-10 (ASD and LRFD), AISC 360-05 (ASD and LRFD), ASD 9th Edition,
LRFD 3rd Edition, BS 5950-1990 or 2000, CAN/CSA-S16-01, S16-09, or S16-14, Eurocode 3, AS4100-99 (Column
Design only), and IS 800-07.
To modify or inspect the settings for the current model select Criteria > Steel Design Codes.
See Technical Notes (on page 25) for an explanation of how RAM Steel Column performs the design for each
design code.
2.10.2 Design Defaults

The Column Design module calculates the moments induced by unbalanced loading on each face of the column.
When a beam frames into a column parallel to a given axis, the full reaction is applied to that column face. When
a beam frames in at an angle, the reaction is split between the adjacent sides by the ratio of the angle.

Criteria
For small angles, it may be appropriate to suppress the splitting of the reaction, and apply the full reaction on the
nearest face. The magnitude of the angle to be considered in determining whether or not to split the reaction can
be specified by selecting the Criteria - Design Defaults command. If the angle between a column axis and a
beam axis is less than that specified, the total reaction will be applied to the side of the column to which the
beam frames; if the angle exceeds that specified, the reaction will be split between the adjacent sides. See Section
3.4.4 (on page 48), Moment Split, for an explanation of how the reaction is split.
If the option Skip-load the Live Load around the column is selected, the program will skip-, or pattern-, load
the Live Load around the column to create the worst design case of biaxial bending and axial loads. See Section
2.14 (on page 21), Design Loads, for more information.
2.10.3 Trial Groups Defaults

The Column Design module can produce up to three distinct designs at one time with the use of Trial Groups.
"Trial Groups" refers to the grouping of shapes within the Column Design tables: for example all W14's are
grouped together into a W14 group, all 16"x16" HSS sections are grouped together in the HSS16X16 group etc.
When the Column Design module designs columns, it selects sizes only from the trial groups specified by the
user. Trial groups are specified using the Criteria - Trial Group Defaults command. Separate trial groups are
set for standard columns and for hanging columns. For design, sizes from the trial group that result in the
lightest design for the column line are selected as “optimum” sizes.
2.10.4 Bracing
The RAM Steel Column Design program automatically determines the unbraced length based on user specified
criteria and the geometry of the framing at a column. Usually the unbraced length used in column design is the
length of the column. There are conditions, however, where this is not the case for e.g. the situation where there
are more than two columns attached to a joint and the bracing is missing in any direction.
Using the Criteria - Bracing command, the user may specify whether or not the presence of floor deck braces
the column. If so, the column is considered braced regardless of the configuration of the attaching beams
whenever the column is within the decked area.
The angle at which a beam is no longer considered to act as a brace for a given axis of the column is also
specified using the Criteria - Bracing command. If no beams frame into a column within the specified angle of a
given axis, the column is considered unbraced in that axis (unless braced by the deck).
2.10.5 Base Plates

Design of base plates can be obtained by invoking the Reports – Base Plates commands. Base plates are
designed considering the column size and loads and the specified criteria. Currently, the design can only be
performed for single vertical column and not for single sloping or multiple columns sitting on the plate.
The minimum edge dimensions of the base plate, from the face of the column and the side of the column, can be
specified to ensure that there is sufficient distance to accommodate the anchor bolts.

Assign
For some Codes the allowable bearing of the base plate on the concrete is a function of the size of the plate
relative to the size of the support. Thus it is necessary to know the size of the concrete support in order to design
the base plate. Since that information is not currently available to the base plate design routines, the minimum
footing size can conservatively be specified in the criteria. If even the minimum footing is sufficiently larger than
the base plate, the footing size becomes irrelevant and the maximum permissible value of bearing on concrete is
used. Otherwise, the criteria can be changed to reflect the varying support conditions and the base plate designs
obtained for those columns.
2.11 Assign
While the Criteria commands are used to modify defaults on a project-by-project basis, the Assign commands
are used to override the default criteria on a column-by-column basis. Note that if the defaults are acceptable, it
is not necessary to invoke the Assign commands.
2.11.1 Bracing
The bracing condition determined by the program can be overridden on a column by column basis using the
Assign - Bracing command. For each axis (Major and Minor) there are three options:
• Global is used to specify that the Bracing conditions used for design are to be determined by the program
based on the model geometry and Bracing Criteria.
• Braced is used to specify that the Bracing conditions used for design are to be considered as braced,
regardless of the model geometry and Bracing Criteria.
• Unbraced is used to specify that the Bracing conditions used for design are to be considered as unbraced,
regardless of the model geometry and Bracing Criteria.
Note that to clear a previous assignment, invoke the Assign – Bracing command and assign the Global option.
In Single mode, select the column for which the Bracing assignment is to be assigned to the top of the column. In
Fence mode fence entirely all columns for which the Bracing assignment is to be assigned to the top of the
column. All assigns the Bracing assignment to the tops of all columns.
2.11.2 Splicing
Splice levels are taken into consideration by the Column Design module when selecting column sizes. Rather
than picking a different column size for each level, the program selects the same size for all levels between
splices, based on the controlling design case between the splices. A splice at a level indicates to the program that
the size can change between the level above and the level below; the lack of a splice indicates to the program
that the size must be the same for the level above and the level below. The assignment of splice levels is done
globally in the Story Data in the RAM Modeler. This can be overridden on a column by column basis using the
Assign - Splicing command. There are three options:
• Global is used to specify that the Splicing conditions used for design are to be determined by the program
based on the model geometry and the Story Data.

Materials
• Spliced is used to specify that the Splicing conditions used for design are to be considered as spliced,
regardless of the model geometry and the Story Data.
• Not Spliced is used to specify that the Splicing conditions used for design are to be considered as not spliced,
regardless of the model geometry and the Story Data.
Note that to clear a previous assignment, invoke the Assign – Splicing command and assign the Global option.
In Single mode, select the column (not the splice symbol) for which the Splicing assignment is to be assigned to
the top of the column. In Fence mode fence entirely all columns for which the Splicing assignment is to be
assigned to the top of the column. All assigns the Splicing assignment to the tops of all columns.
It is often useful to first design the columns with a splice specified at every level, then modify the splice level
assignments based on the results to determine the best splice locations, and redesign the columns.
For some configurations of geometry and material the program may override the Splicing assignments. See
Section 3.5 (on page 51), Column Splices.
2.11.3 Trial Groups

The default trial groups specified in the Criteria - Trial Group Defaults command can be overridden on a
column line by column line basis. This is done using the Assign - Trial Groups command. There are two options:
• Global is used to specify that the Trial Groups used for design are to be those specified in the Criteria – Trial
Groups command.
• Use Trial Group(s) is used to specify specific trial groups.
Note that to clear a previous assignment, invoke the Assign – Trial Groups command and assign the Global
option.
In the Assign Trial Groups dialog, select the check box above the Trial Group to activate that group, and specify
from the list of groups a group for each shape. A Trial Group can also be deactivated by deselecting the check box
above it.
Separate trial groups are set for standard columns and for hanging columns. When the assignment is made, the
appropriate assignment is made based on the column type.
In Single mode, select the column line for which the Trial Groups assignment is to be assigned. In Fence mode
fence entirely all column lines for which the Trial Group assignment is to be assigned. All assigns the Trial Group
assignment to all column lines in the entire model.
2.12 Materials
In the RAM Modeler, columns can be laid out in steel, concrete or a user defined material (“Other”). When the
model is brought into the Column Design module, only the gravity steel columns are optimized and have sizes
assigned. However, gravity loads are calculated for concrete and “other” columns and can be obtained from the
Reports - Loads or the Reports - Loads Summary output reports.
Lateral steel columns will only be designed if no size was previously assigned to a column. This may be useful for
automatic preliminary sizing of lateral columns.

Design Loads
2.13 Design Loads

The Design Loads used by RAM Steel Column are determined for the worst combination of axial loads and
bending moments. In determining the worst design conditions as required by Code, the program skip loads the
live load around the column (if that option is selected in Criteria > Design Defaults) to create the worst case of
axial load and bi axial bending. When a live load is “skipped” on a side (i.e., not applied), it is not included in the
total axial design load.
Axial loads are calculated directly from the gravity loads assigned in the RAM Modeler. Bending moments are
caused by unequal beam reactions acting through the beam to column connection eccentricities. The default
connection eccentricities are defined by the user in the RAM ModelerRAM Modeler with the Options > Set
Defaults > Eccentricities command. They can be defined as either an absolute distance from column centerline
or as half the column dimension plus an incremental distance. The latter for a sloping column is adjusted for its
slope inside the program. An absolute distance of 0.0 results in no applied moment and the column is designed
for axial loads only. The eccentricity condition can be assigned independently for each axis. Note that these
default values are only assigned to standard columns; hanging columns are by default assigned eccentricities of
0.0. If the connection used for hanging columns will induce design moments, the appropriate connection
eccentricity should be assigned to the hanging columns in the RAM Modeler.
Default connection eccentricity conditions are set in the Defaults Utility in the RAM Manager. These defaults can
be overridden on a project-by-project basis using the Options > Set Defaults > Eccentricities command in the
RAM Modeler. Changing the settings in the Options > Set Default > Eccentricities command in RAM Modeler
does not affect the columns modeled prior to the change. Only those columns modeled after the change will have
the new eccentricity condition. Changing the settings in the Defaults Utility in the RAM Manager does not affect
the columns in any models created prior to the change. The default assignments on an individual column can be
modified using the Layout Columns Assign Eccentricity command in the RAM Modeler.
The RAM Steel Column module calculates the moments induced by unbalanced loading on each face of the
column. When a beam frames into a column parallel to a given axis, the full reaction is applied to that column
face. When a beam frames in at an angle, the reaction is split between the adjacent sides by the ratio of the angle.
For small angles it may be appropriate to suppress the splitting of the reaction, and apply the full reaction on the
be specified by the user using the Criteria > Design Defaults command (See Splicing (on page 19)). For
example, if an angle of 30 degrees is specified, a beam reaction will not be split between the two adjacent sides if
it frames into a column at an angle of 30 degrees or less with respect to the column axis.
2.13.1 Loads on Deck/Slabs designated as Two-Way

There is no facility in place in the gravity steel program to allow loads on two-way surfaces to be distributed to
steel gravity columns. Any column that exists under a deck designated as two-way will not be able to be
designed in RAM Steel Column.

Interactive Column Design
2.14 Batch Column Design

Batch column design may be performed by selecting the Design All command. It can be invoked at the beginning
of the Framing process by selecting the option to Perform “Design All” Automatically After Framing, or it can
be invoked by selecting the Process > Design All command inside the Column module. Design All will design all
unsized columns in the database without requiring any interaction from the User. Note that any program
selected design may be overridden by selecting the View/Update command. It is not necessary to perform
Design All prior to selecting the View/Update command.
Several commands require that all members are sized before they will execute. If one of these commands is
selected, the Column module will automatically size all the columns (if they haven't already been sized) except
for columns it “cannot design” and store the design in the database before actually executing the selected
command.
A “cannot design” column situation occurs if:
a. A column slope, with respect to the column above or below, changes and no bracing exists at the level.
b. A column (dependent column) frames into two mono-sloping columns at an unbraced level.
c. A column carries load from a two-way deck.
A “cannot design” column affects the entire column below in the column line and hence they all are tagged as
“cannot design” by the program in the View/Update dialog. One must note that the user may assign a size to the
“cannot design” columns to proceed further but the program would not check the columns for design adequacy.
The Reports command requiring that all columns be designed include Col Summary, Loads, Load Summary,
Takeoff, and Base - Plates Summary. A user may still get these reports if there exists columns tagged “cannot
design” in the structure.
In cases where no column sizes were entered in the RAM Modeler for any lateral frame members, the optimum
column size based on the gravity design will be selected and the column will be marked as a “User Size”. This can
be used to preliminarily size the frame columns. Note that once a frame column has been assigned a size, either
by the user in the RAM Modeler or automatically by the RAM Steel Column module, it will not be overridden by
the program unless the user clears the size. Also note that this design is based on assumptions as for a Gravity
column and do not account for the effects of continuity or lateral forces; a more accurate design can be obtained
by analyzing and checking Frame columns in RAM Frame.
After the Design All command has been performed the steel columns will be shown in Interaction Colors; that is,
they will be painted with a color that represents the degree to which the column is loaded compared to its
capacity.
2.15 Interactive Column Design

Interactive column design may be performed using the Process – View/Update command. The View/Update
command is a very powerful function that can be used to perform the following tasks:
• Inspect the sizes selected by the program as well as the sizes from other Trial Groups.
• View the full output for the column design by clicking the View Results button.
• Modify the shape and Fy (fy or py) used to select the Trial Group sizes, and re-optimize.
• Modify the currently selected size, Fy (fy or py), and shape.
• For double angle hanging columns, modify the spacing, long leg back to back and the snug tight setting.

Copy
• Save the modifications to the model by selecting the Update Data Base button.
Selecting Update Data Base will store the column design information in the model and the column will be
“tagged” as User Size. If a column is tagged as a User Size, the program will no longer perform the optimization
algorithm for that column. Instead, it is analyzed for adequacy under the design loads. A column tagged as a User
Size will retain that flag until cleared with the Process – Clear Design command.
If changes in design criteria or any changes to geometry or loading in the RAM Modeler will affect the User
tagged columns, the User size can be cleared so that the program will recalculate the optimum column
configuration. If a user-selected column is inadequate, a warning is issued, but the design is still allowed. It is the
engineer's responsibility to determine whether or not to allow an over-stressed condition on member sizes that
have been specifically selected.
In most cases, making changes to the model in the RAM Modeler or to the design criteria specified in the Criteria
menu of the Column Design module will result in the previous optimum sizes being cleared from the database.
Making changes to beam designs may also affect the column sizes if the option to consider beam self-weight has
been selected in Criteria – Self-Weight in the Manager.
When the self weight criteria is turned on, the program will restrict a View/Update on a column line with
dependent column lines having columns tagged “cannot design.” This restriction will be lifted upon resolving
the “cannot design” tag on the dependent column. Refer to 2.15 for conditions which result in a “cannot
design.” Also refer to the on-line help for a more detailed description of the View/Update command or the
Tutorial for examples on using this command.
2.16 Copy
A special method of design is the Process – Copy command. It allows the user to assign the same column sizes to
one column line as are assigned to another. This is useful when it is desired to make similar column lines
identical. To use the Copy command, first design a column line. This can be done either by using the Process –
View/Update command or the Process – Design All command. Next, select the Copy command. With the target
cursor select the designed column (the Copy From column), then select the column to which the designs are to
be copied (the Copy To column). The designs and settings (splicing and bracing) will be copied to the column.
The target cursor changes, alternating between a Copy From cursor to a Copy To cursor, to help identify the
current step in the copy process.
The column lines must match in number of columns in the column line, type (standard or hanging), framing and
material for the copy command to be successful.
The Copy command does not create a link between the Copy From column and the Copy To column; a
subsequent change in the design of one is not automatically made to the other. The command merely copies the
current sizes, Fy (fy or py), and settings from one column line to another. For hanging columns, the single and
double angle parameters are also copied.
2.17 Freezing and Clearing Designs

At certain points during the design process, it may be desirable to "Freeze" the design of some or all of the
columns. Doing so allows the user to archive completed designs or to perform what-if type investigations
without having the software re-optimize and potentially modify the member sizes.

Base Plate Design
Designs may be frozen by selecting the Process – Freeze Design – All or Process – Freeze Design – Col Line
commands. Freezing a design on a member is similar to setting a User Size in that the program will never re-
optimize the design unless the User clears the design.
Members that have had their design Frozen or members that were previously assigned User Sizes in the View/
Update can be cleared by selecting the Process – Clear Design – All or Process – Clear Design – Col Line
commands. After designs are cleared, upon the next design the program will again perform an optimized design
on all cleared members.
2.18 Base Plate Design

Design of base plates is non-interactive and currently can only be performed for a single vertical column. The
base plate sizes are determined using the criteria specified by the user, the currently selected column sizes, and
the axial loads.
The criteria are specified using the Criteria - Base Plates command in the Column Design module. Criteria to be
set include: plate Fy (fy or py), concrete f'c (fck or fcu), minimum edge distances, plate dimension increments,
minimum footing size and an option to make all base plates square. The minimum footing size only impacts the
design if the base plate is on a foundation. Base plates located on a wall or concrete column will use the
respective member cross section dimensions for the footing size. Base plates (columns) rotated at different axis
from a support (concrete column) will use the maximum size the plate could grow without projecting beyond
the support, as the footing size. Making changes to the base plate criteria does not require sizes to be cleared
from the database.
The design of individual base plates is obtained using the Reports - Base Plates - Single or Reports - Base
Plates - All commands. A summary of all base plates is obtained using the Reports - Base Plates - Summary
command. Base plate designs can be refined by refining the base plate criteria.
2.19 Output Reports from the Column Module

Reports can be printed, viewed on-screen, stored as a text file, or stored as a Viewer file. These options are
available in the Reports menu. Report styles can be modified by the user with the Tools – Report Styles
command in RAM Manager. See the RAM Manager manual for more information on Reports and Report Styles.
See Column Design Output (on page 65) for a complete description of the Reports.
2.20 Exiting the Column Module

Exit the Column module by selecting the File - Exit command.

Technical Notes
3
In the design of a structure a great number of decisions must be made. What is acceptable to one engineer may
not be acceptable to another. It is crucial that the user understands the decisions and assumptions being made
by the RAM Steel Column Design module. If these are not appropriate for the specific conditions of a particular
building, the user should augment or replace the results from RAM Steel with those of some other tool.
The purpose of the Technical Notes is to explain the assumptions and methodology of the RAM Steel Column
Design module. Every effort has been made to include a discussion of significant decisions and assumptions
made by the program. Generally, if there is any question as to how the RAM Steel Column Design module handles
any particular condition, a small model can be quickly created and analyzed, and the results verified with the
appropriate hand calculations.
The Column Design module has been extensively tested and used. It is impossible, however, to anticipate every
possible configuration that could be encountered by the program. Ultimately the engineer is responsible for the
safety and adequacy of the design of the building.
3.1 Building Codes

The provisions of several international building codes, provisions and standards are incorporated in the RAM
Structural System :
• International Building Code (2000, 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, and 2018), International Code Council.
• ASCE 7-98, ASCE 7-02, ASCE 7-05, ASCE 7-10,and ASCE 7-16 Minimum Design Loads for Buildings and Other
Structures, American Society of Civil Engineers.
• The BOCA National Building Code (1999), Building Officials & Code Administrators International, Inc.
• Standard Building Code (1999), Southern Building Code Congress International, Inc.
• Uniform Building Code (1997), International Conference of Building Officials.
• National Building Code of Canada 2010, Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes, National Research
Council Canada.
• BS 6399: Part 1: 1996, Loading for Buildings, British Standards Institution.
• UK National Annex to Eurocode 1: Actions on Structures, NA to BS EN 1991-1-1:2002.
• AS/NZS 1170.1:2002 (including Amendment No. 1), Australia/New Zealand Standard.
• China GB 50009-2001.
• Hong Kong Building Regulation.
• Eurocode EN 1990:2002+A1:2005 and EN 1991-1-1:2002.
• Eurocode Prestandards ENV 1991-2-4:1995, ENV 1998-1-1:1994, and ENV 1998-1-2:1996.
• National Building Code of India (September 2015) Bureau of Indian Standards.

Technical Notes
Steel Design Codes
In the RAM Structural System, its output and throughout the remainder of this manual these are referred to as
IBC, ASCE 7, BOCA, SBC, UBC, NBC of Canada, BS 6399, UK National Annex, Eurocode, China, Hong Kong, and NBC
of India, respectively. The sections of these codes applicable to the analysis performed by RAM Steel Column are
those dealing with roof and floor loads and the reduction of live loads. They are subject to certain assumptions
and limitations as outlined in the Technical Notes.
Note: You are free to select the steel design code independently of the Building Code. Refer to the Building Code
appropriate for the particular jurisdiction to determine the proper steel design code to select.
3.2 Steel Design Codes

RAM Steel Column is based on the requirements of several U.S. and international steel design specifications.
These specifications include:
• “Specification for Structural Steel Buildings.” July 7, 2016. ANSI/AISC 360-16 ASD (Allowable Strength
Design) and LRFD (Load Resistance Factored Design). American Institute of Steel Construction. Manual of
Steel Construction (15th Edition).
• “Specification for Structural Steel Buildings.” June 22, 2010. ANSI/AISC 360-10 ASD (Allowable Strength
• “Specification for Structural Steel Buildings.”March 9, 2005. ANSI/AISC 360-05, ASD (Allowable Strength
• “Specification for Structural Steel Buildings - Allowable Stress Design and Plastic Design.” June 1, 1989.
American Institute of Steel Construction. Manual of Steel Construction - Allowable Stress Design (9th Edition).
The requirements of Supplement No. 1 (December 17, 2001) are also included as an option.
• “Load and Resistance Factor Design Specification for Structural Steel Buildings.” December 1, 1993. American
Institute of Steel Construction in Manual of Steel Construction - Load and Resistance Factor Design (3rd
Edition).
• “Limit States Design of Steel Structures.” CAN/CSA-S16-14. Canadian Institute of Steel Construction.
S16S1-05 Supplement No. 1 is also implemented.
• “Structural use of steelwork in building.” BS 5950 : Part 1. “Code of practice for design: rolled and welded
sections.” 2000. British Standards Institute.
• “Structural use of steelwork in building.” BS 5950 : Part 1, “Code of practice for design in simple and
continuous construction: hot rolled sections.” 1990. British Standards Institute.
• “Structural use of steelwork in building.” BS 5950 : Part 3, Section 3.1. “Code of practice for design of simple
and continuous composite beams.” 1990. British Standards Institute.
• “Eurocode 3 - Design of Steel Structures, EN 1993-1-1:2005.” European Committee for Standardization in
Design of Steel Structures (Eurocode 3).
• “Eurocode 4 - Design of Composite Steel and Concrete Structures, BS EN 1994-1-1:2004.” European
Committee for Standardization in Design of Composite Steel and Concrete Structures (Eurocode 4)
• “Steel Structures.” Australia Standard. Building Code of Australia. AS 4100-98. June 5, 1998. Includes
Amendments No 1-1992, No. 2 – 1993, No.3 – 1995 and Draft No.4 (Base plate code not currently available).
• “Indian Standard, General Construction in Steel - Code of Practice (December 2007),” IS 800:2007 published
by the Bureau of Indian Standards (Third Revision).

Technical Notes
Member Loads
In the RAM Steel Column program, its outputs and throughout the remainder of this manual, these are referred
to as AISC 360-16 ASD, AISC 360-16 LRFD, AISC 360-10 ASD, AISC 360-10 LRFD, AISC 360-05 ASD, AISC 360-05
LRFD, ASD 9th, LRFD 3rd, CAN/CSA-S16, BS 5950, Eurocode, AS 4100, and IS 800-07 respectively. Because the
requirements of AISC 360-16, AISC 360-10, and AISC 360-05 are nearly identical they will often be collectively
referred to as AISC 360.
3.3 Member Loads
3.3.1 Load Properties

One of the key features of the RAM Structural System is the ability to automatically determine the loads to each
individual member based on user defined surface, line, and point loads. In the RAM Modeler, loads are defined
by first creating a list of load properties and then assigning these load properties to the layout with the use of
polygons, lines, and points as appropriate. A load property consists of a Label, a Dead Load, a Construction Dead
Load, a Live Load with its associated Live Load Reduction flag, a Partition Live Load, a Construction Live Load,
and a Mass Dead Load.
Note: Repeated reference is made throughout the program and the documentation to "Live Loads". In some
codes these loads are referred to as "Imposed Loads".
The Dead Load is the total dead load such as slab, deck, partitions, miscellaneous, etc. Member and slab self-
weights can be included in this value automatically. See Section 3.3.2 Self-Weight Calculations.
The Construction Dead Load, or Pre-composite Dead Load, is a temporary load and is that portion of the Dead
Load that is applied to the beam prior to composite action. It must be less than or equal to the Dead Load. This
value is only used in the RAM Steel Beam Design Module when designing unshored ("unpropped") composite
beams. This is in addition to the Construction Live Load described below. When a column is supported by a
composite beam, RAM Steel Column Design assumes that the full column load is applied to the post-composite
section; the column induces no Construction Dead Load on the pre-composite section.
The Live Load is the total live load appropriate for the particular building based on the applicable Building Code
and use of the building. Live Loads may be defined as Reducible, Storage, Unreducible, or Roof. Roof loads may
be treated as Reducible or Unreducible. Live Load Reduction is discussed in Section 3.3.8.
The Partition load is an additional Live Load; it is treated as an unreducible Live Load and will not be reduced. It
is in addition to the loads specified as Live Load. Partition loads are defined variously by the Codes, some as
Dead Load and some as Live Load. For those codes that define Partition loads as an unreducible Live Load, those
should be specified here. For those Codes that define Partition loads as a Dead Load or as part of the regular Live
Load, those should be included as part of the Dead Load or Live Load accordingly.
The Construction Live Load is a temporary load that is applied to the beam prior to composite action. It
represents the temporary load due to workers and equipment on the bare beam prior to composite action. This
load is combined with the Construction Dead Load when investigating the pre-composite beam. No Live Load
reduction is performed on this load. Its magnitude is independent of the Live Load value. This value is used only
in the RAM Steel Beam Design module when designing unshored ("unpropped") composite beams. It has no
impact on column designs.

Technical Notes
Member Loads
The Mass Dead Load is the load that will be used in calculating the diaphragm mass properties used in RAM
Frame. It is not used in the design of gravity steel columns.
Snow loads, including varying drifting snow loads can also be applied. A current limitation in the program is that
Roof Live Loads and Snow Loads cannot be considered simultaneously. Both types of loads can exist
simultaneously in the model, but only one or the other will be considered. In the Criteria – Live Load
Reduction command in the RAM Manager there are two options: “Consider Snow Loads, Ignore Roof Live
Loads” and “Consider Roof Live Loads, Ignore Snow Loads”. This is used to specify which set of loads is to be
considered. If both types of load need to be considered, it may be necessary to design the members twice, once
with each option selected. Note that this limitation is only between Snow and Roof Live loads; Snow and
Reducible, Storage or Unreducible and Partition Live loads can be considered simultaneously by the program.
Surface load properties are assigned to the model by defining the boundaries of the load polygon. Virtually any
number of load polygons may be assigned to a given layout. Additionally, overlapping polygons are permitted.
The last polygon assignment will over-ride all previous assignments rather than be additive.
Polygon boundaries need not coincide with beam locations; boundaries can fall within a bay. Such changes in
loads will result in multiple uniform or trapezoidal loads generated on the beam and will be shown individually
on the Beam Output. Care should be taken in the RAM Modeler when laying down load polygons, especially those
whose sides should coincide with a beam line, so that extraneous minuscule loads are not generated on the
beam.
3.3.2 Self-Weight Calculations

Self-weight of columns, beams, walls and slabs/decks can be automatically included in the loads by selecting the
Criteria – Self-Weight command in the RAM Manager. If the options are not selected, the self-weights are not
included, even if values are specified in the Modeler.
Self-weight of Steel Joists is not automatically included. In order for the design to consider the self-weight for
these members, it must be applied by the user as part of the surface load or as a series of separate line loads.
This is necessary because only the self-weight of Standard steel joists is known (although even that can vary
with the actual span). The actual self-weight of Girders and Special joists is not known. So for consistency, no
self-weight is automatically considered for any Steel Joists.
Self-weight of Braces is not automatically included.
Column self-weight is not included in the column load applied to transfer girders. If significant, the user should
specify a Point load at that location to approximate and account for the self-weight of the supported column.
This is necessitated by the fact that if self-weight was to be automatically included in this case, the columns
would need to be designed before the beams in order to get the column self-weight applied to the transfer
girder, but the beams need to be designed first in order to get the beam self-weights applied to the columns.
Thus it would require an iterative design process, alternating between the beam design and the column design
until no sizes changed. For simplicity it was decided to not automatically apply the column self-weight to
transfer girders.
For walls with openings, the wall self-weight and wall mass are not reduced to account for the opening. The
openings are not considered when calculating wall self-weight and wall mass.
When the top of a wall slopes, the wall self-weight is applied as a trapezoidal load rather than a uniform load,
based on the wall thickness, unit weight and height of the wall at each end.
For columns, the calculated self-weight is applied as a point load at the top of the column.

Technical Notes
Member Loads
The self-weight of Concrete columns and beams is calculated using the value of Unit Weight for Self-Weight,
specified by the user in the Modeler. This value of Unit Weight is separate from the value specified for Unit
Weight used in the calculation of material properties (e.g., modulus of elasticity).
Note that self-weights are based on the center-to-center dimensions of beams and columns respectively. This
means that there is a duplication of self-weight at the joints. The program does not make any attempt to reduce
this.
3.3.3 Effects of Sloping Framing

In the Modeler, Live Load Surface and Line loads that are applied to sloping framing areas should be assigned
magnitudes equivalent to their projected area loads (for Surface loads) and projected length loads (for Line
loads); Live Loads specified in most building codes are already specified as projected area loads, so no
modification is necessary. Dead Loads should be input as the actual loads, based on the actual weights; the
program will account for the effects of sloping. Figure 3 shows how beam Live Loads are dealt with in the RAM
Structural System. Figure 3 (A) shows the load as applied by the user. The load is then transformed to calculate
the load per unit length along the member, as shown in Figure 3 (B). The load is transformed again to calculate
both the perpendicular and axial components along the member, as shown in Figure 3 (C). In the RAM Steel
Beam Design module the beams are designed only for the perpendicular component shown in Figure 3 (C); the
axial component is ignored. In RAM Frame both the perpendicular and axial components are considered.
w
θ
(A)
w cosθ
θ
(B)
w cos2θ
w cosθ sinθ
(C)
Figure 3:
In RAM Steel the impact of sloping members is manifested in the lengths of, and load on, beams in the RAM Steel
Beam module, and the height of the columns in the RAM Steel Column module.

Technical Notes
Member Loads
In RAM Steel Beam the distributed surface loads and applied line loads are transformed to calculate the
component of the load that acts perpendicular to the length of the member as explained above. This is the load
considered in the design of the steel beams. Note that no axial load is considered in the design of beams in RAM
Steel Beam. Although all modeling of members and loads is performed in plan mode, the length of the beam,
length of unbraced segments and location of loads are all based on the actual beam length, considering the true
slope of the beam.
In RAM Steel Column the effect of the sloped floor feature is evident in the length of the columns, as shown in the
gravity steel column design report. Columns lengths are calculated based on both the story height and the
extension of the column above or below that height.
See Section 3.3.8 for information on the effects of sloping framing on Live Load reduction for Roof Live Loads.
3.3.4 Effects of Deck Type

Decks can be modeled as either One-way or Two-way. However, decks supported by steel framing should only
be specified as One-way; no loads from two-way slabs will be distributed to steel framing members. If steel
members are modeled supporting two-way slabs, an error will be given when the steel member is designed.
3.3.5 Effects of Deck Orientation

Floor loads are distributed assuming one-way distribution. Therefore, load distribution to beam members is
dependent upon the orientation of the metal deck as assigned by the user. Loads within a bay will be distributed
in the direction of the deck to the several members surrounding the bay. For example, no surface load would be
applied to a beam that is parallel to the deck span except as a point load from a beam framing into it. In
calculating the distribution of the loads, it is assumed that the deck performs as a single simple span between
beams within the bay; no continuity of the deck over multiple spans is considered.
3.3.6 Loads on Slab Edges

For slab edges (i.e., the area of slab between beam centerline and edge of overhanging slab) in One-way decks,
loads are carried back to the beam as if the deck is perpendicular to the beam, regardless of the actual deck
orientation. When laying down polygons to define surface loads it is important to lay them down such that they
include the slab edge rather than end at beam centerline. If the area between the beam and the edge does not fall
inside of a load polygon, no load will be applied. It is permissible to assign a different load to the slab edge than
to the opposite bay.
Slab edge lines can be laid out either parallel to neighboring beams, or they can be defined in a free-form. The
program carries out a few automated steps to figure out slab edge load polygons, and then computes projected
loads within slab-edge load polygons. The projected loads are applied on beams. It should be mentioned that the
current implementation works on purely geometric properties of slab edges and neighboring beams even
though projecting loads onto beams should involve a more elaborated stiffness based analysis approach. Instead,
a simplified approach is applied, which leads to acceptable results for most typical configurations. In the
following subsections, the current implementation is briefly described and some limitations identified.

Technical Notes
Member Loads
Procedure Detail
A minimum of two closed polygons are first calculated by the program: a beam-loop polygon and slab-edge
polygon (these are indicated in the following figure (A) with red and green lines, respectively). Note that the
beam-loop polygon might be composed of beams, joists, or walls. Then the area between the slap-edge and
beam-loop polygons is partitioned into load polygons, which are used to distribute loads on slab edges (in the
following figure (B) ). These load polygons are generated in such a way that any angle between two beams (or
walls) is bisected outward. Finally, any loads (point, line or surface loads) detected on load polygons are
projected back onto beams.
(A) (B)
Figure 4: (A) Slab-edge and beam-loop polygons are shown in green and red colors, respectively; (B) Generated slab
edge load polygons
It is important to know that there must be at least one closed loop with beams (including joist and walls), and
one closed loop with slab edges. Otherwise, the program cannot construct load polygons and cannot process
loads on slab edges. For some ambiguous configurations, generated load polygons may not be acceptable (to
verify loads on edge beams it is recommended that you check the distributed loads found on beams in the RAM
Steel Beam module). An example of such a configuration is given in the following figure; the beams form a
concave loop but the slab edge doesn't extend into that area. Thus it is ambiguous as to how the slab edge load
and the load within the concave area should be distributed back to the beams. In cases like this it is suggested
that the slab edge be placed to more explicitly to identify the intent, or that surface loads be removed from these
areas and line loads manually applied to the neighboring members.

Technical Notes
Member Loads
Figure 5: Improper load polygon example
Loads (point, line or surface loads) found inside or on these generated slab edge load polygons are projected
back to beams (or walls). One-way distribution of loads is assumed, with the slab edge loads carried back to the
beam at right angles to the beam. Therefore, loads in the exterior corner of a slab will be ignored since there is
no beam to distribute the load back to at a right angle to the beam. For example, the highlighted portion of the
surface load in the following figure is ignored:
Figure 6: Loads located within shaded area are ignored
3.3.7 Openings and Penetrations

If the opening edges are created as a slab overhang then the loads on slab edges around openings (created in the
RAM Modeler with the Layout > Slab > Openings command) are treated as described in Loads on Slab Edges
(on page 30). No load is applied to the area within the opening, even if it falls within a load polygon.
You may also create a free form opening on a one way deck inside a beam loop. A free form opening is one which
may take any shape inside a beam loop as shown in the following figure. Multiple openings inside a beam loop
are considered an invalid configuration for calculation of opening slab edge loads. Ram Gravity gives an error for
any such configuration it runs into while framing, and the beams in the beam loop associated with the opening
causing an error will not have correct loads applied on them.

Technical Notes
Member Loads
Figure 7: Free Form Openings
The calculation of opening slab edge load for each beam in the loop is not trivial due to the fact that an opening
can have practically any shape. The calculation of opening slab edge load for each beam requires identifying the
polygons, the loads on which are carried back to the beam. An opening slab edge load polygon for any beam is
obtained by finding the nearest point on the opening from the beam nodes (beam nodes lying on the beam loop).
These nearest points on the opening and the beam nodes are then used to form one or more closed polygons.
More than one load polygons are formed for a beam if the opening edge or corner sits on the beam itself. If there
are multiple points found on the openings which are equidistant from the beam nodes then the mid-point of the
extreme points found on the opening is considered as the nearest point. This mid-point considered also lies on
the opening.
Once the slab edge polygons (tributary area boundaries) are calculated for each beam in the beam loop, the
loads on each polygon are carried straight back to the associated beam as if the deck was laid perpendicular to
beam. Thus, the deck orientation originally assigned to the deck polygon has no influence on the load
distribution; for edges the load is always distributed in a direction perpendicular to the beam. The following
figure shows the opening slab edge load polygon for a few selected beams from beam loops shown in the
previous figure.
For some complex openings, if there is no direct perpendicular line back to a beam, there may be some portion
of the load in the opening slab edge polygon that does not get carried back to the beam, and is ignored.

Technical Notes
Member Loads
Figure 8: Slab edge load polygon for a small opening
It is important to recognize that when an opening of any size or placement is placed within a bay of framing
supporting one-way deck, the opening edges are defining the slab edge distances for all beams framing around
that opening, regardless of the distance from the beam to the opening. For that entire bay, all loads are
distributed as slab edge loads, and the normal one-way distribution is not applicable. For example, the following
figure shows an opening that only fills a small portion of the bay. This is improper modeling. The presence of the
opening within the beam loop indicates that all loads within that loop are to be treated as slab edge loading.
Therefore, the loads beneath the opening are distributed down to the bottom beam as if that was a long slab
edge overhang, not left and right to the adjacent beams as would be expected with one-way distribution. To get
the appropriate distribution, the opening should be framed with a beam near the bottom of the opening.
Tip: If no steel beam is intended to be framed there in the actual structure, the beam can be modeled as material
“Other”; it will then satisfy the need for a beam there without impacting the Takeoff values.
Penetrations (openings created in the RAM Modeler with the Layout > Slab > Penetrations command) have no
effect on loads. Their presence is ignored by the program when calculating member loads. Their purpose is to
limit the effective flange width of composite beams.

Technical Notes
Member Loads
Figure 9: Opening Slab Edge Load Polygons
3.3.8 Positive Loads, Negative Loads, and Skip Loading

On the output, loads are referred to as Positive or Negative. A Positive load is a downward acting load while a
Negative load is an upward acting load. For simple span beams, Positive loads create beam reactions that
become Positive loads on the supporting members. However, Positive loads on a cantilever create uplift on the
backspan support, the reaction of which becomes a Negative load on the supporting member. Negative loads
only occur as a result of cantilevered beams or from user-defined negative loads. The Program keeps track of
Positive and Negative loads independently.
On the output, moments and reactions are labeled Maximum Positive and Maximum Negative. If there is no
Negative value, it is listed as 0.0 or not shown at all. If there is no Positive value, it is listed as 0.0 or not shown.
See Design Loads (on page 21), Design Loads for more information on skip loading on columns. See the RAM
Steel Beam manual for more information on skip loading on beams.

Technical Notes
Member Loads
3.3.9 Live Load Reduction

Each of the Building Codes has provisions for reducing the live loads under certain conditions. When
appropriate, the program automatically calculates these reduction factors and reduces the loads accordingly. On
the output, these reduction factors are listed as a percent of allowable reduction. For example, if the output lists
a reduction of 60%, the unreduced load is multiplied by 0.40 to obtain the reduced load. The program recognizes
four types of live loads: Reducible, Storage, Unreducible, and Roof. Additionally, Partition loads can be explicitly
specified, in which case they will be treated as Unreducible. If the specified building code does not require that
Partition loads be treated as unreducible they can merely be added to the other live loads, where they will be
reduced according to the reduction appropriate for the Live Load. The Roof load may be treated as either
Reducible or Snow, as specified by the user in the RAM Manager criteria.
Live load reduction factors are a function of the area associated with the loads acting on a member. In calculating
the reduction for a given load, the program only uses the area on the member associated with that live load type.
For example, if part of the load on a member is Reducible and part is Storage, only the area associated with the
Reducible loads will be included in the calculation of the reduction factor on the Reducible loads, and only the
area associated with the Storage loads will be included in the calculation of the reduction factor, if permitted, on
the Storage loads.
In some Building Codes, the Live Load Reduction is a function of the number of stories carried by a member or is
dependent on whether the load is coming from a single level or from more than one level. The user can specify
which load types are to be considered in this determination, for the purpose of calculating Live Load Reduction.
For example the user can specify that a level carrying Roof Live Load not be included when determining the
number of levels that a member supports (this does not mean that the Roof loads are not applied). These options
appear in the Determining Number of Stories group box in the Criteria > Live Load Reduction command in
the RAM Manager.
Roof Live Loads specified in the International Building Code (IBC), Uniform building Code (UBC), Standard
Building Code (SBC), and the BOCA National Building Code (BOCA) are reducible in some cases based on the
tributary area and the slope of the roof. The RAM Structural System automatically considers both parameters
when calculating the Roof Live Load Reduction. When the Roof loads are specified by the user, the magnitude of
the load should be that given as the basic Roof Live Load value, not the reduced value to account for slope or
area. For example, in the UBC, SBC and BOCA the Roof Live Load charts list 20 psf as the basic roof load for
tributary areas less than 200 square feet and slopes less than 1:3. This is the value that should be specified by
the user even if the roof is sloped. The program will calculate the slope and the tributary area and use the
corresponding table value. If a value other than 20 psf is specified by the user, the program will use the same
Live Load Reduction percentage as calculated for a 20 psf load, but will apply it to the specified value. Columns
and girders may be supporting members that support various areas of differing roof slope. In that case the
program uses a weighted average slope in the calculation of the Roof Live Load Reduction factor. Likewise, Roof
Live Loads in the Hong Kong Building Regulation can be reduced as a function of the slope; hence the magnitude
of the roof live loads should be specified as for a flat roof, and the program allowed to make the reduction based
on the slope of the framing.
The user may limit the live load reduction on beams by specifying a Use Calculated Value, limited to a
Maximum ofwith the Layout > Beams > LL Reduction command in the RAM Modeler. The limit is assigned on a
beam-by-beam basis. For example, the user can specify that for purlins the live loads not be reduced, but for
girders the live loads get the full allowable reduction. If a limitation is assigned using this command, the program
will use the more stringent of the code required value and the user specified value. With this same command the
user may also assign an explicit value to use, which will override the calculated value. These assignments have
no impact on the design of the beams.

Technical Notes
Member Loads
The user may limit the live load reduction on columns by specifying a Use Calculated Value, limited to a
Maximum of with the Layout > Columns > LL Reduction command in the RAM Modeler. The limit is assigned
on a column-by-column basis. If a limitation is assigned using this command, the program will use the more
stringent of the code required value and the user specified value. With this same command the user may also
assign an explicit value to use, which will override the calculated value. These assignments have no impact on
the design of the beams.
The requirements for live load reduction are different for each Building Code. They are outlined below by
Building Code.
IBC 2000 - 2018

The requirements for Live Load Reduction are given in Section 1607.9, “Reduction in live loads,” of IBC 2000,
2003, 2006, and 2009; Section 1607.10 of IBC 2012 and 2015; and Section 1607.11 of IBC 2018. There are two
methodologies. The General Method is based on ASCE 7-05, and the Alternate method is based on UBC 97. These
options are given in the Criteria > Live Load Reduction command in the RAM Manager. On the Reports, “IBC” is
listed as the Building Code when the General method is selected; “IBC Alt” is listed when the Alternate method is
selected.
General Live Load Reduction

The General live load reduction methodology is given in IBC 2018 Section 1607.11.1. Note that this is identical to
the requirements given in ASCE 7-16. For members for which KLLAT is 400 ft2 or more, the live load may be
reduced according to the following formula:
L =L 0(0.25 + 15
K LL AT ) Equation 16-23
where
L = the reduced design live load per square foot of area, psf
L0 = the unreduced design live load per square foot of area, psf
AT = the tributary area, ft2
KLL = the Live Load element factor from Table 1607.11.1
For members supporting one floor, L shall not be less than 0.50L0 (this is a 50% reduction). For members
supporting two or more floors, L shall not be less than 0.40L0 (this is a 60% reduction). To be consistent with
the way the Live Load reduction is reported by the program for other Building Codes, the Live Load Reduction
value will be computed and given as a percent reduction, rather than as a multiplier.
The Live Load Reduction value is further limited to the user specified maximum, if any.
There is a special provision in the code (IBC 2018 Section 1607.11.1.2 Heavy live loads) for live loads greater
than 100 psf. In the program, this type of load is referred to as “Storage” live load and, for such loads a reduction
of up to 20% (if allowed by Eq. 16-23) is allowed on members carrying storage load from two or more levels.
The user must explicitly designate loads as Storage. Any live load designated by the user as Storage will be
treated as explained whether the load is greater than 100 psf or not, and any load not specified by the user as
Storage will not be treated as Storage even if it exceeds 100 psf.
Table 1607.11.1 gives values for KLL. Theoretically it is the ratio of the Influence Area to the Tributary Area:
Ai
K LL = AT
. Typically the value for columns is 4, and the value for beams is 2. With these values, the equation
gives the same reduction values as ASCE 7-95 and ASCE 7-93, which is what has been implemented for BOCA
Live Load Reduction. When there are large cantilevered areas contributing to the area supported by the
member, the values of 4 for columns and 2 for beams are considered unconservative. The table gives a value of 3
for edge columns with cantilever slabs, 2 for corner columns with cantilever slabs, and 1 for edge beams with

Technical Notes
Member Loads
cantilever slabs. The Code does not give any indication as to what fits within the definition of cantilever slabs.
For example, it does not seem that a column supporting beams that carry a nominal slab edge would need to be
included under this classification. The table also specifies a value of 1 for cantilever beams.
The program determines both the tributary area and the influence area for each member. KLL is then calculated:
Ai
K LL = AT
To conform to the table values, which show integer numbers, the program will round the calculated KLL to an
integer value as well. This is done as follows:
If KLL is greater than 3.85, it rounds up to 4, otherwise it rounds down to 3.

If KLL is greater than 2.85, it rounds up to 3, otherwise it rounds down to 2.
If KLLL is greater than 1.85, it rounds up to 2, otherwise it rounds down to 1.
The 0.15 tolerance for rounding up is to avoid unduly penalizing members that carry some nominal slab edge or
very short cantilevers.
For loads on the cantilever portion of a cantilever beam, KLL = 1.
KLL is calculated independently for both Reducible Live Loads and Storage Live Loads based on their respective
tributary and influence areas.
Alternate Live Load Reduction

The alternate live load reduction methodology is given in IBC 2018 Section 1607.11.2. It is based on the
methodology specified by the UBC, with one subtle but significant difference: the UBC says that for members
receiving load from one level only the reduction is limited to 40% and for members receiving load from two or
more levels the reduction is limited to 60%; the IBC says that the reduction for horizontal members (i.e., beams)
is limited to 40% and the reduction for vertical members (i.e., columns) is limited to 60%. Note that this means
that a column carrying load from only one level can be reduced up to 60%, and a transfer girder carrying load
from more than one level can only be reduced up to 40%.
For loads specified as Reducible, any member supporting 150 square feet or more of Reducible live load is
reduced per Equation 16-24: R = 0.08(A – 150) where A is the tributary area and R is the reduction percent,
limited to a maximum of 40% for beams and 60% for columns as explained above. The reduction is further
limited to that obtained from Equation 16-25: R = 23.1(1+D/L) where D/L is the ratio of the Dead Load to Live
Load, and it is further limited to the user specified maximum, if any.
There is a special provision in the Code (Section 1607.11.1.2) for live loads greater than 100 psf. In the program,
this type of load is referred to as “Storage” live load and, for such loads a reduction of up to 20% (if allowed by
Eq. 16-24 and Eq. 16-25) is allowed on columns carrying storage load. No such reduction is made on beams. The
user must explicitly designate loads as Storage. Any live load designated by the user as Storage will be treated as
explained whether the load is greater than 100 psf or not, and any load not specified by the user as Storage will
not be treated as Storage even if it exceeds 100 psf.
Roof Live Load Reduction

Minimum Roof Live Load is specified in Section 1607.11 Roof Loads, and is given by:
Lr = 20R1R2 (Equation 16-24)
where
Lr = the Roof live load per square foot of horizontal projection, psf,
R1 = a reduction factor based on tributary area, At (sq. ft):

Technical Notes
Member Loads
R1 = 1.0 for At ≤ 200 ft2 (Equation 16-25)

R1 = 1.2 - 0.001 At for 200 < At < 600 ft2 (Equation 16-26)
R1 = 0.5 for At ≥ 600 ft2 (Equation 16-27)
where
R2 = a reduction factor based on slope, F (inches of rise per ft). See Equation
16-28 through 16-30. The slope of the framing is automatically
determined and the R2 value is calculated and applied.
Lr = limited to the range of 12 psf to 20 psf , which means a reduction of up to
40% is allowed. Note that any value of Roof live load can be input (not
necessarily 20 psf) and the program will reduce it by the appropriate
factor. For example, if a Roof live load of 30 psf is assigned to a member
carrying over 600 square feet of roof area, the load is reduced to 18 psf
(i.e., 30 psf times 0.60). To be consistent with the other Building Codes, the
Live Load Reduction value is computed and reported as a percent
reduction.
The Live Load Reduction value will further be limited to the user specified maximum, if any.
BOCA
For BOCA, the reduction of Reducible Live Loads is based on influence area rather than tributary area. The code
defines influence area as “...four times the tributary area for a column, two times the tributary area for a beam...”.
It is important to note that for all members regardless of configuration, the program first calculates the tributary
area, determines the portion of that area loaded by Reducible Live Load, then multiplies that area by four when
calculating the reduction for columns and by two when calculating the reduction for beams. The reduction is
limited to 50% for members receiving load from one floor only and is limited to 60% for members receiving load
from more than one floor (the reduced load is not less than 40% of the unreduced value). It is important to note
that the output lists the reduction factor as a percent by which the load can be reduced. No reduction is
permitted for members having an influence area less than 400 square feet.
There is a special provision in the Code (Section 1606.7.2.3) for live loads greater than 100 psf. The program
refers to this type of load as a Storage load and, for loads specified as Storage live loads, a reduction of up to 20%
is allowed on columns loaded by more than one level. No such reduction is made on beams even if they receive
load from more than one level. If the equation involving influence area indicates a lesser reduction, the reduction
is limited to the smaller amount. Note that in calculating the influence area, only the area loaded by Storage live
load is considered and is derived from the tributary area as explained above. The user must explicitly designate
loads as Storage. Any live load designated by the user as Storage will be treated as explained whether the load is
greater than 100 psf or not, and any load not specified by the user as Storage will not be treated as Storage even
if it exceeds 100 psf.
Roof live loads are reduced per Table 1607.3. However, any value of Roof live load can be input (not necessarily
20 psf) and the program will reduce it with the appropriate factor. For example, if a Roof live load of 30 psf is
assigned to a member carrying over 600 square feet of roof area, the load is reduced to 18 psf (30 psf times
0.60). It is assumed that the roof is flat or has a rise less than four inches per foot. The reduction is based on the
tributary area loaded by Roof live load.
No reduction is made on loads specified as Unreducible.

Technical Notes
Member Loads
SBC
For loads indicated as Reducible, any member supporting 150 square feet or more of Reducible live load is
reduced at the rate of 0.08% per square feet (R = 0.08*Area). The reduction is limited to 40% for beams and
60% for columns. The reduction is further limited to that obtained by the equation R = 23.1(1+D/L).
There is a special provision in the Code (Section 1604.2-2) for live loads greater than 100 psf. The program
refers to this type of load as a Storage load and, for loads specified as Storage live loads, a reduction of up to 20%
is allowed on columns. No such reduction is made on beams. If the equations involving tributary area indicate a
lesser reduction, the reduction is limited to the smaller amount. The reduction is further limited to that obtained
by the equation R = 23.1(1+D/L). The user must explicitly designate loads as Storage. Any live load designated
by the user as Storage will be treated as explained whether the load is greater than 100 psf or not, and any load
not specified by the user as Storage will not be treated as Storage even if it exceeds 100 psf.
Roof live loads are reduced per Table 1604.6 with the reduction not to exceed that obtained by the equation R =
23.1(1+D/L). Any value of Roof live load can be input (not necessarily 20 psf) and the program will reduce it
with the appropriate factor. For example, if a Roof live load of 30 psf is assigned to a member carrying over 600
square feet of roof area, the load is reduced to 18 psf (30 psf times 0.60). It is assumed that the roof is flat or has
a rise less than four inches per foot. The reduction is based on the tributary area loaded by Roof live load.
UBC
For loads indicated as Reducible, any member supporting 150 square feet or more of Reducible live load is
reduced per UBC Eq (7-1): R = 0.08(A - 150). The reduction is limited to 40% for members receiving load from
one floor only and is limited to 60% for members receiving load from more than one floor. The reduction is
further limited to that obtained by the equation R = 23.1(1+D/L).
There is a special provision in the Code (Section 1607.5) for live loads greater than 100 psf. The program refers
to this type of load as a Storage load and, for loads specified as Storage live loads, a reduction of up to 20% is
allowed on columns. No such reduction is made on beams. If the equations involving tributary area indicate a
lesser reduction, the reduction is limited to the smaller amount. The user must explicitly designate loads as
Storage. Any live load designated by the user as Storage will be treated as explained whether the load is greater
than 100 psf or not, and any load not specified by the user as Storage will not be treated as Storage even if it
exceeds 100 psf.
Roof live loads may be reduced per either Method 1 or Method 2 of Table 16-C. However, any value of Roof live
load can be input (not necessarily 20 psf) and the program will reduce it with the appropriate factor. For
example, if a Roof live load of 30 psf is assigned to a member carrying over 600 square feet of roof area, the load
is reduced to 18 psf (30 psf times 0.60) for Method 1. It is assumed that the roof is flat or has a rise less than four
inches per foot. The reduction is based on the tributary area loaded by Roof live load. The reduction is limited to
a maximum of 40% regardless of the number of levels from which the member receives load, and is further
limited to the value obtained by UBC Eq (7-2).
NBC of Canada
For loads specified as Reducible, the live load on any member supporting 20 square meters or more of Reducible
live load is reduced per the equation in NBC Clause 4.1.6.9.3.

Technical Notes
Member Loads
NBC Clause 4.1.6.9.2 is applicable for members supporting assembly loads of 4.8 kPa or more, or storage,
manufacturing, retail, etc. For Live Load Reduction purposes, the program classifies these types of loads as
Storage Live Load. For loads specified as Storage, the live load on any member supporting 80 square meters or
more of Storage live load is reduced per the equation in NBC Clause 4.1.6.9.2.
The user must explicitly specify loads as Reducible or as Storage in order for the corresponding reductions to be
performed. Any live load designated by the user as Storage will be treated as such whether the load is greater
than 4.8 kPa or not, and any load specified as Reducible will be treated as such (using the reduction in Clause
4.1.6.9.3) even if the load is greater than 4.8 kPa.
No reduction is made on loads specified as Unreducible or Roof.
It is important to note that the output lists the reduction as a percent by which the load can be reduced, rather
than as a load multiplier.
BS 6399
Imposed Loads are referred to in the program and documentation as “Live Loads”. Live Loads specified as
Reducible are reduced as allowed by BS 6399: Part 1: 1996 Clause 6, “Reduction in total imposed floor loads”, as
described below. Note that the UK National Annex to Eurocode 1 (NA to BS EN 1991-1-1:2002) uses this same
methodology.
For columns, Live Loads specified as Reducible are reduced by the greater of Table 2 and Table 3. In the
determination of Number of Floors used in Table 2, the user may specify that only floors carrying Reducible Live
Load be included in that number by invoking the Criteria > Live Load Reduction Command in the RAM
Manager as explained previously.
The Code explicitly requires that, when the Live Load is reduced, the Live Load Reduction Factor used on column
moments is that corresponding to the beam which creates the moment, while the Live Load Reduction Factor
used on column axial load is that corresponding to the column itself. As a simplification, the program only
reduces the column axial load; it does not reduce the column moments. Since beam Live Load Reductions are
small (generally about 2 to 5%), this is not likely to have a significant impact on the design, and is conservative.
Reducible Live Loads on beams are reduced per Table 3. Reductions for intermediate areas are calculated by
linear interpolation.
For transfer girders, the reduction of the point load from the column is that of the column itself, and the
reduction of the remaining Live Loads is based on the supported area not including that coming from the
column.
Live Loads specified as Roof loads are reduced based on the slope of the roof in the vicinity of the member per
BS 6399:Part 3:1988 Clause 4.3.1. If the slope is less than 30 degrees no reduction is taken. If the slope is greater
than 60 degrees the load is completely reduced (to 0.0). For intermediate slopes the percent reduction is
interpolated.
No reduction is made on Live Loads specified as Unreducible or Storage.
Eurocode
Imposed Loads are referred to as Live Loads. Reducible Live Loads are those of Categories A to D. For loads
indicated as Reducible, any horizontal member supporting 10 square meters or more of Reducible live load is
reduced per EN 1991-1-1:2001 Eq (6.1):

Technical Notes
Member Loads
5 Ao
αn = 7
Ψo + A
≤ 1.0
where
A = the tributary area
Ψo = specified in the RAM Manager Criteria > Eurocode Factors command
The Eurocode requires that for Categories C and D, the reduction factor αA be greater than or equal to 0.6. This is
not done automatically by the program, but can be accomplished by specifying a limit to the Live Load Reduction
of 40% in the Modeler using the Layout > Beams > LL Reduction command.
Storage Live Loads are those of Category E. The Live Load reduction on horizontal members is performed the
same as for Reducible Live Loads except that the Ψo factor is different, as specified in the RAM Manager Criteria
> Eurocode Factors command.
For vertical members supporting Reducible or Storage loads, the reduction is based on Eq (6.2):
2 + (n − 2)Ψ
o
αn = n
where
n = the number of stories supported by the member
Ψo = specified in the RAM Manager Criteria > Eurocode Factors command
No reduction is made on loads specified as Unreducible for either horizontal or vertical members.
No reduction is made on loads specified as Roof for either horizontal or vertical members.
It is important to note that the output lists the reduction factor as a percent by which the load can be reduced,
rather than a load multiplier.
Australian / New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1170.1:2002

For loads specified as Reducible, the live load on any beam or column is reduced per the equation for ψa in
Clause 3.4.2(b).
No reduction is made on loads specified as Storage, Unreducible, or Roof.
China GB 50009-2001
For loads specified as Reducible, the live load on any beam supporting 25 m2 or more of Reducible live load is
reduced 10% (the reduction coefficient is 0.90) per Clause 4.1.2.1(1). This would be applicable to loads in Item 1
in Table 3.1.1.
For loads specified as Storage, the live load on any beam supporting 50 m2 or more of Storage live load is
reduced 20% (the reduction coefficient is 0.80) per Clause 4.1.2.1(2).
For loads specified as Reducible, the live load on any column is reduced per Table 4.1.2 as specified in Clause
4.1.2.2(1). As specified in that table, for a one-story column if the tributary area of the column is greater than 25
m2, the reduction coefficient is 0.90.
For loads specified as Storage, the live load on any column supporting 50 m2 or more of Storage live load is
reduced 10% (the reduction coefficient is 0.90) per Clause 4.1.2.2(2).
The user must explicitly specify loads as Reducible or as Storage in order for the corresponding reductions to be
performed.

Technical Notes
Design Loads
No reduction is made on loads specified as Unreducible or Roof.

Hong Kong Building Regulation

For beams, Live Loads specified as Reducible are reduced by “5% for each complete 45 m2 … supported, but not
more than 20% in all.” No interpolation is performed for intermediate areas.
For columns, Live Loads specified as Reducible are reduced by the greater of Table 2 and “5% for each complete
45 m2 … supported, but not more than 20% in all.” In the determination of Number of Floors used in Table 2, the
user may specify that only floors carrying Reducible Live Load be included in that number by invoking the
Criteria > Live Load Reduction command in the RAM Manager as explained previously. Note that the
Regulation allows the user to also include the roof level in the determination of the number of stories supported.
No reduction is made on loads specified as Storage, Unreducible, or Roof.
IS 800-07
For columns, imposed loads specified as reducible are reduced per the requirements of Section 3.3.2. In the
determination of number of floors, you may specify that only floors carrying reducible live load be included in
that number by selecting Criteria > Live Load Reduction in the RAM Manager as explained previously.
Imposed loads specified as roof loads are reduced based on the slope of the roof in the vicinity of the member
per IS 875 (Part 2) Section 4.1
No reduction is made on loads specified as Storage, Unreducible or Roof.
3.3.10 Gravity Loads on Walls

The floor loads that are distributed to a wall at a particular level are calculated by the program, and loads in
Gravity walls are distributed to supporting members below, whether a beam, column or another wall based on a
simple vertical takedown of loads. For such multi-level wall systems, a more precise takedown of wall forces can
be obtained by including all walls as part of the lateral system and performing a frame analysis in RAM Frame.
Live Load Reduction factors are calculated for walls, similarly as is done for beams and columns, as appropriate.
3.4 Design Loads

Technical Notes
Design Loads
3.4.1 Unbalanced Moments

Gravity loads on columns consist of an axial load and moments about both axes where the column design
moments are caused by unbalanced loading. Such moments are created when there is an imbalance in the loads
on one side of the column versus the loads on the other side. Each beam induces a moment equal to the reaction
times the connection eccentricity. The unbalanced moment is the difference in the reactions on opposite sides of
the column multiplied by the eccentricity.
Stub cantilevers also induce moments into the column that are considered in the design. The Live Load
component of the cantilever moment is subject to the skip loading performed to calculate the controlling design
loads. Furthermore, stub cantilevers framing off of the side of a beam induce torsion into that beam; if that beam
is supported by a column, the torsion in the beam is transferred to the column as a moment in the column.
The connection eccentricity is determined based on criteria you specify. The eccentricity is specified as either an
absolute dimension or as an increment to be added to one-half of the column dimension in that direction. The
latter eccentricity is adjusted internally if the column is sloping.
If you do not want moments considered in the design, an absolute dimension of 0.0 can be specified. This does
not eliminate moments due to stub cantilevers.
The default eccentricity assigned to modeled hanging columns in RAM Modeler is 0.0. You may assign a non-zero
eccentricity value to hanging columns using the Layout – Column – Assign Eccentricity command.
If the option to skip-load the Live Load around the column is selected in the Criteria – Design Defaults
command, the program will automatically skip-load, or pattern, the Live Load around the column to determine
the worst case of axial load and unbalanced moment. For example, by placing the Live Load on only two sides of
the column, the resulting axial load is reduced, but the unbalanced moment in both axes is increased. This may
produce a worse design condition than the fully loaded column with smaller unbalanced moments. As shown in
Table 6 below, 34 different cases of skip-loading (pattern loading) of the Live Load from the beams around the
four sides of the column, top and bottom, are considered. Table 5 shows the skip-load conditions associated with
the load cases from Table 6.
If the option is not selected the program will not skip-load the Live Load around the column. Only Load
Conditions 1 and 10 in table 5 will be investigated (the Live Load applied to all four sides of the column), which
means that only Load Cases 1 and 18 in Table 6 will be used to determine column design axial loads and
moments. In these cases there will only be design moments if the beam reactions on opposite sides of the
column are unequal.
See Load Cases (on page 47) for more information on the load cases and conditions considered by the
program.
Note: BS 5950 : Part 1 Section 4.7.7 explicitly says that it is not required to pattern load the Live Load around the
column. For that Code the option may be deselected.
Table 5: Skip Load Conditions for Live Load
4 2

Technical Notes
Design Loads
Load Condition Side Reactions Axial Load Area
1 2 3 4
1 + + + + + Pos Only
2 + + + +
3 + + + +
4 + + + +
5 + + + +
6 + + +
7 + + +
8 + + +
9 + + +
10 - - - - - Neg + Pos
11 - - - -
12 - - - -
13 - - - -
14 - - - -
15 - - -
16 - - -
17 - - -
18 - - -

Technical Notes
Design Loads
Table 6: Load Cases - Load Conditions Used
Load Load Condtions

Case Top Bottom
1 1 1
2 1 6
3 1 7
4 1 8
5 1 9
6 2 8
7 2 9
8 3 7
9 3 8
10 4 6
11 4 7
12 5 9
13 5 6
14 6 8
15 7 9
16 8 6
17 9 7
18 10 10
19 10 15
20 10 16
21 10 17
22 10 18
23 11 17
24 11 18
25 12 16
26 12 17
27 13 15
28 13 16
29 14 18
30 14 15
31 15 17
32 16 18
33 17 15
34 18 16
Multi-Story Column Moments

A column line or stack may comprise of a line of columns braced by framing beams at story levels. A multi-story
column stack is created when there are no framing beams at intermediate stories between bracing stories.
Unbalanced column moments are easily determined at the braced stories by the process described in

Technical Notes
Design Loads
Unbalanced Moments (on page 43). For columns at the intermediate unbraced story levels where no moments
can be determined since no beams frame into either the top or bottom of a column stick, moments are based on
a linear interpolation of the column moments from the top and bottom braced point moments in the multi-story
column stack. Moments due to skip loading at the braced locations are similarly interpolated and assumed for
the intermediate unbraced column sticks within the multi-story column stack.
Typical multi-story column have moments at the braced stories but where a multi-story column with an
intermediate unbraced story has an applied moment resulting from a stub or a beam with an eccentric reaction
but has been released from bracing the story, the applied moment applied is used in lieu of an interpolated
moment for the story.
3.4.2 Reactions
The reactions loading each side of the column are calculated. If a beam is skewed with respect to the column, its
reaction is split into orthogonal components and added to the values from the appropriate sides of the column.
The split is based on the ratio of the angle.
For example, a skewed beam with a 10 kip reaction frames into the column between sides 1 and 2 at
an angle of 20° from side 1. The 10 kip reaction is split as follows:
90 ° − 20 °
R1: 90 °
× 10kips = 7.78kips
20 °
R2: 90 °
× 10kips = 2.22kips
Depending on the connection configuration and the angle at which the beam frames into the column, it may be
appropriate to suppress the splitting of the reaction and apply the full reaction to a single side of the column. The
user may specify the maximum angle at which reactions will not be split. If the angle between a given column
axis and the beam is greater than the angle specified the reaction will be split between the two adjacent sides; if
the angle is less than the angle specified the full reaction will be applied to the closest side.
3.4.3 Load Cases

In conformance with the Code requirement that placement of live loads (live load skipping) be such that the
maximum design conditions are created , RAM Steel Column Design skips the beam live load reactions around
the column to create the worst case of axial load and unbalance moment. Such skipping results in larger
unbalanced moments but smaller axial loads. This is done at both the top of the column and the bottom to
include the impact of single curvature versus reverse curvature. This results in the investigation of a large
number of design load cases.
Table 3-1 shows the combinations of applied reactions and axial loads to create each Load Condition. There are
nine possible Load Conditions for positive (downward) live loads and nine for negative (upward) live loads. The
table indicates the sides at which the live load reactions are applied as indicated by a "+" sign for positive loads
and a "-" sign for negative loads. It also indicates that the positive axial load is used in conjunction with the
positive beam reactions and the negative axial load is used in conjunction with the negative beam reactions. The
area used in calculating the corresponding Live Load Reduction Factor on the column is indicated in the last
column. Note that a number of additional Load Conditions occur if positive loads and negative loads are applied

Technical Notes
Design Loads
concurrently (e.g., a positive live load is applied on one side of the column and a negative live load is applied on
the other). These additional combinations are not investigated by the program.
Table 3-2 shows the Load Cases that occur due to the various combinations of Load Conditions at the top and
bottom of the column. These are the Load Cases that are investigated by the program. References to Load Cases
in the output correspond to these load cases. Load Cases 1 through 17 are positive live load cases; Load Cases 18
through 34 are negative live load cases. Note that Load Cases 1 and 18 are the unskipped cases (i.e., the reactions
are applied to all sides simultaneously).
To determine the skip load condition for a given Load Case, refer to Table 3-2 for the Load Condition used for
that Load Case. Refer to Table 3-2 for that Load Condition to determine the reactions which are being applied.
For example, Load Case 6 uses Load Condition 2 at the top of the column and Load Condition 8 at the bottom of
the column (per Table 3-2). Load Condition 2 applies the positive live load reactions on sides 1, 2, and 3, but not
side 4; Load Condition 8 applies the positive live load on sides 3 and 4, but not sides 1 and 2 (per Table 3-1).
3.4.4 Moment Split

Generally the unbalanced moments can be split for design of the columns, with part of the moment going to the
column above the joint and part of the moment going to the column below the joint. At a joint where the column
above and below differ in either shape, material, or orientation in the plane of the cross-section, the whole
unbalanced moment is applied to the top of the column below. In reality, the unbalanced moment split is based
on column continuity, column length, column moment of inertias, presence or absence and type of column
splices, and bracing conditions.
The program currently cannot resolve this split for the following cases: (a) there is more than one column at a
joint and the joint is unbraced in one or two axis directions and (b) the relative angle between the columns
below and above the joint is not zero and the joint is unbraced. Hence in the Design All situation the columns at
the joint are tagged as cannot design. A user may assign a size to such columns using View/Update but the
program does not check them for adequacy.
Except as noted below, to simplify the analysis the assumption is made that the design moment distributed to
each column is inversely proportional to its length. By making this assumption the distribution of moments is
very much simplified. It should be noted that when calculating the moment splits by hand, it is common practice
to make this same assumption.
3.4.5 Load Combinations

Each column is investigated for all the skip load live load conditions indicated previously for each of the
following Load Combinations:
AISC 360
1.0DL
ASD
1.0DL + 1.0LL
1.0DL + 1.0LL roof
1.0DL + 0.75LL + 0.75LL roof
AISC 360
1.4 DL
LRFD

Technical Notes
Design Loads
1.2 DL + 1.6 LL + 0.5 LL roof

1.2 DL + 0.5 LL + 1.6 LL roof
ASD 9th
1.0 DL
1.0 DL + 1.0 LL + 1.0 LL roof
LRFD 3rd
1.4 DL
1.2 DL + 1.6 LL + 0.5 LL roof
1.2 DL + 0.5 LL + 1.6 LL roof
CAN/CSA
1.4 DL
S16
1.25 DL + 1.5 LL + 0.5 LL roof
1.25 DL + 0.5 LL + 1.5 LL roof
0.9 DL + 1.5 LL + 0.5 LL roof
0.9 DL + 0.5 LL + 1.5 LL roof
Based on the Importance category, NBC of Canada may allow Live, Roof, and Snow loads to be
reduced or may require that the Snow loads be increased. The program does not apply these
factors. The loads should be input with the factors applied as appropriate.
BS 5950
1.4 DL
1.4 DL + 1.6 LL + 1.6 LL roof
1.0 DL + 1.6 LL + 1.6 LL roof
Eurocode All symbols indicated in this section are set by the engineer from the Eurocode Factors dialog in
RAM Manager.
γGj,supDL
γGj,supDL + ψ0,imposedγQ,1 LL + ψ0,roofγQ,i LL roof
γGj,supDL + ψ0,imposedγQ,i LL + ψ0,roofγQ,1 LL roof
ξγGj,supDL + γQ,1 LL + ψ0,roofγQ,i LL roof
ξγGj,supDL + ψ0,imposedγQ,i LL + ψ0,roofγQ,1 LL roof
γGj,inf DL + γQ,1 LL + ψ0,roofγQ,i LL roof
γGj,inf DL + ψ0,imposedγQ,1 LL + γQ,1 LL roof
Note: When Snow load is specified rather than Roof Live Load, LLsnow and ψ0,snow are used in
the above equations in place of LLroof and ψ0,roof, respectively.
AS 4100 Load combination template files were generated based on AS/NZS 1170.0:2002, Section 4.2
and Combinations of Actions for Ultimate Limit States. Section 4.2.2 Strength
AS/NZS
1170 The combinations included in RAM Steel Column are:

Technical Notes
Design Loads
(a) [1.35G]
(b) [1.2G, 1.5Q]
(c) [1.2G, Su, ψcQ]
where
G = the Dead Load (“permanent action”)
Q = the Live Load (“imposed action”)
Su = the Snow Load (per Section 4.2.3(a))
ψc = the “combination factor for imposed action” and user
can provide in the RAM Manager Australia Criteria
dialog
The combinations are expanded as follows:
1.35DL
1.2DL + 1.5 LL
1.2DL + 1.5 LL + 1.5 LL roof
1.2DL + ψc LL + 1.5 LL snow
ψc is specified by the user in the RAM Manager Australia Criteria dialog (Available if AS/NZS
1170 is selected as the Live Load Reduction code in the RAM Manager Critera > Member Loads
dialog).
IS 800-07
1.0 DL
WSD
1.0 DL + 1.0 LL + 1.0 LL roof
IS 800-07
1.5 DL
LSD
1.5 DL + 1.5 LL + 1.5 LL roof
3.4.6 Design Moments

The design moments for the column are the unbalanced moments , including the effects of skip loading the live
load, split between the column above and column below based on the split factors described in the previous
section. There are some special conditions which are dealt with differently.
The top column gets the full unbalanced moment at the top since there is no column above to split the moment
with.
When a cantilevered beam is supported by a column it is assumed that the beam is not continuous with the
column, that the connection of the beam to the column is a pin. This means that when a column is a cantilever
support no unbalanced moment in either axis is applied to the top of the supporting column nor to the bottom of
the column above. This is not the case for stub cantilevers; stub cantilever moments are applied to the column.
When there is a change in Shape (e.g., from wide flange to pipe) it is assumed that the splice connection is a pin,
and the column below takes the full moment.
At the lowest level of a column, including columns supported by transfer girders, the connection is assumed to
be pinned, and hence no unbalanced moment is applied in either axis to the base of the column.

Technical Notes
Column Splices
In cases where there is a stub cantilever at a level at which the column is not braced and there are significant
moments induced by other stub cantilevers or large eccentric reactions at adjacent levels, the assumptions made
in the determination of the column design loads may be inadequate. In such cases the design produced by the
program should be investigated for adequacy. Similarly, if a level with eccentric moments from beams framing in
has been assigned as unbraced by the user (overriding the program's assumption that beams that frame in brace
the column), the correctness of the design moments should be verified.
When the column above the joint has a K-factor (Le/L) of 2.0 in a given axis (i.e., the column acts as a “flagpole”),
the full moment is applied to the top of the column below the joint.
3.4.7 Design Axial Loads

The design axial load for a given Load Case does not include any live loads which were "skipped" in calculating
unbalanced moments for that Load Case.
3.5 Column Splices
3.5.1 User‑specified Splice Designation

The user specifies the splice levels (See Section 2.12.2). For purposes of design the program assumes that the
splice occurs at the floor level (for purposes of construction the splices may actually occur some height above
the floor level). The program then assigns the same column size to all levels between splices based on the worst
design condition between splices. The only thing the splice data is used for is to determine where column sizes
can change. It is not used in calculating design moments.
3.5.2 Automatic Splice Designation

Although the user has the ability to specify the location of column splices, there are potential conflicts since the
user, while in the RAM Modeler, may specify changes of material properties and/or geometries on levels at
which splices have not been specified. Specifically, the following may change at a level that has not been
specified as a splice level:
• Fy (fy or py)
• Shape
• Orientation
• Frame type (gravity vs. lateral)
When the condition occurs, the program automatically makes the level a splice level.

Technical Notes
Joint Translation
3.5.3 Splice Flag Types

There are three splice flag types: Global, User, and Temporary. Global splices are those specified in the Story
Data in the RAM Modeler. User splices are those specified by the user on a column-by-column basis in the
Column Design module, overriding the Global splice definition. Temporary splices are the Automatic splices
made by the program due to changes in properties. In the Column Design module this splice is treated like any
other splice. It is considered a temporary flag because if in the RAM Modeler changes are made such that the
differences between member properties are eliminated, the Temporary Flag is no longer in effect, and the splice
flag reverts back to the User splice flag or Global Splice flag.
In the Splice column of the story data list box in View/Update, splices are indicate by "N" (No), "Y" (Yes), and "T"
(Temporary).
If specified by the user or if properties and/or geometries change as explained above, RAM Steel allows a splice
to occur at an unbraced level. Care should then be taken to detail such a condition appropriately.
3.6 Joint Translation

The RAM Steel Column module assumes that all gravity columns are braced against joint translation (sidesway).
For the AISC 360 (ASD and LRFD), ASD 9th, AS 4100, LRFD 3rd, and IS 800-07 codes this assumption has an
impact on the values of Cm used in the Interaction equation, and on the ASD 9th ed. value of Cb used for the
calculation of allowable bending stress Fbx used in Eq. H1-1 (9th Ed.). In calculating Cm it is also assumed that
the column is not subject to transverse loading between braced levels. For the Eurocode this assumption impacts
the effective length l/L, which is set to 1.0 for all columns.
3.7 Column Bracing

The bracing condition in the X-axis and Y-axis of the column is automatically determined based on the
configuration of the connecting framing and the presence or absence of a floor slab. The user can specify that the
floor slab adjacent to the column is sufficient to brace the column at the level regardless of the beam
configuration. Otherwise the bracing status is determined from the beam configuration. If no beams frame into
the column with respect to a given axis within the angle specified by the user, the column is considered unbraced
in that axis at that level (unless braced by floor slab). The user may override the bracing status determined by
the program for either axis of any level of any column line.
Stub cantilevers are assumed not to provide bracing to the column.

Technical Notes
Effective Length
3.8 Unbraced Length

The unbraced length is automatically determined from the column length specified by the user and the bracing
status for the column line determined by the program or specified by the user. It also accounts for any changes
made to the column height from sloping framing created by the user with the Layout – Columns – Modify
Elevation command, the Layout – Foundations – Spread – Modify Elevation command, or the Layout –
Foundations – Continuous – Modify Elevation command in the Modeler. The unbraced length is the sum of the
column lengths between braced levels and it is determined independently for the X axis and Y axis.
3.9 Effective Length
3.9.1 K-Factor (AISC Only)

For columns braced at both ends of the segment being designed the K-factor is 1.0. For columns not braced at the
top end of the segment being designed (the column is acting as a “flag pole”), the K-factor is 2.0. The K-factor is
determined independently for each axis.
3.9.2 l/L (Eurocode Only)

For columns braced at both ends of the segment being designed the l/L is set to 1.0. For columns not braced at
the top end of the segment being designed (the column is acting as a “flag pole”), l/L is set to 2.0. l/L is
determined independently for each axis.
3.9.3 K (CAN/CSA-S16-01/ S16-09 / S16-14 Only)

For columns braced at both ends of the segment being designed the effective length factor is set to 1.0. For
columns not braced at the top of the segment being designed (the column is acting as a flagpole) the effective
length factor is set to 2.0. The effective length factor is determined separately for each axis.
3.9.4 Le/L (BS 5950 Only)

columns not braced at the top of the segment being designed (the column is acting as a “flag pole”) the effective

Technical Notes
Slender Columns
3.9.5 Ke (AS 4100 Only)

3.9.6 K (IS 800-07 Only)

3.10 Slender Columns

When calculating the allowable axial stress (ASD 9th) or the design compressive strength, the program checks
for slender compression elements in the column section and will not design slender sections except in the case
of the AS 4100, AISC 360-16 (ASD and LRFD), AISC 360-10 (ASD and LRFD) and AISC 360-05 (ASD and LRFD)
where design of slender section design is considered.
For AISC 360-16 (ASD and LRFD), AISC 360-10 (ASD and LRFD), AISC 360-05 (ASD and LRFD), ASD 9th ed. and
LRFD 3rd ed. the program will not select a column whose slenderness ratio Kl/r exceeds 200.
For CAN/CSA-S16-01 and S16-09 the program will not select a column whose slenderness ratio Kl/r exceeds
200.
For BS 5950 the program will not select a column whose slenderness ratio Kl/r exceeds 180.
3.11 Hanging Columns

In addition to the I-Section, Rectangular, and Round HSS shapes available for both standard and hanging
columns, channels, single angles, double angles, tees, round bars and flat bars can be assigned to hanging
columns. The table below describes how each of the design codes handle hanging columns subjected to different
load types.
Design Code Channel Single Angle Double Angle Tee Round Bar Flat Bar
AISC 360 ASD AB AB AB AB TO AB

AISC 360 LRFD

Technical Notes
Offset Columns on Columns
Design Code Channel Single Angle Double Angle Tee Round Bar Flat Bar
ASD 9th Edition AB TO AO AO TO TO

LRFD 3rd Edition
CAN/CSA S16
BS5950:1900
BS5950:2000
Eurocode
IS 800-07 AB TO AO AO (see note) (see note)
Note: Round bars, flat bars, built-up channels, and built-up tube shapes are not currently designed to the IS
800-07 design code.
TO Shape under Tension-Only loads can be designed using selected code.

AO Shape under Axial-Only (Tension or Compression) loads can be designed using selected code.
AB Shape under Axial and Bending loads can be designed using selected code.
3.12 Offset Columns on Columns

Offset columns are modeled in the program with rigid links at their offset ends. The rigid link is used to transfer
offset moments due to offset eccentricity. An offset moment may not be perfectly aligned to one particular face of
the column which will be the case when the offset column bottom does not lie on any of the orthogonal axes
passing through the centerpoint of the supporting column. In such a case, moment is distributed on two
orthogonal faces of the column based on the angle formed between the link and the local axes of the supporting
column. See Section 3.4.4 (on page 48), Moment Split, for an explanation of how these moment at different faces
is split between columns above and below.
3.13 Offset Beams on Columns

Offset beams are modeled in the program with rigid links at their offset ends. These rigid links apply reactions
and offset moments on the column due to the beam loading and any loading which the rigid link may see. When a
beam frames into a column parallel to a given axis, the full reaction is applied to that column face. When a beam
frames in at an angle, the reaction is split between the adjacent sides by the ratio of the angle. The Column
Design module calculates the moments induced by unbalanced loading on each face of the column.
For small angles, it may be appropriate to suppress the splitting of the reaction, and apply the full reaction on the
be specified by selecting the Criteria - Design Defaults command. If the angle between a column axis and a
beam axis is less than that specified, the total reaction and the offset moment will be applied to the side of the
column to which the beam frames; if the angle exceeds that specified, the reaction will be split between the

Technical Notes
Design Yield Strength
adjacent sides. See Section 3.4.4 (on page 48), Moment Split, for an explanation of how the moment is split
between columns above and below.
If the option Skip-load the Live Load around the column is selected, the program will skip-, or pattern-, load
the Live Load around the column to create the worst design case of biaxial bending and axial loads. See Section
2.14 (on page 21), Design Loads, for more information.
3.14 Design Yield Strength
3.14.1 AISC (All Codes)

The design yield strength, Fy, is the value specified by the user. No reduction is made for thick sections.
3.14.2 CAN/CSA-S16-01/ S16-09 / S16-14

The design yield strength is associated with the member's material grade as defined in Table below of the CISC
handbook of Steel Construction, Eighth Edition for CAN/CSA S16-01, Tenth Edition for CAN/CSA S16-09, and
Eleventh Edition for CAN/CSA S16-14 respectively. To assign the grade for a column the engineer must select the
appropriate steel type in RAM Manager (as described in RAM Manager manual). In RAM Modeler, the engineer
assigns a nominal yield strength (Fy) to the column section. Based on the combination of the nominal yield
strength and the material type a grade is selected. For example, a nominal Fy of 350 N/mm2 and a material type
W results in a section of grade 350W. Note that a nominal yield strength slightly less than 350 N/mm2 will result
in a section of grade 300W. If no appropriate grade is available (based on the entered data) then the design yield
strength will effectively be set to 0 and NoGrade will be assigned as the grade for the section. Grade
specifications are taken from Table 6-3 in the CISC, Handbook of Steel Construction, Eighth Edition. The engineer
can choose to designate the material as unknown (‘?’ in the Criteria > Canada Parameters command in RAM
Manager) in which case the assigned Nominal Fy will be used as the Design Fy for the member.
3.14.3 BS 5950
The design yield strength is the yield strength according to the material grade as defined in Table 6 of
BS5950:Part1:1990 and in Table 9 of BS5950:Part1:2000. To assign a grade to a section the engineer assigns a
nominal yield strength (py) to the beam section. Based on the magnitude of the nominal yield strength the
section is assigned a grade from the table. If the nominal yield strength is within a range of yield strengths
indicated in the table then the associated grade is assigned to the section and the rules relating material
thickness to design yield strength are followed. If the nominal yield strength is not within a range of yield
strengths indicated in the table then the design yield strength is assigned the nominal yield strength value, and
no reduction is made for material thickness. The design yield strength will never be larger than the engineer
provided nominal yield strength.

Technical Notes
3.14.4 Eurocode
For steel with nominal fy between 275 N/mm2 and 460 N/mm2 the design yield strength is adjusted to account
for material thickness. In Criteria > Design, the Eurocode Factors tab has an option to specify that the Design fy
rules be used based on either EN 1993-1-1 or EN 1993-1-1 UK NA.
EN 1993-1-1: For hot-rolled shapes, Table 3.1 of BS EN 1993-1-1:2005 rules per EN 10025-2 are used except for
S420 and S460, for which the rules of EN 10025-3 are used. For structural steel hollow sections the rules of
Table 3.1 of BS EN 1993-1-1:2005 rules per EN 10210-1 are used.
EN 1993-1-1 UK NA: For hot-rolled shapes, rules from Table 1.5 of BS EN 10025-2 are used. For structural steel
hollow sections the rules of Table A.3 of EN 10210-1 are used, except for S420 and S460 which use the rules for
Table B.3.
For steel with a nominal Fy not recognized by those tables, the section will be assigned a small yield strength
and fail in design. A large interaction value on a design is indicative of assigned yield strength outside the ranges
indicated above.
Both nominal and design Fy appear on all design output.
3.14.5 Australia
The design yield strength is a function of both the material and the element thickness properties of the section.
The user provided Nominal Yield Strength (Fy) is first mapped to an appropriate material according to Table 2.1
of the AS 4100-98 code. The material that is used is based on the material that most closely matches the yield
strength specified and the section shape.
The following materials are used based on the yield strength assigned to the member.
Specified Fy (MPa) Shape Material Used
250-280 I AS/NZS 3679.1 250
280-330 I AS/NZS 3679.1 300
330-380 I AS/NZS 3679.1 350
380-400 I AS/NZS 3679.1 400
200-350 Pipe, Tube AS/NZS 1163 450
350-450 Pipe, Tube AS/NZS 1163 350
450-500 Pipe, Tube AS/NZS 1163 250
For steel with a nominal Fy outside of the ranges specified no steel material will be found and the section will be
assigned a small yield strength and fail in design. A large interaction value on a design is indicative of assigned
yield strength outside the ranges indicated above.

Technical Notes
Each of these materials provides a different yield strength depending on the thickness of the elements (flange,
web etc). of a cross section being designed. The yield strength used in the final design is printed in the detailed
report output.
3.14.6 IS 800-07
The design yield strength, fy, is the value specified by the user. No reduction is made for thick sections.
3.14.7 Steel Material Properties

The following values of Modulus of Elasticity, E, and Shear Modulus of Elasticity, G, for steel are used by the
program.
AISC (All Codes)

Modulus of Elasticity E = 29,000 ksi
Shear Modulus of Elasticity G = E/2.6
CAN/CSA S16
Modulus of Elasticity E = 200,000 Mpa
Shear Modulus of Elasticity G = 80,000 Mpa
BS 5950
Modulus of Elasticity E = 205 kN/mm2
Shear Modulus of Elasticity G = 78.85 kN/mm2
Eurocode
Modulus of Elasticity E = 210,000 N/mm2
Shear Modulus of Elasticity G = 80,769 N/mm2
AS 4100 and AS 2327.1

Modulus of Elasticity E = 200,000 Mpa
Shear Modulus of Elasticity G = 80,000 Mpa
IS 800-07
Modulus of Elasticity E = 200,000 N/mm2
Shear Modulus of Elasticity G = 76,900 N/mm2

Technical Notes
Cross Section Classification
3.15 Cross Section Classification

For CAN/CSA-S16-01 / S16-09 / S16-14, BS 5950, Eurocode, and IS 800-07, sections are classified as Class 1
(Plastic), Class 2 (Compact), Class 3 (Semi-compact) or Class 4 (Slender) based on member dimensions and
applied loads. No consideration is given to slender (Class 4) sections. Sections of class 4 will be flagged and
reported as an error. The following rules apply to the classification of all members:
• Sections subject to axial tension load only are classified as Class 1.
• Each element (flange, web) of a section is evaluated independently. The highest element class value will be
assigned to the member as a whole.
• Any element (flange or web) required to resist axial compression load will be evaluated to determine into
which class the element falls.
• Any element (flange or web) required to resist axial tension load only will be assumed to be Class 1.
• A flange element which carries tension due to bending moment will be Class 1 unless the section is under
sufficient axial compression force to locate the plastic neutral axis within the tension flange. In this case the
flange will be evaluated as if it were in complete axial compression.
• The flanges of a flange section subject to minor axis bending will be evaluated assuming full compression on
each flange.
• Webs are considered as Class 1 if the section is only subject to axial tension or only minor axis moment (or a
combination of these), otherwise the code evaluation rules are followed.
• Hollow rectangular sections subject to only minor axis bending (with or without axial load) will cause the
'web' of the hollow section to be considered as the flange, and the flanges to be considered as webs for class
determination purposes.
For BS 5950:2000:
• For RHS subject to biaxial bending the class is taken as the worst class that results from independent bending
about each axis. For biaxial loading all sides will be considered as both web and flange to determine worst
class. Limits will be from Table 12. Built-up RHS are assumed to be symmetric when calculating the section
classification per Table 12. Unsymmetrical RHS will result in incorrect section classification.
• According to 4.8.1 Circular Hollow Sections (CHS) should be classified separately for bending and axial load.
RAM Frame and RAM Steel Column only calculate one classification for the section that is the most
conservative of the classifications for bending (when it exists) and that for axial load (when it exists)
calculated independently.
3.16 Section Capacity
3.16.1 CAN/CSA-S16-01/ S16-09 / S16-14

The bending capacity of Class 3 is considered to be the compression flange section modulus multiplied by the
design yield strength.

Technical Notes
Error Messages
As described in the RAM Manager documentation the engineer can specify whether hollow structural sections
are of Class C (cold-formed non-stress-relieved) or Class H (hot or cold-formed stress-relieved). The engineer
can also indicate whether built-up flange sections are comprised of milled plate or flame cut plate. These
designations affect the axial capacity of the HSS and flange sections as specified in Section 13.3.1 of the design
specification.
3.16.2 BS 5950
The columns are designed according to the rules of Simple Construction described in section 4.7.7 of the BS5950
specification. In the event that the lateral torsional buckling capacity is to be calculated, lambda is always taken
as 0.5L/ry.
The bending capacity of Class 3 is considered to be the compression flange section modulus multiplied by the
design yield strength.
As described in the RAM Manager documentation the engineer can specify whether built-up flange sections are
comprised of milled plate or flame cut plate. This designation affects the axial capacity of the flange sections as
specified in footnote 2 of table 25 in the BS 5950 specification.
3.16.3 AS 4100
A following assumptions and criteria have been made in the implementation of the AS 4100 design code.
The program conservatively assumes the unbraced column length is not rotationally restrained at the ends of
the segment as discussed in 5.4.3.4 and 5.6.3(3).
No torsion is considered in the design.
Loads are assumed applied through the column shear centers at their ends.
Rolled sections other than tubes and pipes are assumed to be Hot Rolled (HR) per table 5.2. Tubes and pipes are
assumed cold formed (CF) per Steel Designer Handbook. All welded sections must be designated as either Heavy
Welded (HW) or Light Welded (LW) as selected by the user in the RAM Manager.
3.17 Error Messages

The following error messages may appear during the design process as appropriate.
3.17.1 AISC 360 (ASD and LRFD)

“KL/r>200” If the member slenderness exceeds 200 then no further design checks are performed.
“B1: Pr>Pe1” Euler buckling limit exceeded (refer to calculation of B1 in AISC 360 Design Manual), no further
design checks are performed.

Technical Notes
Error Messages
3.17.2 ASD 9th, LRFD 3rd

“KL/r > 200” If the member slenderness exceeds 200 then no further design checks are performed.
“fa exceeds F'e” (ASD only) Euler buckling limit exceeded, no further design checks are performed.
“Pu exceeds Pe” (LRFD only) Euler buckling limit exceeded, no further design checks are performed.
“xx is Slender” where xx could be flange, web or section. No further design checks are performed.
3.17.3 CAN/CSA-S16-01/ S16-09 / S16-14

“Klr>200” If the member slenderness exceeds 200 then no further design checks are performed.
“Cf>Ce” If the axial load exceeds the Euler buckling capacity of the section then no further design
checks are performed.
“Class 4” If a section contains a slender element it will be indicated as a class 4 section and no
additional design checks will be performed.
“Slender Web” If a section subject to shear has a web whose depth to thickness ratio exceeds the limit of 502
sqrt (kv/Fy) then no further design checks will be performed.
3.17.4 BS 5959
“Le>180” If the member slenderness exceeds 180 then no further design checks are performed.
“F>Pcx” or If the axial load exceeds the capacity of the section then no further design checks are
“F>Pcy” performed.
“Class 4” If a section contains a slender element it will be indicated as a class 4 section and no
additional design checks will be performed.
“Slender Web” If a section subject to shear has a web whose depth to thickness ratio exceeds the code
limit of 69ξ then no further design checks will be performed.
3.17.5 AS 4100
“N* > Nomx” or “N* > Nomy” Displayed when total axial load in the member exceeds the elastic critical
buckling resistance for the member in the plane of bending. This has
implications in the calculation of interaction values.
“DeltaBx > 1.4,” “DeltaBy > Displayed when the moment amplification factor exceeds the code specified
1.4” limit 1.4.
3.17.6 IS 800-07
“Slender” If a part of the cross section exceeds the slender section limits for flange or web.

Technical Notes
Base Plates
3.17.7 All Steel Design Codes

“Column brace If a joint is not braced in at least one axis direction and it has more than two columns
configuration error: at the joint or just two columns but not aligned in line then RAM Steel Column cannot
See Note” determine the unbraced length. Hence, it cannot design the affected columns in that
column line.
3.18 Base Plates

All base plates are sized to consider the bearing capacity of the member that supports the base plate. This
member could be a foundation, a concrete column or a wall. Base plates are not designed where they are
supported by a transfer beam. The support area at the foundation level is taken according to the criteria
provided by the user. Where supported on a column or a wall the orientation of the support relative to the base
plate and the support dimensions themselves form the extents of the supporting area.
Base plates oriented at an angle different than the support angle will have an effective support area defined as
illustrated below.
Supporting Column
b a
Maximum Plate Size
c
d
Minimum Plate Size
Figure 11:
The initial plate size (a, b) is calculated based on the supported steel column dimensions and the user specified
minimum dimensions from column side to edge of plate. The maximum base plate size that can fit on the support
is then calculated as a rectangle of equivalent proportions to initial plate size (c, d). This area (c, d) is defined as
the supporting area for bearing capacity determination.
3.18.1 AISC 360 (ASD and LRFD)

Base plate for AISC 360 is based on the procedures outlined in the AISC 360 Manual of Steel Construction. The
Φc and Ωc values for the bearing strength are different between AISC 360-05 and newer versions of AISC 360, so
there will likely be differences in designs between the two specifications.
For base plates on small support areas, the allowable bearing strength is based on the “area of the supporting
surface that is geometrically similar to and concentric with the loaded area” as required by Code.
For rectangular and round sections, the interior stresses are not checked.

Technical Notes
Base Plates
3.18.2 ASD 9th and LRFD 3rd

Except as outlined below, base plate design for ASD and LRFD is based on the procedures outlined in the
respective AISC Manual of Steel Construction. For the ASD 9th Edition, the revised method printed in the January
1991 printing is used. For LRFD, the methodology outlined in the 2nd Edition is used.
For ASD, the allowable concrete bearing strength is based on ACI 318 89 ultimate strength.
For base plates on small support areas, the allowable bearing strength is based on the “area of the supporting
surface that is geometrically similar to and concentric with the loaded area” as required by Code.
For rectangular and round sections, the interior stresses are not checked.
3.18.3 Eurocode
Base plate design for the Eurocode is based on BS EN 1993-1-8:2005 section 6.2.5.
The critical moment location for the base plate is taken to be at the centerline of the flange. That is, the moment
arm is taken as the c distance plus one-half of the flange thickness.
For columns consisting of round and rectangular hollow sections, the bearing area is determined by calculating
the value for c and then calculating the associated area, analogous to the method described for I-shaped
columns.
γMO and Υc are specified in the Criteria > Eurocode Factors command of RAM Manager.
3.18.4 CAN/CSA-S16-01/ S16-09 / S16-14

Base plate design for CAN/CSA-S16-01 is based on the methodology given in Part Four of the CISC Handbook of
Steel Construction, Eighth Edition. Base plate design for CAN/CSA-S16-09 is based on the methodology given in
Part Four of the CISC Handbook of Steel Construction, Tenth Edition. Base plate design for CAN/CSA-S16-14 is
based on the methodology given in Part Four of the CISC Handbook of Steel Construction, Eleventh Edition. For
lightly loaded base plates, the methodology based on the Fling reference as described therein is utilized.
The factored bearing resistance of concrete is based on Clause 10.8.1 of CAN/CSA-A23.3-94.
For Rectangular and Round Hollows Sections the critical moment location for the base plate is taken to be at the
centerline of the column flange. The moment in the plate that occurs within the hollow section is not checked.
The plate design Fy is based on the Grade and plate thickness.
3.18.5 BS 5950
Base plate design for BS 5950:1990 is based on Clause 4.13.2, Empirical Design of Baseplates.
Base plate design for BS 5950:2000 is based on Clause 4.13.2, Effective Area Method.

Technical Notes
Base Plates
The plate design py is based on the nominal yield strength specified and the plate thickness.
3.18.6 AS 4100
Base plates are not currently designed according to the AS 4100-98 design code.
3.18.7 IS 800-07
Base plates are not currently designed according to the IS 800-07 design code.

Column Design Output
4
RAM Steel Column Design module output is designed to provide the engineer with all necessary data for review
of, and calculation submittal for, the gravity column design. Everything from the column design to the base plate
design to the takeoff can be obtained. Consequently, the need for hand calculations is virtually eliminated for the
design of gravity load resisting columns.
Below is a summary of the reports available in the Column Design module. A more complete explanation of RAM
Steel Column Design output follows.
Gravity Column A report listing all of the Criteria settings.

Design Criteria
Column Design A detailed output showing full input and design parameters for the selected column.
This report can be printed for a Single column, a Column Line or for all columns in the
model.
Column Design A one line summary of the designs of all columns in the model.
Summary
Column Loads A detailed listing for each column of the Dead Loads and Live Loads and the associated
Live Load Reduction Factors.
Column Load An abbreviated listing of column loads.
Summary
Column Design A complete takeoff of the gravity column sizes stored in the database, providing a
Takeoff piece count, the total length, and total weight of each size of each grade, and providing
total weights for the structure.
Base Plate Design A detailed output showing full input and design parameters for the selected base plate.
Base Plate Design A summary of base plates for all columns based on the current criteria.
Summary
The following is a brief description of the various output provided by the Column
Design module.
4.1 Gravity Column Design Criteria

This output contains a complete description of the criteria specified by the user and considered in this module.
The sections are identical for all design codes.

AISC Column Design
4.1.1 Default Splice Levels

The splice levels that are associated with the stories in the RAM Modeler Story definition dialog. These can be
overridden on a column by column basis.
4.1.2 Design Defaults

This section reports the angle at which beam reactions forces are split to adjacent faces of the column for skip
loading purposes. Also whether or not the user selected to skip-load forces around the column is considered.
4.1.3 Trial Groups

The number and group size is listed for each of the trial groups specified by the user.
4.1.4 Column Bracing

Whether or not the deck is specified to brace the columns, and the maximum angle that a non-stub beam framing
into a column can be considered to brace the column is presented.
4.1.5 Base Plates

The base plate design criteria are all listed.
4.2 AISC Column Design

This output contains a complete description of individual column designs according to the AISC 360-16 (ASD and
LRFD), AISC 360-10 (ASD and LRFD), AISC 360-05 (ASD and LRFD), ASD 9th and LRFD 3rd code specifications.
Column size, yield strength, orientation, axial loads, moments, stresses, and interaction equation results are all
included in this output.

AISC Column Design
4.2.1 Page Heading

The heading contains information about RAM Steel Column Design and the model that the output represents. It
lists the current version of RAM Steel Column Design being used, the title of the output, the database name
including the date and time it was created or last modified and the building and steel codes that were utilized in
the design process. It may also include the licensee Company name and a project description.
4.2.2 Story Information

Story Level: This is the level above which this column occurs.
Column Line Grid This is the column line grid label. It represents the top co-ordinate or grid location of the
Label: top column and top co-ordinate or grid location of the bottom column in a column line. If
the top columns top coordinates and bottom columns top coordinates are the same then
only one is listed in the label.
Fy: This is the user selected yield strength for the column.
Column Size: This is the designed column size. It is either the optimum size selected by the RAM Steel
Column Design module or the user selected size.
Orientation: This is the orientation, in degrees, of the column web with respect to the global X-axis. For
example, if the web is parallel to the X-axis, the orientation angle is 0.0 degrees; if the web
is perpendicular to the X-axis, the orientation is 90.0 degrees.
4.2.3 Input Design Parameters

These parameters were calculated based on the geometry of the model.
Lu: These are the unbraced lengths with respect to the X- and Y-axes used in design.
K: These are the effective length factors. K will be 1.0 for a column braced at both ends; it
will be 2.0 for a "flag pole" column (unbraced at the top of the column).
Braced Against Joist The RAM Steel Column Design module assumes that all gravity columns are braced
Translation: against joint translation.
Column These are the eccentricities of the beam-column connections. They are based on the
Eccentricity: user-specified criteria, and are used to calculate the unbalanced moment.
4.2.4 Controlling Column Loads

Load Case: This is the Load Case that resulted in the worst combination of axial loads and bending moments.
See the Technical Notes (on page 25) for a description of the load cases.

Eurocode Column Design
Axial: These indicate the total unfactored Dead, Live and Roof Loads associated with the controlling load
case. The Live Load and Roof Load are reduced, if allowed. The Live Load may be less than the
total Live Load due to skipping associated with the controlling load case. Likewise for the Roof
Load.
Pnx: This is the axial capacity about the column's major axis.
Pny: This is the axial capacity about the column's minor axisl.
Pn: This is the governing axial capacity based on all applicable limit states in Chapter E.
4.2.5 Calculated Parameters

The calculated parameters include the actual and allowable stresses for ASD 9th and capacities for AISC 360-16
(ASD and LRFD), AISC 360-10 (ASD and LRFD), AISC 360-05 (ASD and LRFD) and LRFD 3rd, and certain
parameters used in the calculation of the allowable values. The nomenclature of the variables is that used in the
AISC Specifications.
ASD 9th, LRFD 3rd: Beta1x and Beta1y refer to the B1 multiplier used in the approximate second order analysis
procedure described in the LRFD Specifications (see Chapter C, Section C1). For LRFD, the controlling load
combination is also shown.
AISC 360-16 (ASD and LRFD), AISC 360-10 (ASD and LRFD), 360-05 (ASD and LRFD): B1x and B1y refer to the
B1 modifier used to account for the P-δ effect described in the specifications (for AISC 360-16 and AISC 360-10
see Appendix 8, Sect. 8.2.1; for AISC 360-05 see Sect. C2.1b). The controlling load combination is also shown.
4.2.6 Interaction Equation

The results of the interaction equations are listed along with the Formula reference. The Code limits the value to
1.0.
In the case of an error condition the error message will be reported in this section as well.
4.3 Eurocode Column Design

This output contains a complete description of individual column designs per the Eurocode 3 - BS EN
1993-1-1:2005 specifications. Column size, yield strength, orientation, axial loads, moments, stresses, and
interaction equation results are all included in this output.
4.3.1 Page Heading


Eurocode Column Design


l/L: These are the effective length factors. I/L will be 1.0 for a column braced at both ends;
it will be 2.0 for a "flag pole" column (unbraced at the top of the column).
Column Eccentricity: These are the eccentricities of the beam-column connections. They are based on the
user-specified criteria, and are used to calculate the unbalanced moment.

Axial (Nk): These indicate the total unfactored Dead and Live Loads associated with the controlling load case.
The Live Load is reduced, if allowed. The Live Load may be less than the total Live Load due to
skipping associated with the controlling load case.
Moments: These indicate the total unfactored Dead and Live load moments associated with the controlling
load case.

CAN/CSA-S16-01/ S16-09 / S16-14 Column Design
Shear: These indicates the total unfactored Dead and Live load shear associated with the controlling load
case. The shear is calculated as the sum of the end moments on the column divided by the column
length.

The calculated parameters include the section class for the column, the Fy used for design and the design loads
for the load combination that controls.
4.3.6 Resistance Of Cross Section

This section contains the member cross-section capacities not considering buckling. Several interaction or
design checks are performed per the Eurocode 3 specification. The results of the interaction equations are listed
along with the Formula reference. The Code limits the value to 1.0. The nomenclature of the variables is that
used in the Eurocode 3 - BS EN 1993-1-1:2005 Specifications.
4.3.7 Buckling Resistance of Members

This section contains the member cross-section capacities considering buckling. A number of interaction or
design checks are performed per the Eurocode 3 specification. The results of the interaction equations are listed
used in the Eurocode 3 - BS EN 1993-1-1:2005 Specifications.
4.4 CAN/CSA-S16-01/ S16-09 / S16-14 Column Design

This output contains a complete description of individual column designs according to CAN/CSA-S16-01/
S16-09 / S16-14. Column size, yield strength, orientation, axial loads, moments, stresses, and interaction
equation results are all included in this output.
4.4.1 Page Heading

including the date and time it was created or modified and the building steel codes that were utilized in the
design. It may also include the licensee Company name and a project description.


Story Level: This is the level below which this column occurs.
Grade: The steel material grade for the member being designed.
Nominal Fy: This is the user selected nominal yield strength for the column.
Design Fy: This is the yield strength adjusted for the thickness of the section used in the design of
the section.
Orientation: This is the orientation, in degrees, of the column web with respect to the global X-axis.
For example, if the web is parallel to the X-axis, the orientation angle is 0.0 degrees; if the
web is perpendicular to the X-axis, the orientation is 90.0 degrees.

K: These are the effective length factors. K will be 1.0 for a column braced at both ends; it
will be 2.0 for a "flag pole" column (unbraced at the top of the column).
4.4.4 Controlling Column Shear Loads

Load This is the Load Case that resulted in the worst combination of shear load. See the Technical Notes
Case: (on page 25) for a description of the load cases. Shear force is calculated as the end moments
divided by the column length.
Shear: These indicate the total unfactored Dead, Live and Roof Shear Loads associated with the controlling
load case. The Live Load and Roof Load are reduced, if allowed. The Live Load may be less than the

total Live Load due to skipping associated with the controlling load case. The same applies to the
Roof Load.

The calculated parameters include the controlling load combination, the factored design forces and the section
capacities. The nomenclature of the variables is that used in the CAN/CSA-S16 specification.

The results of the shear interaction equations for each axis are listed where shear exists in both axes.
4.4.7 Controlling Column Flexural Loads

Load Case: This is the Load Case, which resulted in the worst combination of axial in combination with
bending. See the Technical Notes (on page 25) for a description of the load cases.
total Live Load due to skipping associated with the controlling load case. The same applies for the
roof load.
Moments: These indicate the total unfactored Dead, Live and Roof load moments associated with the
controlling load case.

capacities. The nomenclature of the variables is that used in the CAN/CSA-S16-01/ S16-09 / S16-14
specification. Note the format of the calculated parameters is divided into three sections: Cross Sectional
Strength, Member Strength and Lateral Torsional Buckling.

The results of the interaction equations are shown for each of the Cross Sectional Strength, Member Strength
and Lateral Torsional Buckling.

British BS 5950 Column Design
4.5 British BS 5950 Column Design

This output contains a complete description of individual column designs according to BS 5950:Part.. Column
size, yield strength, orientation, axial loads, moments, stresses, and interaction equation results are all included
in this output.
4.5.1 Page Heading

including the date and time it was created or modified and the building steel codes that were utilized in the
design. It may also include the licensee Company name and a project description.


Lu: These are the unbraced lengths with respect to the major and minor axes as used in the
design.
Le/L: These are the effective length factors. Le/L will be 1.0 for a column braced at both ends;
it will be 2.0 for a "flag pole" column (unbraced at the top of the column).

British BS 5950 Column Design
4.5.4 Controlling Column Shear Loads

Load This is the Load Case that resulted in the worst combination of shear load. See the Technical Notes
Case: (on page 25) for a description of the load cases. Shear force is calculated as the end moments
divided by the column length.
Shear: These indicate the total unfactored Dead, Live and Roof Shear Loads associated with the controlling
load case. The Live Load and Roof Load are reduced, if allowed. The Live Load may be less than the
total Live Load due to skipping associated with the controlling load case. The same applies to the
Roof Load.

The calculated parameters include the controlling load combination, the design shear force and the section
capacities. The nomenclature of the variables is that used in the BS 5950: Part 1 specification.

The results of the shear interaction equations for each axis are listed where shear exists in both axes.
4.5.7 Controlling Column Flexural Loads

bending. See the Technical Notes (on page 25) for a description of the load cases.
total Live Load due to skipping associated with the controlling load case. The same applies for the
roof load.
Moments: These indicate the total unfactored Dead, Live and Roof load moments associated with the

AS 4100 Column Design

capacities. The nomenclature of the variables is that used in the BS5950 specification. Note that the procedures
for simple columns are used as described in 4.7.7 of the BS5950 specification.

The results of the interaction equations are shown according to the requirements of section 4.7.7 of the BS5950
specification.
4.6 AS 4100 Column Design

This output contains a complete description of individual column designs according to AS 4100. Column size,
yield strength, orientation, axial loads, moments, stresses, and interaction equation results are all included in
this output.
4.6.1 Page Heading


Story Level: This is the level below which this column occurs.
Steel Grade: The steel material grade for the member being designed.
Nominal Fy: This is the user selected nominal yield strength for the column.

AS 4100 Column Design
Design Fy: This is the yield strength adjusted for the thickness of the section used in the design of
the section.
Orientation: This is the orientation, in degrees, of the column web with respect to the global X-axis.
For example, if the web is parallel to the X-axis, the orientation angle is 0.0 degrees; if the
web is perpendicular to the X-axis, the orientation is 90.0 degrees.

Lu: These are the unbraced lengths with respect to the major and minor axes of the section
as used in design.
ke: These are the effective length factors. ke will be 1.0 for a column braced at both ends,
2.0 for cantilever column.
Column Eccentricity: These are the eccentricities of the beam-column connections. They are based on the
user-specified criteria, and are used to calculate the unbalanced moment.

total Live Load due to skipping associated with the controlling load case. Likewise for the Roof
Load.
Pnx: This is the axial capacity about the column's major axis.
Pny: This is the axial capacity about the column's minor axisl.
Pn: This is the governing axial capacity based on all applicable limit states in Chapter E.

Note the format of the calculated parameters is divided into two sections: Section Capacity and Member
Capacity.
bending. See the Technical Notes ( Technical Notes (on page 25)) for a description of the load
cases.

IS 800-07 Column Design
Section The section capacity includes the actual and allowable stresses for AS4100 and certain
Capacity: parameters used in the checking section capacity at the section. The nomenclature of the
variables is that used in the AS4100 Specifications.
The results of the interaction equations are shown for each of the Nominal Section Capacity,
Uniaxial Bending and Biaxial bending.
Member The member capacity includes the actual and allowable stresses for AS4100 and certain
Capacity: parameters used in the checking member capacity at the section. The nomenclature of the
variables is that used in the AS4100 Specifications.
δb or δs used to account for the p-δ effect described in Chapter 4.4 of the specifications.
The results of the interaction equations are shown for each of the Nominal Section Capacity, In-
plane Capacity, Out-of-plane Capacity and Biaxial bending.
4.7 IS 800-07 Column Design

This output contains a complete description of individual column designs per the IS 800-07 specifications.
Column size, yield strength, orientation, axial loads, moments, stresses, and interaction equation results are all
included in this output.
4.7.1 Page Heading

The heading contains information about RAM Steel Column and the model that the output represents. It lists the
current version of RAM Steel Column being used, the title of the output, the database name including the date
and time it was created or last modified and the building and steel codes that were utilized in the design process.
It may also include the licensee Company name and a project description.

Story Level This is the level above which this column occurs.
Label top column and top co-ordinate or grid location of the bottom column in a column line. If
Fy This is the user selected yield strength for the column.
Column Size This is the designed column size. It is either the optimum size selected by the RAM Steel
Column module or the user selected size.
Orientation This is the orientation, in degrees, of the column web with respect to the global X axis. For
example, if the web is parallel to the X axis, the orientation angle is 0.0 degrees; if the web
is perpendicular to the X axis, the orientation is 90.0 degrees.

IS 800-07 Column Design

Lu These are the unbraced lengths with respect to the X and Y axes used in design.
K These are the effective length factors. K will be 1.0 for a column braced at both ends; it
will be 2.0 for a “flag pole” column (unbraced at the top of the column).
Braced Against The RAM Steel Column Design module assumes that all gravity columns are braced
Joist Translation against joint translation.
Column These are the eccentricities of the beam column connections. They are based on the user
Eccentricity specified criteria, and are used to calculate the unbalanced moment.

Load Case This is the Load Case which resulted in the worst combination of axial loads and bending
moments. See Technical Notes (on page 25) for a description of the load cases.
Axial (P or N) These indicate the total unfactored Dead and Live Loads associated with the controlling load
case. The Live Load is reduced, if allowed. The Live Load may be less than the total Live Load
due to skipping associated with the controlling load case.
Moments These indicate the total unfactored Dead and Live load moments associated with the
Shear These indicates the total unfactored Dead and Live load shear associated with the controlling
load case. The shear is calculated as the sum of the end moments on the column divided by the
column length.

The calculated parameters include the section class for the column, the Fy used for design and the design loads
for the load combination that controls.
4.7.6 Section Capacity

This section contains the member cross-section capacities not considering buckling. Several interaction or
design checks are performed per the IS 800-07 specification. The results of the interaction equations are listed
used in the IS 800-07 Specification.
4.7.7 Member Capacity

This section contains the member cross-section capacities considering buckling. A number of interaction or
design checks are performed per the IS 800-07 specification. The results of the interaction equations are listed

Column Design Summary
used in the IS 800-07 Specification.
4.8 Column Design Summary

This output provides a listing of every gravity column design in the structure. For each column, only abbreviated
information is provided.
Column Line This is the column line grid label. It represents the top co-ordinate or grid location of the top
Grid Label: column and top co-ordinate or grid location of the bottom column in a column line. If the top
columns top coordinates and bottom columns top coordinates are the same then only one is
listed in the label.
LC: This is the controlling load case number. Refer to the Technical Notes (on page 25) for a
description of the load cases.
Interaction This is the controlling interaction equation result with the corresponding formula reference.
Eq.: The acceptability of the column can be quickly determined from this value.
Angle: This is the orientation, in degrees, of the column web with respect to the global X-axis. For
example, if the web is parallel to the X-axis, the orientation angle is 0.0 degrees; if the web is
perpendicular to the X-axis, the orientation is 90.0 degrees.
Size: This is the designed column size. It is either the optimum size selected by the RAM Steel
Column module or the user selected size. If RAM Steel Column cannot compute the optimum
size from the trial groups then No Design is shown for the column size in the report.
Similarly, if the RAM Steel column encounters situation where it cannot design a column then
Cannot Design is shown for the column size in the report.
4.8.1 Allowable Stress Design

P: This is the total design axial load for the controlling load case. It may be less than the total load due to the
skipping of Live Loads associated with the controlling load case.
Mx: This is the total design moment about the strong axis for the controlling load case.
My: This is the total design moment about the weak axis for the controlling load case.
Fy: This is the column yield strength.
4.8.2 LRFD
Pu: This is the total ultimate design axial load for the controlling load case.
Mux: This is the total ultimate design moment about the strong axis for the controlling load case.
Muy: This is the total ultimate design moment about the weak axis for the controlling load case.

Column Design Summary
Fy: This is the column yield strength.
4.8.3 Eurocode Design

NpEd: This is the total design axial load for the controlling load case. It may be less than the total load due to
the skipping of Live Loads associated with the controlling load case.
MyEd: This is the total design moment about the strong axis for the controlling load case.
MzEd: This is the total design moment about the weak axis for the controlling load case.
fy: This is the column yield strength.
4.8.4 CAN/CSA-S16-01/ S16-09 / S16-14 Design

F: This is the total design axial load for the controlling load case. It may be less than the total load due to the
Mx: This is the total design moment about the strong axis for the controlling load case.
My: This is the total design moment about the weak axis for the controlling load case.
Fy: This is the design yield strength for the section.
4.8.5 BS 5950 Design

Cf: This is the total design axial load for the controlling load case. It may be less than the total load due to the
Mfx: This is the total design moment about the strong axis for the controlling load case.
Mfy: This is the total design moment about the weak axis for the controlling load case.
py: This is the design yield strength for the section.
4.8.6 AS 4100 Design

N*: This is the total design axial load for the controlling load case. It may be less than the total load due to the
Mx*: This is the total design moment about the strong axis for the controlling load case.
My*: This is the total design moment about the weak axis for the controlling load case.
Fy: This is the design yield strength for the section.

Column Loads
4.8.7 IS 800-07 Design

P or N This is the total design axial load for the controlling load case. It may be less than the total load due to
the skipping of Live Loads associated with the controlling load case.
Mz This is the total design moment about the strong axis for the controlling load case.
My This is the total design moment about the weak axis for the controlling load case.
fc This is the total design axial stress for the controlling load case. It may be less than the total stress due
to the skipping of Live Loads associated with the controlling load case.
fbcz This is the total design bending stress about the strong axis for the controlling load case.
fbcy This is the total design bending stress about the weak axis for the controlling load case.
Fy This is the design yield strength for the section.
4.9 Column Loads

This output provides a listing of the loads on every gravity column in the structure. The output includes:
• The column line.
• The dead load on the column. This includes the self-weight if the column has been designed.
• The unreduced positive and negative live loads on the column. The reduction type for the live load and the
allowable reduction percent based on the currently selected building code are also provided.
• The total dead plus reduced positive live load and total dead plus negative live load.
• The applied moments for positive and negative load cases.
• The applied torque from the beam for positive and negative load cases.
All column loads are unfactored loads. In cases where there is no size in the column i.e. none worked or cannot
design, then user would see a No Design tag assigned to the column and placed next to the column line label.
4.10 Column Load Summary

This output provides an abbreviated listing of the loads on every gravity column in the structure. The output
includes:
• The column line.
• The story height.
• The total dead load on the column.
• The self-weight of the column.
• The total reduced positive and negative live loads on the column.
• The total dead plus reduced positive live load and total dead plus negative live load.

Column Design Takeoff
All column loads are unfactored loads. In cases where there is no size in the column i.e. none worked or cannot
design, then user would see an asterisk (*) tag assigned to the column and placed next to the self-weight. In
cases where there are applied moments to any column in the column line, a message saying “See column loads
report for applied moments” is printed after the entire column line report.
4.11 Column Design Takeoff

This output lists all of the gravity column sizes used in the entire structure. It lists the number of occurrences,
the total length, and total weight of each size. It also lists the total number of pieces and the total weight. The
totals are broken down by Steel Grade and by Shape. A column section extending multiple levels without a splice
is considered one piece.
4.12 Base Plate Design

This output indicates the design of a single base plate.
4.12.1 Base Plate Dimensions

N: Plate dimension parallel to column web.
B: Plate dimension perpendicular to column web.
Plate Thickness: Plate thickness required for stresses, capacities, and increment criteria.
Plate Fy: Yield strength of base plate.
4.12.2 Column Data

Column Size: Size of column at this location.
Dead Load: Total unfactored dead load, including column self-weight.
Live Load: Total unfactored reduced live load.
Roof Load: Total unfactored reduced roof load.
Total Load: Total unfactored axial load.
Ultimate Load: Ultimate axial load. For ASD 9th, this is used in concrete bearing stress calculations.

Base Plate Design
4.12.3 Bearing
Concrete f'c: Specified concrete strength.
Size of concrete support: Size of concrete support used in calculating allowable concrete bearing
strength.
Area of concrete support: Area of concrete support used in calculating allowable concrete bearing
strength.
Eff Area of support (A2): Area of the portion of the supporting surface that is geometrically similar to
and concentric with the loaded area.
Area Required for Bearing: Area of plate required by concrete for bearing.
Area of Plate (A1): Actual area of plate.
Square Root of (A2/A1): Used in calculation of allowable concrete bearing; limited to 2.0 maximum.
Allow. Factored Bearing For Allowable Stress Design, this is the allowable concrete bearing stress
Stress: based on ACI allowable values.
Actual Factored Bearing For Allowable Stress Design, this is the actual factored concrete bearing
Stress: stress.
Actual Bearing Stress: For Allowable Stress Design, this is the unfactored concrete bearing stress
used in sizing the plate thickness.
0.60Pp: For LRFD 3rd, this is the allowable design bearing load on the concrete.
4.12.4 Calculated Dimensions

Thickness Actual minimum plate thickness required, not rounded to conform to user specified
Required: dimension criteria.
See the appropriate AISC Manual for the meaning of the variables listed in this section (m, n,
Lambda, and n').
4.12.5 Eurocode Design

The items indicated below appear only on the Eurocode outputs.
Concrete fck: Specified concrete strength.
Eff Dimension of Support: These are the values of a1 and b1, the dimensions of the effective area, used in the
calculation of the concentration factor.
Concentration factor, kj: This is the concentration factor, kj, used in the calculation of the bearing strength.
Bearing width, c: This is the additional bearing width used in the calculation of the bearing area.

Base Plate Design
Resistance moment, mRd: This is the moment capacity of the plate, mRd, per unit length of the yield line.
Actual moment: This is the actual moment in the plate per unit length of the yield line.
4.12.6 CAN/CSA-S16-01/ S16-09 / S16-14 Design

The items indicated below appear only on the Canadian outputs.
Design Fy: This is the yield strength used in the design of the base plate, considering Grade and thickness.
Br: This is the bearing strength of the concrete support.
4.12.7 BS 5950
The items indicated below appear only on the British outputs.
Dp: Plate dimension parallel to column web.

Bp: Plate dimension perpendicular to column web.
Design py: This is the yield strength used in the design of the base plate, considering Grade and
thickness.
Concrete fcu: This is the concrete strength (cube).
Bearing Strength: This is the bearing strength of the concrete support.
Bearing Pressure: This is the actual bearing stress on the concrete support for the base plate dimensions
given.
a: This is the greater projection of the plate beyond the column.
b: This is the lesser projection of the plate beyond the column.
4.12.8 IS 800-07
The items indicated below appear only on the Indian outputs.
Dp Plate dimension parallel to column web.

Bp Plate dimension perpendicular to column web.
Design Fy This is the yield strength used in the design of the base plate..
Concrete fck This is the concrete strength (cube).
Bearing Strength This is the bearing strength of the concrete support.
Bearing Pressure This is the actual bearing stress on the concrete support for the base plate dimensions
given.

Base Plate Design Summary
a This is the greater projection of the plate beyond the column.

b This is the lesser projection of the plate beyond the column.
4.13 Base Plate Design Summary

This output contains a summary of the design of all base plates for all gravity columns in the structure.
Column Size: The size of column at the given location, used in calculating plate size.
Fy, fy, py: Yield strength of base plate.
N: Plate dimension parallel to column web.
B: Plate dimension perpendicular to column web.
tp: Plate thickness required for stresses, capacities, and increment criteria.

RAM Steel Column Menus
A
This is the online help for the RAM Steel Column Design Module.
A.1 File
Menu Item Description
Model Status (on page 87) To show the current status of the Column designs.
File Save (on page 86) To Save the current designs, criteria, etc., to the
database
File - Notes (on page 87) To view or add notes pertaining to the current model.
Exit (on page 87) To exit the RAM Steel Column Design module.
A.1.1 File Save

Each module has a File - Save command allowing the user to save the current database. It is not necessary to
invoke the Save command when going from one module to another.
Any changes made to Criteria or assignments, or any analyses or designs performed are only saved temporarily
until the Save command is invoked. This allows the user to work with the database, saving or discarding changes
or results as desired. The RAM Manager requires that the Save command be invoked prior to exiting the RAM
Structural System or prior to opening another database, otherwise the changes made since the last Save will be
lost. The other modules do not require that the Save command be invoked before exiting that module and going
to another module. It is recommended that the Save command be invoked periodically, especially when exiting
the Modeler.
If it is desired to discard any modifications or changes made to a database since the most recent Save, invoke the
File - Revert command in the RAM Manager or exit the RAM Structural System without saving the data. Re-
opening the current database with the File - Open command or opening a different database without saving will
also cause the changes to be discarded.
There is no explicit command to Copy a database, but this can be accomplished by opening the database,
invoking File - Save As and specifying the new name and/or directory.

File
Issuing the File - Exit or File - Open commands before the current database has been saved will cause a
message to be given warning the user that changes have been made since the last Save was invoked, and gives
the user a chance to save work before exiting. Select Yes if you want to save the changes to the database, No if
you want to discard the changes, or Cancel if you want to continue with the current database.
If the program crashes or otherwise abnormally terminates at any time before the database can be properly
saved, a message will be given the next time that database is opened indicating that a temporary backup file for
that database has been found. The backup file contains the database as it existed at the last Save, before the most
recent changes were made. The user is given the option to either open the database as it occurred at or just
previous to the time that the program terminated (using the Most Recent Database option) or to open the
backup database which contains the database as it existed at the time of the last Save (using the Backup
Database option). The user is also given the option to cancel opening either one.
If the Backup Database option is selected, any changes made since the last proper Save will be lost.
If the Most Recent Database option is selected, the user should carefully inspect the model. The most recent
database contains all or most of the changes since the last Save, but it may also contain whatever data errors or
corruption that may have caused the program to terminate. If the data is corrupted, exit without saving. This will
cause the most recent changes to be lost and the backup database to be restored to the database (the same as if
the Backup Database option had been selected initially).
Alternatively, select the Most Recent Database option and then save to a different name using the File - Save
As command. By doing this, both versions of the database will be available for further inspection or use if
necessary.
A.1.2 Model Status

Because it is a fully integrated system, the RAM Structural System modules are dependent upon each other's
data and results. Often changes to in one module invalidate the results of one or more of the other modules.
Model Status tracks these dependencies and provides feedback on each module's current state.
The File - Model Status command brings up a dialog that displays the current modules state. If the module's
indicator light is anything other than green, the dialog contains an explanation of the state of the model.
In RAM Manager, the File - Model Status command will list the status of each of the modules. This dialog
provides a more in-depth explanation of the model’s status than that provided by the status indicator lights.
A.1.3 File - Notes

A 'Model Notes' toolbar button and menu command (under the 'File' menu) are available in all RAM Structural
System modules. Invoking "Model Notes" will bring up a model unique text file that may be used for entering any
notes that you wish to keep on the currently loaded model.
A.1.4 Exit
Selecting the File - Exit command will terminate execution of the Column Design module and return control to
the RAM Manager.

Criteria
A.2 Criteria
Criteria - Steel Design Codes (on page 88) To display and/or modify the current Column or Base
Plate Steel Design Code for all columns and base plates
in the model.
Criteria - Design Defaults (on page 89) To display and/or modify the current Column Design
Defaults for all columns in the model.
Criteria - Trial Group Defaults (on page 90) To display and/or modify the current Trial Group
Criteria - Bracing (on page 91) To display and/or modify the current Column Bracing
Criteria - Base Plate (on page 91) To display and/or modify the current Base Plate
Design Defaults.
A.2.1 Criteria - Steel Design Codes

Selecting Criteria > Steel Design Codes opens the Column/Base Plate Steel Design Codes dialog, with the
current column and base plate steel design code selections.
Select the appropriate Column Steel Code or Base Plate Steel Code option for your design. These may be
different specifications.
The design specifications available are:
• “Specification for Structural Steel Buildings.” July 7, 2016. ANSI/AISC 360-16 ASD (Allowable Strength
• “Specification for Structural Steel Buildings.” June 22, 2010. ANSI/AISC 360-10 ASD (Allowable Strength
• “Specification for Structural Steel Buildings.”March 9, 2005. ANSI/AISC 360-05, ASD (Allowable Strength
• “Specification for Structural Steel Buildings - Allowable Stress Design and Plastic Design.” June 1, 1989.
American Institute of Steel Construction. Manual of Steel Construction - Allowable Stress Design (9th Edition).
The requirements of Supplement No. 1 (December 17, 2001) are also included as an option.
• “Load and Resistance Factor Design Specification for Structural Steel Buildings.” December 1, 1993. American
Institute of Steel Construction in Manual of Steel Construction - Load and Resistance Factor Design (3rd
Edition).

Criteria
S16S1-05 Supplement No. 1 is also implemented.
• “Structural use of steelwork in building.” BS 5950 : Part 1. “Code of practice for design: rolled and welded
sections.” 2000. British Standards Institute.
• “Structural use of steelwork in building.” BS 5950 : Part 1, “Code of practice for design in simple and
continuous construction: hot rolled sections.” 1990. British Standards Institute.
• “Structural use of steelwork in building.” BS 5950 : Part 3, Section 3.1. “Code of practice for design of simple
and continuous composite beams.” 1990. British Standards Institute.
• “Eurocode 3 - Design of Steel Structures, EN 1993-1-1:2005.” European Committee for Standardization in
Design of Steel Structures (Eurocode 3).
• “Eurocode 4 - Design of Composite Steel and Concrete Structures, BS EN 1994-1-1:2004.” European
Committee for Standardization in Design of Composite Steel and Concrete Structures (Eurocode 4)
• “Steel Structures.” Australia Standard. Building Code of Australia. AS 4100-98. June 5, 1998. Includes
Amendments No 1-1992, No. 2 – 1993, No.3 – 1995 and Draft No.4 (Base plate code not currently available).
• “Indian Standard, General Construction in Steel - Code of Practice (December 2007),” IS 800:2007 published
by the Bureau of Indian Standards (Third Revision).
Click the Cancel button to exit the dialog without saving the changes made.
Make the code change by clicking OK. A warning will be given stating that making this change will result in
clearing all optimized sizes. Click Yes in this message dialog to complete the change and clear optimized sizes.
Clicking No will cancel the change and return you to the Criteria - Steel Design Code dialog.
A.2.2 Criteria - Design Defaults

Selecting Criteria > Column Design Defaults opens the Column Design Defaults dialog.
When a beam frames into a column at a non-orthogonal angle, the beam reaction is split between the two
nearest column sides for moment calculation. However, in cases where a beam frames in very close to one side,
it may be desirable for the entire beam reaction to be applied to that side only. If a beam frames into a column at
an angle less than that specified, the total reaction is applied to the nearest side.
A moment is induced into the column, by the gravity beams, that is a function of the beam reaction and the
eccentricity of the beam-column connection. The dimension used for the eccentricity used by the program in
calculating these moments is assigned in the Modeler. To determine the worst case of axial load and biaxial
bending in the column the program considers several different conditions of Live Load (i.e., “Imposed Load”)
patterned around the four sides of the column. One condition that is investigated is to consider the Live Load
loading all four sides. This produces the condition with the maximum axial loads; it may also produce some
unbalanced moments if the Dead Load or Live Load reactions on opposite sides is not equal. This may not be the
worst design condition, however, for the column. For example, by placing the Live Load on only two sides of the
column, the resulting axial load is reduced, but the unbalanced moment in both axes is increased. This may
produce a worse design condition than the fully loaded column with smaller unbalanced moments. The program
investigates the various configurations of skipped, or patterned, loading of the Live Load, and reports the results
for the controlling condition. The Do not skip-load the Live Load around column option provides a way for
the user to force the program to only consider the fully loaded condition, and to ignore the skip-load cases. BS
5950, for example, explicitly states that it is not necessary to consider the skip-loaded conditions.

Criteria
For a complete explanation of how the eccentric moments are calculated and how the reactions are split, see the
Technical Notes chapter in the RAM Steel Column manual.
To change the angle, type the desired angle (0 - 45 degrees) in the edit box.
To accept the changes, click the OK button. A warning dialog box will appear stating that the columns must be
re-framed and redesigned with this new criteria. Clicking OK will initiate the re-framing process. Clicking Cancel
will terminate the command, returning you to RAM Steel Column.
A.2.3 Criteria - Trial Group Defaults

Selecting Criteria > Trial Group Defaults opens the Criteria - Trial Groups dialog.
The Column Design module can produce up to three distinct designs at one time with the use of Trial Groups. A
“Trial Group” defines a group of sizes from which a size can be selected and investigated during the optimization
process.
For Standard Columns, each Trial Group consists of:
I-shape size group (e.g., W12)

Rectangular or Square Hollow Section size group (e.g. HSS16x16)
Round Hollow Section size-group (e.g. HSS8)
For Hanging Columns, each Trial Group is made up of nine shapes:
I-shape
Rectangular Hollow Section
Round Hollow Section
Channel
Tee Section
Flat Bar
Round Bar
Single Angle
Double Angle
During the design process, columns will be selected only from the size groups indicated in the Trial Groups. The
optimum column sizes in each trial group is determined during design, and the trial group with the least weight
is selected as the column line design.
Up to three Trial Groups can be defined for each design. To select a trial group, click the check box above the trial
group so that it has a check mark in the box. Note that there are separate Trial Groups for Standard and for
Hanging columns.
For each shape within the Trial Groups, select the desired size group from the drop-down list. Click on the size
group to select it. It will appear in the trial group edit box. The sizes that appear in the lists are dependent upon
the sizes in the selected column design table. If a shape is not present in the table, the entry for that shape will be
blank.
Click Cancel to exit the dialog without saving the changes made.

Assign
To change the Trial Group Settings, click the OK button. A warning will be given stating that making this change
will result in clearing all optimized sizes. Click Yes in this message box to complete the change and clear
optimized sizes. Clicking No cancels the change and returns you to the Criteria - Trial Groups dialog.
Note: Change to criteria will not override trial groups assigned to a column line using the Assign - Trial Groups
(on page 96) command.
A.2.4 Criteria - Bracing

Selecting Criteria > Bracing opens the Column Bracing Criteria dialog.
The program automatically determines default bracing for RAM Steel Column based on the options specified.
Options are provided for deck to automatically brace the column. Additionally, beams framing into columns may
cause the columns to be braced. The maximum angle (0 - 90 degrees) for which a beam braces a column may be
specified in the edit box provided. If the angle between a given column face and the beam exceeds the value
specified, the beam does not provide bracing to that column face. For a complete explanation of column bracing,
see the Technical Notes chapter in the RAM Steel Column manual.
To change the bracing criteria, click on the desired bracing options and/or enter a new maximum angle in the
edit box.
To accept the changes, click the OK button. A warning message will be displayed on the screen stating that the
columns must be re-framed and redesigned with this new criteria. Clicking OK will initiate the re-framing
process. Clicking Cancel will terminate the command, returning you to RAM Steel Column.
A.2.5 Criteria - Base Plate

Selecting Criteria > Base Plates opens the Base Plate Design Defaults dialog.
Design of column base plates is performed by RAM Steel Column. The base plates will be designed using the
values currently set as the default values. Input or revise the values as desired. If the area of the concrete
support is small, such as for a pedestal, the allowable bearing stress is reduced by Code. If that is the case, enter
the support dimensions as the Minimum Footing Dimensions. Otherwise, type any sufficiently large value (e.g.,
10 ft.) so that the allowable stress is not affected. These criteria apply to all columns.
To change the options, click the OK button.
A.3 Assign

Assign
Assign - Bracing (on page 92)(1) To modify the column bracing

status on an individual column
basis.
Assign - Splicing (on page 94)(2) To modify the column splice

locations on an individual column
basis.
Assign - Trial Groups (on page 96)(3) To modify the column Trial Group
assignments on a column line basis.
A.3.1 Assign - Bracing

The program automatically determines the status of column bracing according to the presence or absence of
beams (or floor slab if specified) at each level for each axis. You can override the program’s bracing
determination with the Assign > Bracing command.
Selecting Assign > Bracing opens the Assign - Bracing dialog. Bracing is assigned separately for the major and
the minor axes.
How To:
Assign Bracing (on page 92)

Assign - Returning to Default Bracing (on page 93)
Clicking the Cancel button will cause the dialog to close and return you to RAM Steel Column.
Making an assignment will cause the affected column line to be redrawn in yellow. Assigning bracing to an
optimized column will clear the optimized design. Frozen columns will maintain their design but will need to be
re-analyzed with the new bracing assignment.
Assign Bracing
Select Global, Braced or Unbraced, for both the major and minor axis. "Global" means that the bracing will be
determined by the global criteria.
Single: To assign bracing to one column, click Single. This will cause the dialog box to close and the target cursor
to appear. Click on columns with the target to make the assignment. The symbols on the screen will update to
indicate that the assignment has been made.
Fence: To assign bracing to a group of columns, click Fence. This will cause the dialog box to close and the
rectangle cursor to appear. Click and drag the rectangle to include the columns to which the assignment will be
made. The symbols on the screen will update to indicate that the assignment has been made. (HINT: When
assigning in Fence mode, it is often a good idea to be in plan or elevation to insure that only the desired columns
are fenced)
All: Clicking the All button will cause the dialog to close and the assignment made to all steel columns in the
model.

Assign
Assign - Returning to Default Bracing

Select Global for both the major and minor axis. "Global" means that the bracing will be determined by the global
criteria (i.e. reset to its original default).
Single: To reset bracing for one column, click Single. This will cause the dialog box to close and the target cursor
to appear. Click on columns with the target to reset the bracing. The symbols on the screen will update to
indicate that the change has been made.
Fence: To reset bracing for a group of columns, click Fence. This will cause the dialog box to close and the
rectangle cursor to appear. Click and drag the rectangle to include the columns for which bracing will be reset.
The symbols on the screen will update to indicate that the change has been made. (HINT: When assigning in
Fence mode, it is often a good idea to be in plan or elevation to insure that only the desired columns are fenced)
All: Clicking the All button will cause the dialog to close and all steel columns in the model to return to the
bracing default.

Assign
A.3.2 Assign - Splicing

The levels at which splices occur is specified in the Story command in RAM Modeler. This is the default for all
columns, but can be overridden for each individual column by selecting Assign > Splicing and changing the
splice settings using the Assign - Splicing dialog. This is used only to determine the levels at which the column
size can vary from the adjacent level. A splice indicates that the program may select different sizes above and
below the splice. No splice indicates that the program must select the same size for the adjacent levels.
How To:
Assign Splicing (on page 94)

Assign - Returning to Default Splicing (on page 95)
Making an assignment will cause the affected column line to be redrawn in yellow. Assigning splicing to an
re-analyzed with the new splicing assignment.
Assign Splicing
Select Global, Spliced or Not Spliced. "Global" means that the splicing will be determined by the column design
module.
Single: To assign splicing to one column, click Single. This will cause the dialog box to close and the target cursor
to appear. Click on columns with the target to make the assignment. The symbols on the screen will update to
indicate that the assignment has been made.

Assign
Fence: To assign splicing to a group of columns, click Fence. This will cause the dialog box to close and the
rectangle cursor to appear. Click and drag the rectangle to include the columns to which the assignment will be
made. The symbols on the screen will update to indicate that the assignment has been made. (HINT: When
assigning in Fence mode, it is often a good idea to be in plan or elevation to insure that only the desired columns
are fenced)
All: Clicking the All button will cause the dialog to close and the assignment made to all steel columns in the
model.
Assign - Returning to Default Splicing

Select Global. "Global" means that the splicing will be determined by the steel column module (i.e. reset to the
original default).
Single: To reset splicing for one column, click Single. This will cause the dialog box to close and the target cursor
to appear. Click on columns with the target to reset the splicing . The symbols on the screen will update to
indicate that the change has been made.
Fence: To reset splicing for a group of columns, click Fence. This will cause the dialog box to close and the
rectangle cursor to appear. Click and drag the rectangle to include the columns for which splicing will be reset.
The symbols on the screen will update to indicate that the change has been made. (HINT: When assigning in
Fence mode, it is often a good idea to be in plan or elevation to insure that only the desired columns are fenced)
All: Clicking the All button will cause the dialog to close and all steel columns in the model to return to the
splicing default.

Assign
A.3.3 Assign - Trial Groups

Selecting Assign > Trial Groups opens the Assign - Trial Groups dialog, which is used to override the global
Trial Groups for individual column lines.
The Column Design module can produce up to three distinct designs at one time with the use of Trial Groups. A
“Trial Group” defines a group of sizes from which a size can be selected and investigated during the optimization
process.
For Standard Columns, each Trial Group consists of:
I-shape size group (e.g., W12)

Rectangular or Square Hollow Section size group (e.g. HSS16x16)
Round Hollow Section size-group (e.g. HSS8)
For Hanging Columns, each Trial Group is made up of nine shapes:
I-shape
Rectangular Hollow Section
Round Hollow Section
Channel
Tee Section
Flat Bar
Round Bar
Single Angle
Double Angle
During the design process, columns will be selected only from the size groups indicated in the Trial Groups. The
optimum column sizes in each trial group is determined during design, and the trial group with the least weight
is selected as the column line design.
The Default Trial Groups for all columns in the model are specified in the Criteria - Trial Group Defaults (on page
90) dialog.

Assign
How To:
Assign Trial Groups (on page 97)

Assign - Returning to Default Trial Groups (on page 98)
Making an assignment will cause the affected column line to be redrawn in yellow. Assigning trial groups to an
re-analyzed.
Assign Trial Groups

Select Global or Use Trial Groups. "Global" means that the trial groups will be determined by the global criteria.
If "Use Trial Group(s)" is selected, the trial group control below will become active. Click on the check boxes to
the left to select a trial group to assign. Select size groups to be included in a trial group from the drop down lists.
The sizes in the drop down lists are determined by the Steel Column Design table selected in RAM Manager.
Single: To assign trial groups to one column line, click Single. This will cause the dialog box to close and the
target cursor to appear. Click on column lines with the target to make the assignment. The text on the screen will
update to indicate that the assignment has been made.

Assign
Fence: To assign bracing to a group of column lines, click Fence. This will cause the dialog box to close and the
rectangle cursor to appear. Click and drag the rectangle to include the column lines to which the assignment will
be made. The text on the screen will update to indicate that the assignment has been made. (HINT: When
assigning in Fence mode, it is often a good idea to be in plan or elevation to insure that only the desired column
lines are fenced)
All: Clicking the All button will cause the dialog to close and the assignment made to all column lines in the
model.
Assign - Returning to Default Trial Groups

Select Global. "Global" means that the bracing will be determined by the global criteria (i.e. reset to the original
default).
Single: To reset trial groups for one column line, click Single. This will cause the dialog box to close and the
target cursor to appear. Click on column lines with the target to reset the trial groups. The text on the screen will
update to indicate that the change has been made.
Fence: To reset trial groups for a group of column lines, click Fence. This will cause the dialog box to close and
the rectangle cursor to appear. Click and drag the rectangle to include the column lines for which trail groups
will be reset. The text on the screen will update to indicate that the change has been made. (HINT: When

Process
assigning in Fence mode, it is often a good idea to be in plan or elevation to insure that only the desired column
lines are fenced)
All: Clicking the All button will cause the dialog to close and all steel columns in the model to return to the trial
group default.
A.4 Process
Design All (on page 99)(1) To design all steel columns and
baseplates
View/Update (on page 100)(2) To interactively design or

investigate a single steel column.
Copy (on page 106)(3) To copy the design of one column

line to another
Freeze Design(4 and 5) To set the current design as a user

specified size
Clear Design(6 and 7) To clear user-specified sizes from

steel columns
A.4.1 Design All

Selecting the Process - Design All command will size all columns which have not been previously sized by the
program. The design of frozen columns will be analyzed but will not be changed.
Once the column lines are designed, they will be drawn in interaction equation value colors and the scale color
dialog will open. From the scale dialog, the interaction equation values can be displayed on the screen.

Process
Framing Table Options

When the Column Design module is selected in RAM Manager, the Framing Table Options dialog opens if the
database has been saved in RAM Modeler since the last time it was analyzed.
Perform Design All Set this option to have RAM Steel Column perform a Design All operation immediately
Automatically upon completion of the Framing. If this option is selected, the other Column Design
After Framing module commands will be available upon completion of the Design All command. It is
not necessary to do this, as some command such as Process > View/Update and Print >
Single do not require that a Design All be performed. You may also select Process >
Design All manually after RAM Steel Column is open
A.4.2 View/Update
Selecting Process > View/Update opens the View/Update dialog for a selected column, which is used to view
the automated design of that column.
Each column line in the model is designed automatically for its least weight based on a number of user-defined
Assign (on page 91) and Criteria (on page 88). It also allows you to explore various design options and save the
resulting design back to the database.
Note: If sizes were previously assigned to a column line either from the Update Data Base command or—for
lateral column—by using the Assign - Size command in another RAM Structural System module, these sizes will
be analyzed for the existing loading conditions.
The View/Update dialog box is made up 4 main sections:

• The top of the dialog tells you which column line you are working with and whether it has been optimized or
is user-defined. Note that column lines that contain lateral columns will always be labeled as user defined.
• The table on the dialog provides information about the columns and their designs. The left side of the table
displays the View/Update: The Column Selection Results (on page 101) while the right side of the table
shows the View/Update: Trial Group Results (on page 102).
• Below the table to the left are the investigation tabs.

Process
• The first tab, View/Update: Story - Analyze (on page 103), allows you to try various sizes or yield
strengths on a per column basis. Sizes and yield strengths can be selected to the final design. They will be
inserted into the Final Design section of the table, replacing the values that are already there.
• The second tab, View/Update: Story - Optimize (on page 104), provides a way to investigate shapes and
yield strengths on a per column basis. Sizes and yield strengths on this tab can also be selected to the final
design. They will be inserted into the Final Design section of the table, replacing the values that are
already there.
• The third tab, View/Update: Column Line Optimization (on page 105), allows you to investigate different
shapes and yield strengths per column line. The results of the optimization from this tab is displayed in
the Trial Groups Results section of the grid.
• To the right of the investigation tabs is the design warning box. This box lists warnings for the entire column
line.
The stop light in the Final Design box indicates the state of the final design. It is green when the design of the
entire column line passes and red when it fails. (Note that changes within the investigation tabs do not
impact the stop light.)
The Reset button resets the column line design to the design shown when the dialog first opened.
The Update Database button closes the dialog and saves the design as it is listed under the Final Design
columns in the table. Once a column design is saved, it will not change until it is cleared using the Process >
Clear command.
Cancel closes the dialog without saving the design.
View/Update: The Column Selection Results

The Column Selection portion of the table shows the story of each column, the Bracing Status (Mj and Mn) (on
page 102) of each column and the Splice Levels (Sp) (on page 102) .
Clicking in one of these cells selects the story and makes it the active story on the investigation tabs.
To the right of this information is the display of the Final Design. If the column line was optimized, these are the
sizes that the design engine determined to be the most optimum based on total weight (also displayed).
The interaction equation value calculated for each column is displayed beside the column size. Interaction
equation values > 1.0 are shown in red.

Process
The sizes of Lateral Columns are shown in a dark red. This should not be confused with the bright red that
indicates design failure.
While it is currently not possible to change size or yield strength in the grid, clicking on either will transfer the
information to the investigation tabs. From there, sizes and yield strength can be saved and selected for the final
design.
Bracing Status (Mj and Mn)

"Y" means yes, or braced. "N" means no, or unbraced..
Mj represents bracing of the strong or Major axis.
Mn represents bracing of the weak or Minor axis.
Splice Levels (Sp)

"Y" means yes, or a splice occurs at this level. "N" means no, or no splice occurs at this level. "T" means
temporary, which means that no splice was specified at this level but a splice is necessary due to a change in
column characteristics such as shape - if changes are made to the column such that the characteristics of the
column don't change at this level, the temporary splice will be cleared and this will revert to a non-spliced level.
View/Update: Trial Group Results

Up to three trial groups can be selected in Criteria - Trial Group Defaults (on page 90). This global trial group
setting can be overridden on a column line-by-column line basis using the Assign - Trial Groups (on page 96)
During optimization, columns are sized based on these Trial Groups. The results of the design of each trial group
are shown in the right most part of the table.
The total weight of each Trial Group is listed below it.
Note that the number of columns displaying trial group results are equal to the number of trial groups assigned
to that column line.
To select a size from a trial group for further investigation on a per column basis, click on the size in the cell.
To select an entire trial group as your final design, click the heading above the column of sizes (i.e. "Select T.G.
1").

Process
View/Update: Story - Analyze

The Story - Analyze tab in the investigation section of the View/Update dialog is where you can try various sizes
or yield strength values on a per story basis. If several stories are spliced together, these stories are investigated
as one unit.
Upon entering the View/Update dialog the size and yield strength on the Story - Analyze tab reflects the selected
story.
The yield strength value can be changed by typing a new value in the edit box.
The size can be changed in one of two ways:
1. Click on any cell in the grid that contains a column size. This size will be transferred to the Story - Analyze
tab, even if the cell is not associated with the selected story.
2. Select a new size from the combo box.
When a new yield strength is entered or a size is changed by clicking in the grid, the View Results button and
Select buttons will be gray out until an Analysis has been performed (Click the Analyze button). This is also true
when changing the properties of double angles for hanging columns.
Selecting a new size from the combo box automatically kicks off the analyze process.
When results for an analysis is current, the resulting interaction equations are displayed at the bottom of the tab.
In cases where the analysis fails, a reason for the failure appears in red.
Clicking the View Results button displays the Column Design report for the size and yield strength chosen for
investigation.
Clicking the Select button transfers the current size and yield strength to the "Final Design" section of the table.
An analysis of the entire column line is then run to update the weight and interaction equation values for all
columns. If any design warning occur during this analysis, they will be listed in the Design Warning list box.

Process
View/Update: Story - Optimize

The Story - Optimize tab is the second investigation tab. From here, you can investigate the different shapes that
were selected in Criteria - Trial Group Defaults (on page 90) or assigned using the Assign - Trial Groups (on page
96) command.
When this tab is selected, the shape and yield strength value on the tab reflects the selected story.
The Shape combo box controls which shape will be considered during optimization. For Standard Column, the
combo box will contain the three relevant shapes while for Hanging Columns, all nine shapes will be available for
selection.
When a change is made to the tab, the Optimize button becomes available and the View Results and Select
buttons gray out.
Click the Optimize button to initiate the optimization process. The results of the optimization will be displayed in
the table below.
Clicking on a specific size will cause its interaction equation to be shown below the grid. It also makes the View
Results and Select buttons active.
Clicking the View Results button displays the Column Design report for the size and yield strength chosen for
investigation.
Clicking the Select button transfers the current size and yield strength to the "Final Design" section of the table.
An analysis of the entire column line is then run to update the weight and interaction equation values for all
columns. If any design warning occur during this analysis, they will be listed in the Design Warning list box.

Process
View/Update: Column Line Optimization

The Column Line tab is the third investigation tab. From here, you can investigate the different shapes that were
selected in Criteria - Trial Group Defaults (on page 90) or assigned using the Assign - Trial Groups (on page 96)
command for the entire column line.
When this tab is selected, the shape and yield strength value on the tab reflects the selected story.
The Shape combo box controls which shape will be considered during optimization. For Standard Column, the
combo box will contain the three relevant shapes while for Hanging Columns, all nine shapes will be available for
selection.
Clicking the Optimize button will initiate the optimization of the column line.
Results are displayed in the Trial Group Results section of the table.
The column line weight of trial group design is listed at the bottom of the column.
The yield strength entered on the tab is shown to the far right.
To select a trial group design as your final design, click the column header "Select T.G. #" and this design will be
moved to the Final Design section of the table.

Process
When a section is made, an analysis of the entire column line is then run to update the weight and interaction
equation values for all columns. If any design warning occur during this analysis, they will be listed in the Design
Warning list box.
A.4.3 Copy
In some cases it is desirable to override the optimum designs, making the sizes of similar column lines identical.
This can be done by using the Copy command. The Copy command copies sizes and yield strength from one
column line to another. If the column lines are incompatible (such as different number of levels) a warning is
given and the Copy is canceled. If the sizes being copied to the new column line are inadequate a warning will be
given allowing you to cancel the Copy.
To Copy the sizes from one column line to another
1. Issue the Process - Copy command
2.
With the "Copy From" target cursor select a column line that has the design that will be copied.
3.
With the "Copy To" target cursor select the column line that will receive the new design.
If the "Copy From" column line has not been design, a warning is shown and you are given the opportunity to
design the column line.
Once the design has been copied, the column line that received the design (the "Copy To" column line) the design
will be analyzed for that column line's loading. Because this column line is not considered to be user-defined, or
frozen, the columns will be painted blue of the design passes and red if it fails.
This process can be repeated, alternately selecting the Copy From column and the Copy To column lines.
The Copy command DOES NOT create a link between the Copy From column and the Copy To column; a
subsequent change in the design of one is not automatically made to the other. The Copy command merely
copies the current sizes and Fy from one column line to another.
A.4.4 Freeze Design - Col Line

The Process - Freeze Design - Col Line command is used to freeze the current column designs sizes for a
specified column line. The program will then treat the sizes like user-assigned sizes.
Click the target cursor on the column for which you wish to freeze the designs
A.4.5 Freeze Design - All

The Process - Freeze Design - All command is used to freeze the current column designs for all steel columns.
The program will then treat the sizes like user-assigned sizes

Reports
A.4.6 Clear Design - Col Line

The Process - Clear Design - Col Line command is used to clear the current column designs for all steel
columns in the selected column line. Columns will be optimized in future designs.
This command WILL clear the size of lateral columns.
Click the target cursor on the column for which you wish to clear the designs
A.4.7 Clear Design - All

The Process - Clear Design - All command is used to clear the current column designs for all steel columns.
This command WILL NOT clear the size of lateral columns.
Columns will be optimized in future designs.
A.5 Reports
Printer To have the reports sent directly to the printer.
Screen To have the reports displayed on screen.
Text File To have the reports saved to a comma delimited text

file.
Viewer File To have the reports saved to the report viewer file
format. This provides the ability to view the report
without running the any of the RAM Structural System
modules.
Design Criteria (on page 108)
Column Design - Single (on page 108) To print a Gravity Column Design Report for a selected
level of a selected column.
Column Design - Col Line (on page 108) To print a Gravity Column Design Report for all levels
of a selected column.
Column Design - All (on page 109) To print a Gravity Column Design Report for all levels
of all columns.

Reports
Col Summary (on page 109) To print a Gravity Column Design Summary Report
Loads (on page 109) To print the Gravity Loads on Columns Report listing
all gravity loads on the selected column(s).
Load Summary (on page 109) To print the Column Load Summary Report which
summarizes the gravity loads on all column lines.
Takeoff (on page 110) To print the Gravity Column Design Takeoff Report
which lists the quantity and weight of each column
size in the design.
Base Plates To print the Base Plate Design Reports.
Base Plates - Single (on page 110)

Base Plates - All (on page 110)
Base Plates - Summary (on page 110)
A.5.1 Design Criteria

Selecting the Reports - Design Criteria command will cause the Gravity Column Design Criteria Report to be
printed. The Column Criteria Report lists the criteria specified by the user and used in the design of gravity
columns and baseplates.
A.5.2 Column Design - Single

Selecting the Reports - Column Design - Single command will cause the target cursor to appear. Use the target
cursor to select the column for which the report will be generated.
A Gravity Column Design Report includes: design parameters, the controlling load combination, calculated
parameters and the results of the interaction equations.
A.5.3 Column Design - Col Line

Selecting the Reports - Column Design - Col Line command will cause the target cursor to appear. Use the
target cursor to select the column line for which the report will be generated.
A Gravity Column Design Report will be created for every column in the selected column line. This report
consists of one or more pages of output per column, detailing design parameters, the controlling load
combination, calculated parameters and the results of the interaction equations.

Reports
A.5.4 Column Design - All

Selecting the Reports - Column Design - All command will cause all unsized columns to be designed, and a
Gravity Column Design Report to be created for every column in the database.
This report consists of one or more pages of output per column, detailing design parameters, the controlling load
combination, calculated parameters and the results of the interaction equations. It may be lengthy and is only
recommended for models in which most of the columns are unique in design.
The Col Summary (on page 109) command provides a summarized report of all columns in the structure in a
condensed format.
A.5.5 Col Summary

Selecting the Reports - Col Summary command will cause all unsized columns to be designed, and a Gravity
Column Design Summary Report to be created.
The Gravity Column Design Summary Report shows a one line summary of the design of each level of each
column in the model including: column line and level to locate the column, calculated axial force and moments,
Load Case, interaction equation results and selected size.
A.5.6 Loads
Selecting the Reports - Loads command will cause all
unsized columns to be designed, and a Gravity Loads
on Columns Report to be printed. The Gravity Loads
on Columns Report lists the gravity loads on each level
of each column in detail including dead load, each
category of live load, live load reduction factors,
maximum total load and minimum total load.
As indicated in the figure to the left, a compression load is taken to be positive.

Reports
A.5.7 Load Summary

Selecting the Reports - Load Summary command will
cause all unsized columns to be designed, and a
Column Load Summary Report to be printed. The
Column Load Summary Report is an abbreviated
listing of the gravity loads on each level of each
column. The report is organized first by column line
and then by level. For each level of each column line,
the height of the level, dead load, positive live load,
negative live load, minimum total load and maximum
total load is listed.
As indicated in the figure to the right, a compression load is taken to be positive.
A.5.8 Takeoff
Selecting the Reports - Takeoff command will cause the Gravity Column Design Takeoff Report to be printed.
The Gravity Column Design Takeoff Report lists all gravity column sizes classified by steel grade, and the total
length and weight for each size listed. A piece count and total weight for the entire structure is also listed.
A.5.9 Base Plates - Single

Selecting the Reports - Base Plates - Single command will cause the target cursor to appear. Click on the
column line for which you would like a printout of the Base Plate Design. The Base Plate Design Report is a
detailed report that includes: Base plate dimensions, Column Data pertaining to the column above the plate,
Bearing Data and Calculated Dimensions.
A.5.10 Base Plates - All

Selecting the Reports - Base Plates - All command will cause the Base Plate Design Report to be printed for
every base plate in the model. This detailed report includes: Base plate dimensions, Column Data, Bearing Data
and Calculated Dimensions.
A.5.11 Base Plates - Summary

Selecting the Reports - Base Plates - Summary command will cause the Base Plate Summary Report to be
printed. This report provides a one line summary of the design of each base plate. Each column is listed with its
column size and calculated base plate dimensions

View
A.6 View
These view commands are unique to Steel Column:
View - Bracing (1) To display the columns' current

bracing on the screen. Bracing is
depicted as small green triangles
pointing at the braced axis. The
absence of a triangle indicates that
that axis is not braced.
View - Splicing (2) To display the columns' current

splicing settings on the screen.
Splices are indicated by a red plate
passing between columns where a
splice can occur.
View - Trial Groups (3) To display the trial groups assigned

to each column line.
This toolbar is shared with the RAM 3DViewer. See the RAM 3D Viewer manual or help within 3D View for more
information on these commands.
View - Colors is on the common

View - Colors toolbar but has a unique behavior
in Steel Column. The View - Colors
toolbar buttons allows you to
iterate through the 3 available color
schemes. The three color schemes
can be set directly from the View -
Colors menu.
A.7 Window

Window
A.7.1 Close
To close an application or document, click in the upper-right corner of the window, or click Close on the
application or document Control menu.
A.7.2 Maximize
To enlarge an application or document window to fill the screen, click in the upper-right corner of the
window, or click Maximize on the application or document Control menu. To restore the window to its previous
size and location, double-click the title bar.
A.7.3 Scroll Bars

The shaded bars along the right side and bottom of a window. To scroll to another part of the window, drag the
box or click the arrows in the scroll bar.
A.7.4 Title bar

To move a window or dialog box, drag its title bar. To maximize a window or restore it to its previous size and
location, double-click the title bar.
A.7.5 Toolbar
Contains buttons that give you quick access to many commands and features. To see the name of a button, point
to it with the mouse. To display or hide toolbars, use the Toolbars command on the View menu. To make an
anchored toolbar a floating toolbar, or vice versa, double-click a blank area on the toolbar.
A.7.6 Window sizing border

The border around a window. To change the shape and size of a window, drag its border. To size the window in
two directions at once, drag a corner of the border.

Window
A.7.7 Minimize
To reduce an application or document window to an icon, click in the upper-right corner of the window, or
click Minimize on the application or document Control menu. To restore the window to its previous size and
location, double-click the icon.
A.7.8 Restore
To restore a window to its previous size and location, click in the upper-right corner of the window, or click
Restore on the application or document Control menu.
A.7.9 Status bar

The bar near the bottom of the screen that displays information about a selected command or an operation in
progress.

Index
A base plates column moments
criteria 91 multi-story 46
AISC
Base Plates 18, 110 column splices 94
calculated parameters 68
batch column design 21 columns
controlling column loads 67,
bracing hanging 54
76
assigning 92 slender 54
AISC 360
criteria 91 splices 94
load combinations 48
Bracing 18, 19, 52, 102 Construction Dead 27
AISC 9th
BS 5950 Construction Dead Load 27
load combinations 48 Construction Live Load 27
AISC LRFD
section capacity 59, 60 controlling column flexural
building codes 25 loads
All 14 51
Building the Framing Tables 10 CAN/CSA S16 72, 74
AS 4100
controlling column loads
AISC 67, 76
section capacity 59, 60 C Eurocode 69
AS/NZS 1170 CAN/CSA S16
controlling column shear loads
load combinations 48 controlling column flexural
CAN/CSA S16 71, 74
Assign loads 72, 74
Copy 23, 106
Bracing 19 controlling column shear
criteria
Splicing 19 loads 71, 74
design defaults 21
Trial Groups 20 load combinations 48
Criteria
Assignments 19 CAN/CSA-S16-01 70
Bracing 18
Automatic 51, 52 CAN/CSA-S16.1-94 59
Design Defaults 17
Axial 47, 51 cannot design 21
Steel Design Code 17
Axial loads 21 Clear
Trial Group Defaults 18
Axial Loads 47, 51 Design 23
cross section classification 59
User Size 22
Crtieria
B Clear Design 23
Base Plates 18
codes 88
base plate design
Col Summary 109
AS 4100 64
ASD 62
Colors D
Design Status 11 Dead 27
BS 5950 63
column design Dead Load 27
CAN/CSA-S16 63
batch 21 Deck Orientation 30
Eurocode 63
defaults 89 Defaults 17
IS 800-07 64
Column Design 108 design
LRFD 62
column design summary moments 50
Base Plate Design 82
reports 79 Design
base plate design summary
Column Design Takeoff 82 All 14
IS 800-07 84
Column Load Summary 81 Axial Loads 51
Base Plate Design Summary 85
Column Loads 81 Defaults 17

Freeze 23 AISC ASD 66 Load Properties 27
loads 21 AISC LRFD 66 Load Summary 109
Loads 20 Gravity Column Design loads
Design All 99 AS 4100 75 axial 21
Design Criteria 108 BS 5950 73 design 21
Design Defaults 17 CAN/CSA-S16-01 70 negative 35
Design Loads 43 Eurocode 68 positive 35
Design Status 11 Gravity Loads on Walls 43 Loads
design yield strength Axial 47, 51
ASD 56–58 Construction Dead 27
BS 5950 56–58
H Dead 27
hanging columns
CAN/CSA-S16.1-94 56–58 Live 27, 47
default trial group sizes 90
Eurocode 56–58 Mass Dead Load 27
IS 800-07 56–58 Slope 29
LRFD 56–58 I loads on slab edges 30, 31
designing Introduction 7
building codes 88
columns 100
IS 800-07 M
column design output 77, 78
Mass Dead Load 27
default criteria 89
material properties 58
designs
view/update 100
J Materials 20
joist translation 52 Member Properties 22
model notes 16
E Model Status 11, 87
eccentricities 21, 43
K modulus of elasticity 58
effective length 53, 54 K-Factor 53 Moment Split 48
error messages 60–62 moments
Eurocode L design 50
controlling column loads 69 Live 27, 47 unbalanced 21, 43, 50
load combinations 48 Live Load 27 Moments
live load reduction Unbalanced 17, 47, 48
F AS/NZS 1170.1 42
Fence 12 BOCA 39 N
File BS 6399 41 negative loads 35
Model Status 11 Eurocode 41 Nodal Loads 12
Save 11 GB 50009 42
Flag Type 52 Hong Kong Building
framing table 100 Regulation 43 O
IBC 37, 38 Options 12
Framing Tables 10
Freeze 23 NBC of Canada 40
Freeze col line 106 SBC 40 P
Freeze Design 23 UBC 40
Pen Colors 12
Live Loads 47
penetrations 32
Load Cases 47
G load combinations 48
positive loads 35
Process 99
gravity column design Load Conditions 47
Properties
AISC 360 66 Load Polygon 27

Loads 27 slender columns 54 unbalanced moments 21, 43, 50
Sloping Framing 29 Unbalanced Moments 17, 47, 48
splices Unbraced Length 18, 52
R assigning 94 Update Data Base 22
reactions 47
Splicing User Size 22
Reactions 47
Assignments 19 User Size Columns 22
reports
Automatic 51, 52 User-Specified 51
column design summary 79
Flag Type 52
Reports
User-Specified 51
Base Plate Design 82
standard columns
V
Base Plate Design Summary View
default trial group sizes 90
85 Nodal Loads 12
Status Bar 113
Column Design Takeoff 82 Options
Steel Design Code 17
Column Load Summary 81 Pen Colors 12
steel design codes 26, 88
Column Loads 81 Zoom
stub cantilever 43
Fence 12
Stub Cantilever 52
view controls 12
S stub cantilevers 50
view/update 100
Save 11, 86 Surface Loads 27
Saving the Model 11
Scroll Bars 112 T Y
section capacity yield strength
tables
AS 4100 59, 60 AISC 360 56
column sizes 10
BS 5950 59, 60 ASD 56
Takeoff 110
CAN/CSA-S16.1-94 59, 60 BS 5950 56
terminology 8
Self-Weight Calculations 28 Eurocode 56
Trial Group Defaults 18
shear modulus of elasticity 58 IS 800-07 58
trial groups
sign convention 35 LRFD 56
defaults 90
Skip Live Load 17
individual column lines 96
skip loading 21, 35
Skip Loading 47
Trial Groups 18, 20 Z
two-way deck/slab 21 Zoom 12
slab edges
loads 30, 31
slab openings 32 U
Unbalanced 17, 47, 48

Design of RAMSteelColumn

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Design of RAMSteelColumn

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

RAM Steel Column

CONNECT Edition Update 15 – Version 17.01

RAM Steel Column 2 User Manual

RAM Steel Column 3 User Manual

RAM Steel Column 4 User Manual

RAM Steel Column 5 User Manual

RAM Steel Column 6 User Manual

RAM Steel Column 7 User Manual

RAM Steel Column 8 User Manual

Figure 1: Single column lines

Figure 2: Column lines with multiple columns at a junction

RAM Steel Column 9 User Manual

2.2 Column Tables

2.3 Invoking the Column Module

2.4 Building the Framing Tables

RAM Steel Column 10 User Manual

2.5 Model Status

2.5.1 Saving the Model

2.6 Steel Column Color-Coding

2.6.1 Model Colors

2.6.2 Design Colors

Yellow Column is ready for design.

RAM Steel Column 11 User Manual

Green Column was designed and passed all design checks.

2.6.3 Interaction Colors

2.7 Graphics Commands

2.8 The Toolbar

RAM Steel Column 12 User Manual

Table 1: The primary toolbar

Save saves the data to the database.

Print prints the current view.

Model Notes allows notes to be added.

View 3D displays the current model in 3D view (default view).

View Plan displays a dialog to select a floor to view in plan mode.

View Zoom Full restores the screen to its original scale.

RAM Steel Column 13 User Manual

View Zoom In incrementally zooms in on the area currently displayed on screen.

Projection Mode toggles between Perspective and Orthographic views.

Show/Hide Lateral Columns.

RAM Steel Column 14 User Manual

Show/Hide Lateral Beams.

Show/Hide Lateral Walls.

Show/Hide Gravity Columns.

Show/Hide Gravity Beams.

Show/Hide Gravity Walls.

Table 2: The Assign toolbar

RAM Steel Column 15 User Manual

Table 3: The Process toolbar

Design All to Design All the columns not already designed.

View/Update command to analyze, design and change size of an individual member.

Copy command to copy one column line’s design to another.

Table 4: The View toolbar

View Bracing to toggle the Bracing symbols on and off.

View Splicing to toggle the Splicing symbols on and off.

RAM Steel Column 16 User Manual

2.9 Model Notes

2.10.1 Steel Design Codes

2.10.2 Design Defaults

RAM Steel Column 17 User Manual

2.10.3 Trial Groups Defaults

2.10.5 Base Plates

RAM Steel Column 18 User Manual

RAM Steel Column 19 User Manual

2.11.3 Trial Groups