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RAM Components

Introduction

A number of the tools used in the RAM Structural System (RAM SS) modules are reusable components. This has the advantage of reducing development time for new modules. It also has the added advantage of making the various modules look and behave consistently which reduces the learning curve for the engineer.

This documents identifies and briefly describes the existing components. The documentation for each of these components can be furnished upon request. Unless otherwise noted, all the components will work in most standard programming languages including Visual Basic, Visual Basic for Applications, MSVC++ and Delphi .

Graphical and Interface Components:

RAM Container:

This is the largest and most significant component. It provides the main interface for RAM SS modules including the 2D and 3D display of the structural model as well as all the menus and toolbars for the given module. The menus and toolbars can be programmatically modified by the running module to suite its needs.

Used By: RAM Concrete, RAM Steel Column

Limits: The container will not work with VBA programs.

Examples:

Diagram Control:

This control is used to display moment, shear, deflection, interaction, etc diagrams for any number of continuous members.

Used By: RAM Concrete Column View/Update dialog to display column interaction surface and shear diagram. RAM Frame Analysis Diagram dialog box in Analysis and Load Combo modes.

Limits: None

Examples:

VMD Dialog:

This dialog box can be used to display shear, moment, axial load, torsion and deflection for a given member. It can show up to 3 diagrams at the same time.

Used By: RAM Frame Analysis Diagram dialog box in Analysis and Load Combo modes.

Limits: None

Examples:

Report Generator:

The report generator is used to create all of the RAM SS reports. It provides a consistent look to all reports and significantly reduces the time required in laying out a report.

Used By: All RAM SS modules.

Limits: Will require a VB wrapper around the DLL.

Examples:

Log Dialog:

This dialog is used to inform the user of the progress of an analysis or design process. (It is still under development and can be made available in a short period of time if required).

Used By: RAM Manager, RAM Container and RAM Concrete (all modes).

Limits: None

Examples:

Load Combo Generator:

This is used to generate load combinations which can then be used in the design of the structural members. The generator uses easily editable ASCII text files to generate the load combinations. This virtually eliminates the need to program load combos into the module. The evaluation of the loads is not part of this component.

Used By: All RAM SS modules except RAM Steel Beam and RAM Steel Column.

Limits: Will require a VB wrapper around the DLL.

Examples:

Non-Graphical Components:

The following are components that are used to reduce programming time.

RAMDataAccess:

This is the tool used to programmatically access the RAM SS model database and retrieve data from it. All the model geometry and analysis results are available through this component as well as a large number of design results for concrete beams and columns. It can also be used to modify the structural model and even to create a full RAM Structural System model from scratch.

Another unique a powerful capability of RAMDataAccess is the ability to save your own data back into the RAM SS model database and even tag your data to a given structural member. In this way your data will be held with the rest of the model data when the model is zipped or saved under a different name. Additionally this provides an automated way for your data to be cleared our of the database if the tagged member that it is assigned to is deleted.

Used By: Nearly all RAM SS modules.

Limits: None

Examples: Used by RAM Advanse, RAM Concept and CADStudio to retrieve model data.

RAM FE:

This is the general purpose finite element analysis tool used in RAM SS. It provides all the analysis features that are available through the various modules. It uses a state of the art bandwidth optimizer, sparse solver and object oriented programming techniques, which make it fast and extensible.

Some of its features include the standard frame, shell, spring and membrane wall elements as well as non-linear frame and spring elements. The model can also be defined with multiple diaphragm constraints and can consider static global P-Delta effects. Beyond the common loading options there is the ability to define nodal displacements, support settlements, thermal loading for frame members and member axial prestressing effects. The analysis methods include Linear Static, Eigen and Non-linear iterative analysis. RAM FE is extremely versatile, fast and a powerful tool for nearly any structural analysis task.

Used By: RAM Frame v9.0 and later, RAM Concrete and RAM Foundation Continuous footing design.

Limits: None

Concrete Column Interaction Surface Generator:

This component is used to generate the concrete column Axial Force and Biaxial Moment interaction surface. Its unique ability to create the surface and quickly check any number of data points against that surface make it easy and practical to use.

Used By: RAM Concrete Column design

Limits: None

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