285 RAM Concept

Chapter 44
44 Mat Foundation Tutorial
This chapter will walk you throughthestepsfor modelinga
mat foundation, alsoknown asaraft. Alternativemetric
valuesandunits areidentifiedinsquarebrackets [] next to
theUS units. Themetric valuesarenot exact conversions.
ThecodeusedisACI 318-05.
For informationoncreatinganew file, see Creating and
opening files on page 5. You should ensure that you select
mat foundation in the new file dialog box.
Most matssupportcolumns andwalls. Youmay chooseto
model thecolumnsandwallsbut youshouldbeawarethat
thiscouldaffect themat behavior. In particular, if thereare
lateral loadsthenyoushouldbevery careful indefiningthe
supportsaboveashavingnohorizontal restraint.
Otherwise, thesupportsaboverather thanthesoil (springs)
below couldresist somelateral moment andshear.
A mat neednot havecolumnsandwallsmodeled above.
Thereasonsto model columnsandwallsaboveinclude
improving theappearanceof themodel, andprovidingsnap
pointsfor point andlineloads. Additionally, awall above
will stiffenthemat inabeneficial way.
44.1 Import the CAD drawing
TheCAD fileyouimport islocatedinyour RAM Concept
programdirectory.
Import the CAD file:
1 ChooseFile>Import Drawing.
2 Select theCAD drawingfilemat_tutorial.dwg
[mat_tutorial_metric.dwg].
TheFileUnitsdialogbox appears.
3 Select Inches [Millimeters] (theunits usedintheCAD
file) and click OK.
44.2 Define the structure
TousetheCAD fileyou needtomakeit visibleonthe
MeshInput layer.
Show the drawing on the mesh input layer:
1 ChooseLayers>Mesh Input>StandardPlan.
2 ChooseView >VisibleObjects( ).
Note: You canalso right clicktoseea popupmenuthat
includes theVisibleObjectscommand.
3 Click theDrawingImport tab.
4 Click Show All, andthenclick OK.
Draw the slab area:
1 TurnonSnap to Intersection( ) andSnap toPoint
( ).
2 Doubleclick theSlabAreatool ( ) to editthedefault
properties.
3 IntheDefault SlabAreaPropertiesdialogbox:
ChooseaConcreteStrengthof 4000psi [25MPa
for AS3600; C25/30for BS8110].
Set Thicknessto30inches [750 mm].
LeaveSurfaceElevationas0andPriority as 1.
Click OK.
4 With theSlabAreatool ( ) selected, definethefour
cornersof theslabby snapping to the imported drawings
slabcorners.
Note: You can type c to close the polygon instead of
enteringthelast point.
Define the column locations and properties:
1 TurnonSnapto Center ( ).
2 Doubleclick ontheColumntool ( ).
3 IntheDefault Column Propertiesdialogbox:
ChooseaConcreteStrengthof 5000psi [32MPa
for AS3600; C32/40for BS8110].
Set Height to10feet [3m].
Set Support Set to Above.
Set Widthto30inches [750mm].
Set Diameter to30inches [750mm].
Check Roller at Far End.
Uncheck Fixed Near and Fixed Far.
4 Click OK.
5 Click at thecenter of all 11 columnlocationsshownon
theimporteddrawing.
Define the wall location and properties:
1 TurnonSnapOrthogonal ( ).
2 Doubleclick ontheWall tool ( ).
3 IntheDefault Wall Propertiesdialogbox:
ChooseaConcreteStrengthof 3000psi [20MPa
for AS3600; C20/25for BS8110].
Set Height to10feet [3m].
Set Support Set to Above.
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Set Thicknessto12inches [300mm].
Uncheck Shear Wall.
Uncheck Fixed Near and Fixed Far.
4 Click OK.
5 Defineeachwall by snapping tothestart andendpoints
of thewall centerlinesshownontheCAD drawing.
Define the area spring location and properties:
1 Doubleclick ontheQuad-AreaSpringtool ( ).
2 IntheDefault AreaSpring Propertiesdialogbox:
Set anr-forceconstant of 0.1pci [0.00001
N/mm
3
].
Set ans-forceconstant of 0.1 pci [0.00001
N/mm
3
].
Set az-forceconstant of 250pci [0.07N/mm
3
],
andclick OK.
Note: You needhorizontal springs(r ands) withverysmall
stiffnessessincetherearelateral loads.
3 Defineanareaspringover theentireslabby clickingfour
cornersof aquadrilateral. This shapeneed notmatchthe
slabs exact dimensions, but should cover the entire slab.
Youhavenow definedthestructurebut theelement mesh
doesnot yet exist.
Generate the mesh:
1 Click GenerateMesh ( ).
2 IntheGenerateMeshdialog box set theElement Sizeto
2feet [0.7 m].
3 Click Generate.
View the mesh:
1 ChooseLayers>Element>StandardPlan.
Youwill now seeasomewhat randommesh. Thiswill still
producereasonableresults, but will significantly improve
whenyouregenerateit later on.
View the structure:
1 ChooseLayers>Element >StructureSummary
Perspective.
2 UsetheRotateabout x- andy-axes tool ( ) torotatethe
floor.
Figure44-1 MeshInput: StandardPlan
Figure44-2 Element: StandardPlan
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287 RAM Concept
Chapter 44
44.3 Define the loads
Mat loadscould consist of point, lineandarealoadsfor a
number of loadings(such aslive, other dead, northseismic,
eastseismic, northwindandeast wind). For simplicity, this
tutorial will notusearealoads(except for theautomatic
calculation of self-weight) andwill adoptloadsbelonging
only toother dead, live, andultimateseismic eastloadings.
Define the other dead loading:
1 ChooseLayers>Loadings>Other DeadLoading>All
LoadsPlan.
2 ChooseView >VisibleObjects( ).
3 Click theDrawing Import tab.
4 Click Show All, andthenclick OK.
Showing theCAD filemakesthefollowing instructions
easier tofollow.
5 TurnonSnaptoIntersection( ).
6 Doubleclick thePoint Loadtool ( ).
7 IntheDefault Point LoadPropertiesdialog box:
ChangeFz to40Kips [180 kN], andclick OK.
8 Define40Kip [180kN] point loads by snappingto
columncentersat thefollowinglocations:
A-1
A-3
D-1
D-3
9 Definetherest of thepoint loadsasshown inFigures44-
3and 44-4.
10Doubleclick theLineLoad tool ( ).
11IntheDefault LineLoadPropertiesdialogbox:
Set Fz to 8kip/ft [120kN/m], andclick OK.
12With theLineLoad tool ( ) selected, draw aLineLoad
alongthecenterlineof thewall on grid2.
13Repeat for the wall at grid 2.5 with a load of 5.5 kip/ft
[80kN/m].
Note: Drawtheseloadstotheoutsidefaceof theinter-
secting walls.
Copy to the live (reducible) loading layer:
For simplicity, usethesameloads for other deadandlive
(reducible) loads
1 With theSelectiontool ( ), select all of theother dead
loadsby fencingtheentireslab.
2 ChooseEdit >Copy.
3 ChooseLayers>Loadings>Live(Reducible) Loading>
All LoadsPlan.
4 ChooseEdit >Paste.
Thispastestheother deadloadsontotheLive(Reducible)
Loading: All LoadsPlan.
Figure44-3 Other DeadLoading: All LoadsPlan
Figure44-4 Other DeadLoading: All LoadsPlan[METRIC]
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Define the ultimate seismic east loading:
1 ChooseLayers>Loadings>UltimateSeismicEast
Loading >All LoadsPlan.
2 ChooseView >VisibleObjects( ).
3 Click theDrawing Import tab.
4 Click Show All, andthenclick OK.
5 TurnonSnaptoIntersection( ).
6 Doubleclick theLineLoadtool ( ) andintheDefault
LineLoadPropertiesdialog box:
Set theelevationabovetheslabsurfaceto360
inches[9000mm].
Set Fx to4.1 kip/ft [60kN/m].
Set all other itemsinthedialogbox to0.
Click OK.
7 Draw alineloadby snapping tothewall intersection
points, asshown inFigure44-5 and Figure44-6.
Figure44-5 East Seismic: All LoadsPlan
Figure44-6 East Seismic: All LoadsPlan[METRIC]
8 Doubleclick theLineLoadtool ( ) andintheDefault
LineLoadPropertiesdialog box:
Set Fy to-12.8kip/ft[-174 kN/m].
Click OK.
9 Draw alineloadby snappingtothewall intersection
points, asshown inFigure44-7 and Figure44-8.
10Doubleclick theLineLoadtool ( ) andintheDefault
LineLoadPropertiesdialog box:
Set Fy to(+)12.8kip/ft [(+)174kN/m].
Click OK.
11Draw alineloadby snappingtothewall intersection
points, asshown inFigure44-7 and Figure44-8.
Figure44-7 East Seismic: All LoadsPlan(secondset)
Figure44-8 East Seismic: All LoadsPlan(secondset) [METRIC]
Note: Theseismicloadsareapproximationsfor a five-
storeybuilding. Theload elevationistheaveragefloor
height (thirdstorey).
Note: Theloadsinthey-directioncancel thecoupleabout
themat centroid.
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289 RAM Concept
Chapter 44
44.4 Create the design strips
Design stripsareanessential part of RAM Concept
becausethey link finiteelement analysis withconcrete
design. Their propertiesincludereinforcement bar sizes,
cover, andparametersthat Concept usestodetermine
whichcoderulesareapplicablefor section design. There
aretwodirections calledLatitudeandLongitude.
Draw latitude design strips:
1 ChooseLayers>DesignStrip>LatitudeDesignSpans
Plan.
2 Doubleclick theSpanSegment tool ( ).
3 TheDefault SpanProperties dialogbox opens totheStrip
Generationproperties.
Set ColumnStripWidthCalc toCodeSlab(thisis
thedefault for theAS3600template).
Click theGeneral tab.
Uncheck theConsider as Post-Tensionedbox.
Click theColumnStriptab.
ChangeCSTopBar and CSBottomBar to #8
[N25for AS3600; T25for BS8110].
ChangeCSTopCover and CSBottomCover to2
inches[50mm].
Set theMin. Reinforcement LocationtoTension
Face.
Click theMiddleStrip tab.
Check theMiddleStrip usesColumnStrip
Properties box.
Click OK.
4 Click theGenerateSpanstool ( ), or chooseProcess>
GenerateSpans.
5 TheGenerateSpansdialogbox openswithSpansto
Generateset toLatitude(asshowninFigure44-9).
6 Click OK.
Figure44-9 Generatespansdialogbox
Thespan segmentsappear inthelatitudedirection.
Figure44-10 DesignStrip: LatitudeDesignSpansPlan.
Choosingspansegmentsinamat isasubjectivematter.
Concept usesimperfect algorithms that do not always
produceacceptablespansegmentsand spansegmentstrips.
It isrecommendedthat somespansegmentsinthistutorial
aredeleted.
7 With theSelectiontool ( ), select thesevenspan
segmentshighlightedin red inFigure44-10and press
Delete.
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Generate the latitude strips:
1 Click theGenerateStripstool ( ), or chooseProcess>
GenerateStrips.
Thedesignstrips appear inthelatitudedirection.
Hatch the strips:
1 ChooseView >VisibleObjects( ).
TheVisibleObjectsdialogbox will appear.
2 Check Hatchingunder LatitudeSpanSegment Strips, and
click OK.
Note: You canalso right clicktoseea popupmenuthat
includes theVisibleObjectscommand.
Figure44-11 Latitudedesignstrips(withhatchingturnedon). Someedit-
ingisnowrequired.
Twospansegments areslightly skewed. How you treat
skewedstripsisalso asubjectivematter, but in thistutorial
we suggest the span segment strips cross sections are
manually reoriented.
Edit the cross section orientation:
1 With theSelectiontool ( ), select spansegments 5-2
and6-2 asshowninFigure44-11.
2 Click theOrient SpanCrossSectiontool ( ).
3 TurnonSnapOrthogonal ( ).
4 Click near oneof thespansegments, andthenagain
aboveor below thefirst click.
Theorientation linehalf way alongthespanstripisnow
vertical.
Regenerate the latitude span strips:
1 Click theGenerateStripstool ( ), or chooseProcess>
GenerateStrips.
Figure44-12 Latitudedesignstripsafter editingandregeneration.
Draw longitude design strips:
1 ChooseLayers>DesignStrips>LongitudeDesign
SpansPlan.
2 ChooseView >VisibleObjects ( ).
3 Click theDrawingImport tab.
4 Click Show All, andthenclick OK.
5 Doubleclick theSpanSegment tool ( ).
6 Click theColumnStriptab.
7 ChangeCSTopCover and CSBottomCover to 3inches
[75mm], and click OK.
8 Click theGenerateSpanstool ( ), or chooseProcess>
GenerateSpans.
9 IntheGenerateSpans dialogbox:
Set SpanstoGeneratetoLongitude.
Click the up-down orientation button tool ( ).
Click OK.
10Thespans appear inthelongitudedirection, as shownin
Figure44-13.
Similar to thelatitudedirection, someeditingof thespan
segmentsisrequired.
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291 RAM Concept
Chapter 44
Figure44-13 DesignStrip: LongitudeDesignSpansPlan.
11With theSelectiontool ( ), select thespan segments
over thewalls (highlightedinred inFigure44-13) andpress
Delete.
12TurnonSnaptoIntersection( ).
13With theSpan Segmenttool ( ), draw aspansegment
by clickingat thewall intersections at point A andB in
Figure44-14.
14ChooseEdit >SelectionProperties, or right-click and
chooseSelectionProperties.
15Inthedialogbox, change:
MinNumber of Divisionsto0.
MaxDivisionSpacingto30feet [10m], and click OK.
Thisspansegmenthasbeendrawn toassist with Concepts
span segment stripwidth calculation.
16TurnonSnapOrthogonal ( ) andSnap Nearest
SnapablePoint ( ).
17With theSpan Segmenttool ( ), draw aspansegment
by clickingat thewall intersectionat point B andthenat
point C inFigure44-14(it shouldsnaptothevisiblegrid
line).
18ChooseEdit >SelectionProperties, or right-click and
chooseSelectionProperties.
19Inthedialogbox:
Uncheck Detect SupportsAutomatically.
Uncheck Consider End2asSupport.
ChangeSupportWidthat End1to12inches[300mm],
andclick OK.
Figure44-14 Manuallydrawnspansegments
Generate the longitude strips:
1 Click theGenerateStripstool ( ), or chooseProcess>
GenerateStrips.
Thedesignstripsappear inthelongitudedirection.
Twospansegmentsareslightly skewed. Wesuggest the
span segment strips cross sections are manually
reoriented.
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Chapter 44
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Figure44-15 Longitudedesignstrips(withhatchingturnedon). Someed-
itingisnowrequired.
Edit the cross section orientation:
1 With theSelectiontool ( ), select spansegments 9-3
and12-1asshownin Figure44-15.
2 Click theOrient SpanCrossSectiontool ( ).
3 Click near oneof thespansegments, andthenagaintothe
left or rightof first click.
Theorientation linehalf way alongthespanstrip is now
horizontal.
Regenerate the longitude span strips:
1 Click theGenerateStripstool ( ), or chooseProcess>
GenerateStrips.
Figure44-16 Longitudedesignstripsafter editingandregeneration
Note: Manyof thelatitudeandlongitudedesignstrips
(span segment strips) havedifferent widthseither sideof a
column. Youcouldrationalizethesestrips suchthatthey
havesimilar widthsat thecolumn, especiallythecanti-
levers. Seethediscussion inDefining strip boundaries
manually on page 88of Chapter 21, Defining Design
Strips. Inparticular, Example21-2onpage88and
Example21-4onpage90.
Check for punching shear:
1 ChooseLayers>DesignStrip>PunchingChecksPlan.
2 Doubleclick thePunchingShear Check tool ( ).
3 IntheDefault PunchingShear Check Properties dialog
box:
ChangeCover toCGSto 3inches[60mm] (cover
to centroidof topreinforcement).
Click OK.
4 Fencetheslab withthePunchingShear Check tool.
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293 RAM Concept
Chapter 44
Figure44-17 DesignStrip: PunchingChecksPlan.
44.5 Regenerate the mesh
Thepresenceof designstripscansignificantly improvethe
regularity of thefiniteelement mesh. Werecommendthat
onceyouhavecompletedthedesignstrips, you regenerate
themesh.
Regenerate the mesh:
1 Click GenerateMesh( ).
2 Enter Element Sizeof 2feet [0.7m] andclick Generate.
Thereisnow abetter mesh. View themesh ontheElement:
StandardPlan.
Figure44-18 Element: StandardPlanafter regeneration.
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44.6 Calculate and view the results
After you runthemodel, youcanview theresultsof the
analysisanddesign calculations.
Review Calc Options:
1 Choose>Criteria>Calc Options
2 Review theoptions.
3 Uncheck Auto-stabilize structurein x- andy-direc-
tions, and click OK.
Note: SeeGeneral options on page 126of Chapter 27
for moreinformation.
Calculate:
Click Calc All ( ), or chooseProcess >Calc All.
Look at reinforcement and design status:
1 ChooseLayers>Design Status>Total StatusPlan.
This showsOK for all designstripsandpunchingchecks.
This meansthat therearenoviolations of codelimitsfor
ductility, one-way shear, andpunching shear. Notethat
statusdoesnot flag excessivedeflections.
Figure44-19 DesignStatus: StatusPlan.
Therearepunchingshear statusresultsat eachcolumn.
Youcanseethesemoreeasily onthededicated punching
plan.
2 ChooseLayers >DesignStatus>PunchingShear Status
Plan.
Concept has noted Non-standard section at the corner
columnlocations.
Non-standard Section is a warning, not anerror. What it
meansisthat at leastoneof thecritical sectionsthat
Concept isinvestigating for that columndoesnot perfectly
fit oneof thethreeACI 318-02 cases: interior, edgeand
corner. Concept still calculatesastress ratio for non-
standard sections. Refer to Non-Standard Sections: ACI
318 on page 135 of Chapter 28 for more information.
Figure44-20 DesignStatus: PunchingShear StatusPlan.
3 ChooseLayers>Design Status>Total Reinforcement
Plan.
Thisshows all thecode-determinedreinforcement for each
of thedesign strips. Theresultsare, however, toocongested
tobeuseful. YoucanaccessplansintheDesignStatus
layer that separatereinforcement accordingto: face(topor
bottom), direction(latitudeor longitude), and type(flexural
or shear). You shoulddecidewhich plans best convey the
results without toomuchclutter.
View Specific Reinforcement:
1 ChooseLayers>Design Status>LatitudeBottom
Reinforcement Plan.
2 ChooseView >VisibleObjects ( ).
TheVisibleObjectsdialogbox will appear.
3 Check Bar Spacingsunder LatitudeSpanDesigns, and
click OK.
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295 RAM Concept
Chapter 44
Figure44-21 DesignStatus: LatitudeBottomReinforcement Plan.
44.6.1 Bearing stresses
Maximumbearingstressis acritical considerationwhen
designingamat. Contour plotsof thebearingstressesare
availableinRAM Concept. Thesewill vary accordingto
theloadcombination. Notethat theminimumand
maximumbearingvaluesoftenoccur for different load
combinations.
TheSoil BearingDesign ruleset envelopesthemaximum
andminimumbearingpressuresfor all loadcombinations.
Themaximumbearingpressureplanisprobably themost
useful for your design.
View bearing stress plans:
1 ChooseLayers>LoadCombinations >ServiceLC >
Soil BearingPressurePlan.
Figure44-22 ServiceLC: Soil BearingPressurePlan.
2 ChooseLayers>RuleSet Designs>Soil BearingDesign
>Max Soil Bearing PressurePlan.
Figure44-23 Soil BearingDesign: MaxSoil BearingPressurePlan
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