RAM CONNECTION - Manual PDF

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RAM Connection V8i

Release 5.5
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2009 Edition
Manual
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TRN011920-1/0001
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TRADEMARKS
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1996 2009 Adobe Systems Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. Adobe and Flash are either
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documentation. Any unauthorized copy or reproduction is strictly prohibited and subject to civil and
criminal penalties. Please refer to the License Agreement for authorization to make a backup copy of
the software. You may not sell or give this software or any documentation to anyone without a
previous written authorization.
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warranties, expressed or implied, including but not limited to implied warranties of 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 users satisfaction. The
contents of these written materials may include technical inaccuracies or typographical errors and
may be revised without prior notice.
TRADEMARK NOTICE
RAM Advanse and RAM Connection are registered or nonregistered trademarks of Bentley Systems,
Inc. or Bentley Software, Inc. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.
COPYRIGHT NOTICE
2009, Bentley Systems, Incorporated. All Rights Reserved.
Including software, file formats, and audiovisual displays; may only be used pursuant to applicable
software license agreement; contains confidential and proprietary information of Bentley Systems,
Incorporated and/or third parties which is protected by copyright and trade secret law and may not be
provided or otherwise made available without proper authorization.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
TRADEMARKS......................................................................................................................3
DISCLAIMER.........................................................................................................................3
INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................7
How to learn RAM Connection? ....................................................................................................................7
New features....................................................................................................................................................7
Interface: ...................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Design: ......................................................................................................................................................................... 7
CHAPTER 1: GENERAL OVERVIEW ...................................................................................9
Design in RAM Connection............................................................................................................................9
Units available in RAM Connection ..............................................................................................................9
Customizing the interface............................................................................................................................10
RAM Connection (RA, RSS)....................................................................................................................11
Main Window ............................................................................................................................................................ 11
Zoom and rotation...................................................................................................................................................... 13
Panning ...................................................................................................................................................................... 14
Selecting members, nodes and connections ............................................................................................................... 15
Selecting and hiding elements.................................................................................................................................... 16
Other basic operations................................................................................................................................................ 17
Undo Command..................................................................................................................................................... 17
Fill the column with the value of the cursor.......................................................................................................... 17
Copy/Cut or Paste information to or from the spreadsheet................................................................................... 17
Press (Cut the selected block to the Clipboard) or (Ctrl + X) ..................................................................... 17
Press (Paste the Clipboard information to the cursor location) (Ctrl + V).................................................. 17
Reassign numbers to selected connections............................................................................................................ 17
Connections worksheet .............................................................................................................................................. 17
Connection groups (by description) ........................................................................................................................... 18
Load cases and combinations..................................................................................................................................... 20
Display of data and results ......................................................................................................................................... 22
CHAPTER 2: CONNECTIONS ............................................................................................25
What is a Connection? .................................................................................................................................25
How to find technical information about a specific connection?............................................................25
How to Use RAM Connection? ....................................................................................................................26
Use of RAM Connection in RAM Advanse or RAM SS ..................................................................................... 26
Grouped Connections............................................................................................................................................ 26
Individual Connections.......................................................................................................................................... 26
Designing Connections.......................................................................................................................................... 26
Inclination angles of members (Skew and Slope) ...................................................................................................... 36
HSS Section Supports ................................................................................................................................................ 40
Design Criteria ..............................................................................................................................................41
Design criteria for RA and RAM SS .................................................................................................................... 41
Suggested steps for bracing connection design.......................................................................................................... 46
Seismic provisions for connections............................................................................................................................ 47
The Connection Database............................................................................................................................50
Database Organization ............................................................................................................................................... 50
Defining Connections ................................................................................................................................................ 54
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Databases for sections, materials, bolts and welds .....................................................................................................59
Connection Toolbar...................................................................................................................................... 60
Connection Toolbar in RAM Connection for RA and RAM SS...........................................................................61
Group1: Selection options (connections and joints) ..............................................................................................61
Group2: Result display options..............................................................................................................................63
Group3: Design and Assignment settings ..............................................................................................................64
Group4: Groups of Connection Assignment Buttons.............................................................................................65
Customizing the toolbar..............................................................................................................................................65
Connection Worksheet ................................................................................................................................ 68
Assigning connections to the model using the worksheet.....................................................................................68
Assign selected connection template to model .......................................................................................................68
Replace (all) the current selected connection (s)...................................................................................................70
Assign connection description ...............................................................................................................................70
Deleting model connections..................................................................................................................................70
Connection Pad ............................................................................................................................................ 70
1: Properties area ........................................................................................................................................................71
2: Drawing area ..........................................................................................................................................................72
Font Size ................................................................................................................................................................74
DXF files................................................................................................................................................................74
Print graphics ........................................................................................................................................................74
Panning..................................................................................................................................................................74
3: Help area.................................................................................................................................................................74
Connections Reports ................................................................................................................................... 75
References .................................................................................................................................................... 77
CHAPTER 3: CONNECTIONS EXAMPLE FOR RC-RA .................................................... 79
1) Retrieve the structure .............................................................................................................................. 79
2) Assign basic connections to the model ................................................................................................ 80
3) Create a connection template ................................................................................................................. 88
4) Edit the templates to be used ................................................................................................................. 91
5) Create a connection database ................................................................................................................ 92
6) Configure the toolbar ............................................................................................................................... 95
7) Assign smart connections to the model................................................................................................ 97
CHAPTER 4: CONNECTIONS EXAMPLE FOR RC-RSS .................................................. 99
1) Run RAM Connection .............................................................................................................................. 99
2) Assign basic connections to the model .............................................................................................. 100
3) Create a connection template ............................................................................................................... 107
4) Edit the templates to be used ............................................................................................................... 110
5) Create a connection database .............................................................................................................. 112
6) Configure the toolbar ............................................................................................................................. 115
7) Assign smart connections to the model.............................................................................................. 117
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Introduction
Introduction
Welcome to RAM Connection, a powerful and flexible engineering software for the design of steel
connections.
This program provides unequaled flexibility for the design of different types of shear, moment,
bracing and splice connections. It is based upon the provisions of the ANSI/AISC 360-05 for Steel
Design Specifications and considers mainly W and HSS shapes.
You can call the program after RAM Structural System or RAM Advanse and use automatically the
results of the analysis and design of members.
The connection design can also be customized to adhere to your typical office standards.
How to learn RAM Connection?

This manual provides an outline of RAM Connection. In order to address the different applications of
the program, the manual includes some examples at the end.
It is recommended to read the first two chapters of the manual before using the program.
New features
This section describes the features added in the latest release of RAM Connection. More detailed
descriptions of these features will be found in the corresponding chapters of the manual or in the Help
context.
Interface:
A new tool was implemented for the addition and creation of connections in the standalone
mode. Now, the user can define all the required data of a connection in a single step.
Design:
AISC Seismic provisions according to ANSI/AISC 341-05, ANSI/AISC 358-05 and FEMA 350-
2000 have been incorporated.
The program considers:
Material Specifications (Table I-6-1). Only the specified materials can be used in the seismic
connections
Calculation of the probable peak moment (Mpr) at hinge location (Section 3.2.4)
Estimation of the shear demand at plastic hinge (Vp).
Calculation of the critical flexural demand (Mc and/or Mf).
Panel zone calculations
Special requirements for the connections (continuity plates, geometry restrictions, etc)
The following pre-qualified connections are considered:
Reduced Beam Section (RBS) (Special procedure for DW connections)
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Introduction
Welded unreinforced flange (DW) bolted shear connection (WUF-B).

Welded unreinforced flange (DW) welded shear connection (WUF-W).
Welded or bolted FP connections (WFP, BFP).
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Chapter 1: General Overview

The purpose of this chapter is to illustrate the basic commands required to use RAM Connection .
Many of these commands are illustrated in the example in the last chapter.
RAM Connection (for RAM Advanse and RAM Structural) uses a constant philosophy in the way all
of its commands (actions) are applied to elements in a model. Specifically, the user has to select the
desired elements (nodes, members, connections or shells) of the structure and once they are selected,
the engineer can then apply any command that will only affect those elements. This select and apply
rule is a fundamental feature of the program.
All the provided tools for entering or generating data, together with the display and printing options
adhere to this select and apply principle.
Design in RAM Connection

Connections can be designed by one of these three methods in RAM Connection (RC) and RAM
Connection Standalone (RCSA) programs. The first method could be called a "trial and error"
procedure. In this method the engineer defines a database of different connections (note that many
connections are already supplied with the program itself), assigning one to the joint and the program
will indicate if it is suitable for the joint. The engineer can then manually either assign another
connection, or adjust the first connection he/she assigned. The second method would be to have the
program search through a list of the database connections to find the first one in the list that works for
the joint (geometry and forces). The third method is similar to the second but rather than search
through a predefined list the program will assign a single smart connection to the joint. These three
methods provide the engineer with complete control over the design of their individual connections.
Units available in RAM Connection

The units will be imported from the RAM SS model. However, the user can change the unit system
used for reports and graphics.
To define the units press the button or go to the Applications Menu Bar select the units option.
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Units configuration window.

Besides the unit system configuration, the program allows a more detailed unit configuration for
variable groups as lengths, section dimensions, etc. The buttons US Customary, Standard SI and
Standard Metric are pre-set configurations that the user may use.
The main unit system can be changed from the Units toolbar. Press and select the required
units system
Customizing the interface

The user can customize the position and visibility of all toolbars according to the requirements.
To display the toolbar manage window execute the menu option View/Toolbars :
Show/hide toolbars window

To move a toolbar to a given position, drag it with the mouse (keeping the left button pressed).
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Once all the toolbars are in their final position, you may save the actual desktop configuration with
the option Save desktop... This way, you may create many desktop configurations that can be restored
later.
RAM Connection (RA, RSS)

Main Window
RAM Connection has a main window, which is displayed below with all of the individual work areas
identified.
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For RAM Connection
Loads toolbar
Selection toolbar
View toolbar
Panel toolbar
Forces toolbar
Rendering toolbar 3D
Loads toolbar
The button for seismic design is available for LRFD and ASD design codes. Clicking this button,
a window is displayed in order to select the acting factored gravity combination.
The button for the use of RAM Frame Steel load Combination.
For RAM Connection RC the following tools are available.
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Zoom and rotation

The following toolbars are used to zoom, change perspective, font size, rotate and edit the view of the
model.
The following toolbars are used to zoom, change perspective, font size, rotate and edit the view of the
model.
Visualization and Cursor toolbars to define the view of the model.
If you have a mouse wheel you can use it to rotate and zoom in or out the model instead of the former
tool bars
Mouse wheel is equivalent to b or

Ctrl + mouse wheel is equivalent to or
Shift + mouse wheel is equivalent to or
Ctrl + Shift + mouse wheel is equivalent to or
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Ctrl + W (or mouse wheel double click) is equivalent to .

.- See the Help Context (shortcuts) for more details about mouse operation or key shortcuts.
Notice that you can modify the rotation increment for each rotation command in the
Configuration/General/View rotation increment option of the main menu.
Notice that you have an indicator (on lower right part) that tells you how the global axes XYZ are
orientated
To reset the view to its default position, press the middle button .
To enlarge a picture, press the button (zoom in).
To reduce a picture, press the button (zoom out).
To zoom in on an area of the structure, press the window zoom button (zoom with a fence).
Hold down the left button of the mouse and drag a rectangle around the area you want to zoom.
To reset the drawing to the default size keeping the rotation position, press the button (reset the
size). The structure will fit in the screen.
The user may change the perspective of the drawing with the perspective track bar in the
Visualization toolbar. The perspective button may take one of two positions: (draw with
perspective) and (draw without perspective).
Hint: To save a specific model view to reload it later, you may use the Views toolbar .
Panning
Click the right button at the point on the structure that you want centered on the screen.
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Clicking with the right button of your mouse will move the center of the screen to that point.
Selecting members, nodes and connections

To select a member, click on it and it will be highlighted, indicating that has been selected. Do the
same to select a node. The same applies to connections, which are represented in the graphic with the
symbol.
When you click on an element (member, shell or connection), the previously selected elements are
unselected. Pressing the Shift key, the user can select (or unselect) several elements without affecting
the previously selected ones.
You can select multiple elements by enclosing them in a rectangle created by clicking and dragging
the mouse from one corner to the other. In this case, pressing the Shift key enables the selection of
the elements within the area without affecting the selection condition of the elements outside the area.
Using this technique only the elements fully enclosed by the area are selected. That is, in the case of
members, both nodes have to be enclosed in the rectangle.
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.- If you press the Ctrl key instead of the Shift key while you are selecting members, all the
elements fully or partially covered by the area will be selected.
Selecting and hiding elements

The Selection toolbar has many tools to select and show/hide elements.
To hide parts of your model you can perform the following steps:
1. Select what you want to view. (unselect the other elements)
2. Press the button . To view the whole model, press the same button again.
Press the button or CTRL+A to select all the members, nodes, connections and shells.
Press the button to de-select all the previously selected members, connections, nodes and shells.
To invert the selected elements press , the selected elements will be unselected and not previously
selected elements will be selected automatically.
To select the members between 2 nodes, first select the nodes and then press the button.
To select all the members in a straight line, select one member in the desired line and then press the
button.
Selection of members in line example.

In the menu Tools, there are other selection and de-selection features that you can use:
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Other basic operations

Undo Command
If you have accidentally performed an action, you can normally undo it by pressing the button
located at the bottom of the spreadsheet. If you press the button again, the previous command will be
undone and so on.
Fill the column with the value of the cursor

To fill the current spreadsheet column with the value at the cursor, set the cursor in the desired place
and press .
Copy/Cut or Paste information to or from the spreadsheet
Press (Copy the selected block to the Clipboard) or (Ctrl + C)

This command copies the values of the marked block in the clipboard to be used in another part of the
spreadsheet, in another spreadsheet or to be exported to another program like Excel, Word, etc.
Press (Cut the selected block to the Clipboard) or (Ctrl + X)

This command moves a block of the spreadsheet to another location, including other programs like
Excel, Word, etc.
Press (Paste the Clipboard information to the cursor location) (Ctrl + V)

This command pastes the previously copied data of the clipboard. This allows the engineer to import
data generated in other programs.
Reassign numbers to selected connections

This command allows reordering the number of the currently selected connections, starting at a
specified value. It is located in the lower part of the connection spreadsheet. This command is useful
to avoid missing numbers due to erased connections.
Connections worksheet
The Connections worksheet has the following tools:
Replace the current selected connection: Click this tool button to replace one of the model
connections displayed (at cursor position) in the connection spreadsheet with the currently selected
template in the template window. Note that the template name or any other item of the data bases can
not be manually entered.
Replace all the current selected connections: Click this tool button to replace all the model
connections displayed in the connection spreadsheet with the currently selected template in the
template window.
Assign selected specific connection to model: select (all) the members and nodes where you
want to define the same connection. Click this tool button to assign the selected connection in the
available connection window (database). The program will only assign connections where it is
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possible. For example, you can select all the members in the model and select a beam-to-flange
connection to assign, and it will be applied only where it is appropriate (i.e. a beam attaches to a
column flange).
Assign CONN+1 Description: click this tool button to assign the same description to the
currently selected connections. Note that when connections have been designed by group, have
already received a description automatically (assignment button plus a number).
Delete selected connection: This button will delete only the selected connections even if
members, shells and nodes are also selected.
You can press F1 to display the Help context or click on the icon, which has useful information
on: 1) The connections data to be introduced in the worksheets and 2) The use of the tool buttons to
generate the data.
Help context window.
Connection groups (by description)

Connection description is used to identify the design groups and the program assigns it automatically
when connections have been assigned by group.
The program allows to modify or assign descriptions manually, however, description manage should
be made carefully. It is recommended the use of the tool (assigns description:
CNN1,CNN2,...,CNNn) only with single connections, i.e. assigned from the spreadsheet with the
tool.
Note that the members description is imported from RAM SS and can not be edited in RAM
Connection.
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For example, to select all roof beams of the model shown in the figure above, select one instance of
the members and then press the button in the Selection toolbar. The program will select all
members with the same Description(s) of the previously selected members.
To simultaneously select several groups select one member of each group using the Shift key
and then press the button.
You can select any connection by entering its number in the green column (Connection
column) of the worksheet and pressing ENTER.
All the current data in a worksheet may be cleared using the button. This tool button does
not erase the related elements.
To select connections with the same template, select a connection with the desired template:
Click on the name of the connection (in the worksheet):
Press the button located at the bottom of the worksheet. All the connections with the same
template will be displayed in the graphic and also in the worksheet:
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If you want to select equal connections, select one instance of the connection and press the
button in the connection toolbar. Note that this button selects equal connections, namely connections
with equal family, type and connected members (same section and material). Therefore, connections
with different descriptions can be shown simultaneously in the graphic and the worksheet, if they are
equal.
Load cases and combinations
This figure shows the toolbar area used to import, create, delete, edit and select load conditions
(RAM Connection refers to both load cases and load combinations as load conditions).
This panel allows you to:
Create new load combinations.
Edit the load combinations (previously created in RAM Connection).
Clear load combinations.

Select the current load case or combination for the display of loads
You can select a load case or combination just clicking on the desired item:
Note that the limit of the number of load cases in RAM Connection is 200.
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RAM Connection imports all the steel lateral and gravity load cases generated in RAM SS.
The load combinations are imported when the button is pressed. When using LRFD or
ASD design codes the option for seismic design is able .
Warning! The connections on gravity members will have zero loads for load combinations that
include lateral load cases.
It is also possible to generate a combination based on the imported loads with the load combination
generator:
To define new load combinations go to the main menu and select the Loads/Load combinations
option.
A dialog window will appear where you can enter the new combinations or you can retrieve a file
containing the required combinations. If you press OK, the load combinations will be generated.
The load case categories will define the generation and they will be imported and defined in RAM SS
(see the RAM SS documentation for more details). The available categories are DL for dead loads,
LL for live loads, LAT for lateral loads, WIND for winds, EQ for earthquake loads, DYN for
dynamic loads and OTHER for other type of loads. Note that you can save or retrieve your file for
use in any model.
Window for the generation of load combinations.

The formulae have to be organized in the following order:
1. Mathematics symbols (+, -).
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2. The reserved words AND or OR followed always by a space. Note that the rest of the
components of the formulae may or may not be separated by spaces.
3. A factor which may be any real number.
4. The name of the desired category. (These must be valid symbols that are to be associated with
the individual load cases).
5. Steps 1 4 are repeated as required.
6. Special commentary lines are also allowed if they start with "//"
Note that the reserved word AND is used to show that each load combination to be generated has to
include ALL the load cases that belong to the specified category, while the reserved word OR is used
to generate different load combinations for each load case of the specified category.
Display of data and results

RAM Connection can show almost all data and results in a graphical way. This is controlled through
the Model Properties, Loads and Rendering toolbars:
Press the button with the desired option to display it or unselect it to hide the option.
A tool tip for the button will be displayed if you hover with the cursor over the desired button.
Press to view the coordinates of the selected nodes.
Press to view the number of the selected nodes.
Press to view the number of the selected members.
Press to view the number or ID of the selected connections.
Press to view the hinges of the selected members (only shear connections can be assigned to these
joints).
Press to view the sections of the selected members.
Press to view the materials of the selected members.
Press to view the description of the selected elements (members, connections or shells).
Press to see the model in 3-D with members contracted. Connections will be drawn in 3-D.
Press to see the model in 3-D. Connections will be drawn in 3-D.

Press to display the shear force acting on the selected connections for the current load condition
Press to display the bending moment (around local axis 3-3) of the selected connections for the
current load condition.
Press to display the axial force of the selected connections for the current load condition.
Notice that the previous forces (shear, moment and axial) are displayed ONLY for the current load
condition. To se the envelopes of the different forces press along with one of the previous buttons
( , or )
The connection toolbar has also some tools for the display of data and/or results:
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displays the selected connections in colors, according to their description.
displays the main design characteristics of the connections defined in the macros or connection
pad (tags).
Press to graphically display the template name of the connections.
To graphically display the capacity ratio and status of the selected connections, press the button.
Notice that this option will consider ONLY the current load condition. If you want to consider the
load envelope for the design load conditions, press the button.
The following button at the top right of the main window unselects all the display option buttons.
Press the button in Units toolbar to view the units w
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Chapter 2: Steel Connections
Chapter 2: Connections
RAM Connection allows the user to rapidly design, optimize or verify connections. The connection
module may work integrated into RAM Advanse or RAM Structural System, automatically utilizing
member dimensions and forces in the connection designs.
Connections are designed and verified according to Manual of Steel Construction AISC 13th edition
that gathers both LRFD and ASD codes.
In this chapter we first define what is considered to be a Connection within the context of RAM
Connection. We then proceed to directly show you How To Use the program. Following this section
we describe in more detail the features of RAM Connection including the Connection Database,
Connection Assignment/Optimization, Connection Output and how to Customize your Environment
and connection designs. It is recommended that you read at least the first two sections of this chapter
to help you understand how the connection module works.
What is a Connection?
RAM Connection defines a Single Connection as all the parameters that completely define the
quantities and dimensions of the pieces that make up a connection. It includes the information related
to the Connection Family (beam-to-column flange, beam-to-column web, beam-girder, etc), the type
of connection (shear, moment, bracing, splice or combined), as well as the number of bolts, size of
bolts, welds, geometry and material of the connecting pieces etc.
Before a connection can actually exist, there needs to be a connection template with the connection
characteristics, from which to assign to your connection in the worksheet or structure. All connection
templates are defined in the Connection Database that is accessible from the menu option
Configuration/Databases/Connections. RAM Connection installs with an extensive pre-defined
database of templates.
To get you productive on RAM Connection we will proceed directly to the section on How To Use
RAM Connection. For this section we will use the installed connection database and the default
Connection toolbar. Following this section we will describe in more detail some of the features of
RAM Connection, including how to customize the Connection toolbar.
If you will work with Ram Advanse or RAM SS, it is recommended that the structure be analyzed
with final member sizes specified before connections are assigned to joints. Both member forces and
sizes are utilized to design the connections. However, if member sizes and forces change after the
connections are designed, they (the connections) can easily be redesigned.
How to find technical information about a specific connection?

When you are entering or reviewing the different parameters of a connection you can go to the help
context where you will find a detailed description of the data and checks that are performed for each
connection type. At the end of this chapter the list of the main references used in the development of
the program is given where the user can find more information.
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How to Use RAM Connection?

RAM Connection is designed to give you extensive flexibility in the way you design and manage
your connections. However, it is also set up to allow you to get productive without requiring
significant work on your part. As you gain experience with RAM Connection you can customize the
behavior to better suit your working practice.
Use of RAM Connection in RAM Advanse or RAM SS

If you have a RAM Connection License and the program is not active in RAM Advanse please
see the Installation Manual.
In general, connections are typically designed either in groups or individually.
Grouped Connections
Grouped connections are connections on several different joints that are to be designed with the same
connection template. For all the joints with identical member sizes the resulting connections will be
identical (same bolts number, plate sizes etc.). As the connections typically have some ability to
adapt to the geometry of the connecting pieces, joints with different size members or material may
produce slightly different connections. Designing connections in a group allows you to minimize the
number of unique connection designs on a structure. The engineer has control as to which joints are
to be grouped together.
Only connections of the same family (beam-to-column flange, or beam-to-girder etc.) and same type
(shear, moment or bracing connections) can be grouped together.
Remark: All grouped connections will have the same description, even though some connections
could be different.
Individual Connections
Individual connections are designed for the forces and member sizes at a specific joint. No
consideration is given to any other joint force or connection design. This allows for each connection
to be designed for its own forces and geometry, providing the most efficient use of material. The
engineer can still find out which connections end up being identical even when they were designed
individually.
The connections can be designed in a group or one by one. The assignment procedure (from the
connection toolbar) consists of having the program select the first connection template, from a user
customizable list of connections, which satisfies the joint forces and geometric conditions. This
assignment procedure permits the optimization of assigned connections by placing the connections in
order of increasing strength the optimum connection for the applied forces will be selected.
Therefore, the assignment lists should be created keeping in mind that the list order will determine
which connection is selected at a particular location. The use and customization of the Connection
Toolbar will be explained in detail in the following sections.
It may be preferable to initially design all connections individually, and then use some of the
available connection selection tools to determine how you would like to group your connections.
Designing Connections
Important Note: The connection design and the inclination angles are based on the assumption that
the beam local axis 2 is coincident with the global positive Y Axis (upwards). The inversion of this
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axis (downwards) will lead in some cases to incorrect connections or the inversion of results i.e. top
plate will be bottom plate.
1) Before connections are designed the user should configure the Connection Design criteria. To
establish connection design criteria click on the menu command Configuration/ Connections and
choose the Design Configuration option.
Dialog window to configure the connections design

The user may choose the maximum allowable strength ratio that will be used in the design of
connections. The default and typical value is 1.0. It is important to note that a value other than 1.0
will affect not only the design; it will affect also the code check and the determination of the status of
the connection. The load conditions to be used in the design can also be selected in this window. All
load conditions are selected by default.
2) Select the design state button to indicate the upcoming design will be performed individually (each
connection is based only on its own forces), or unselect it if you want all the selected joints grouped
for design.
Depress state button to design the connections individually

3) Select the members and nodes you would like connections designed for. If you selected to group
connections (in the previous step) all selected joints of the same family type will be grouped (one
design for all joints with same member sizes and inclination angles), so the selection is important.
There are many tools available to assist you in selecting joints. One option is to use the menu
command Tools/Select Joints to select joints from a common family out of the currently selected
members.
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Joint selection options.

Another option is to manually select each joint. The following table shows the elements that should
be selected for each type of joint:
Joint type Elements to select
Beam column flange joints Beam + node
Beam column web joints Beam + node
Beam girder joints Beam + node
Beam beam splice joints (Right) Beam + node
Column- column splice joints (Bottom) Column +
node
Continuous beam over column Column + node
joints
Column beam braces joints Column + node
Continuous beam braces joints Beam + node
Vertical X-braces joints Braces + node
Note that for the case of brackets, you should select the related beam (usually a cantilever beam) and
column. The beam will be used to pass the loads to the bracket.
Select the members and nodes for which connections are to be designed.
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4) Select the connections group button. You can activate by default the Smart Connections ,
Basic Connections or gussets for braces . Finally the connection type should be selected.
Types of connections according to the selected group.

5) From the connection toolbar select the connection (i.e. shear plate, bolted end plate, etc.) that is to
be assigned for the selected joints.
The program will automatically determine the family (beam to column flange, beam to column web,
beam to girder, etc) of the joint and will apply the corresponding templates. If assigned by group,
each connection will automatically be given a description (assignment button's name) that identifies
the design group, it will also be given the template name used in its generation, and a tag that
contains the designed features of each connection (the plate size, bolt dimensions etc). The use of the
tag will be explained later.
For example, if the double angle, shear connection is selected to assign
Press the Double Angle ( ) button
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The double angle shear connection will automatically be designed at the selected joints.
Naming Convention
The following connection naming convention has been adopted:
<Connection Type Connection Family -Connection Characteristic Design Parameter>
Smart Connection example: DA BCF Weld support Bolt beam
Basic Connection example: DA_BCF_L 3x3x1/4_3B3/4
Connection types
CA = Shear angle(s)
SP = Shear single plate
EP = Shear end plate
SS = Stiffened seated connection
US = Unstiffened seated connection
TEE = Shear tee
TP = Through plate (only HSS supports)
BP = Bent plate(s)
DW = Directly welded moment connection
EEP = Extended end plate
FP = Flange plates
MA = moment angles
MT = Moment tees
CP = Cap plate
4A = Four angles beam splice
PBr = Plate bracket
TBr = Tee bracket
Remark: Bracing connections will have combined connection types, i.e. CA for the gusset to column
connection, directly welded for the gusset to beam connections, etc.
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Connection families
BCF = Beam - Column flange
BCW = Beam - Column web
BG = Beam - Girder
BS = Beam splice
CS = Column splice
CC = Continuous beam over column
CBB = Column, beams and braces
CVR = Chevron braces
VXB = Vertical X braces
Remark: In the detailed connection reports, all the capacity values calculated to evaluate the strength
ratio and the status of the connections are included. Any supplemental verification required is the
responsibility of the engineer.
Connection characteristics
bolted = all-bolted connection
welded = all-welded connection
Bolt support = bolted to support
Weld support = welded to support
Bolt beam = bolted to the beam
Weld beam = welded to the beam
n = number of bolts
l = connector length
Press the button to graphically display the number and template's name of the selected
connections.
6) You can combine shear connections with moment connections when the combination is possible.
For example press the buttons (Double Angle) and then the (Flange Plate) to get the
combined connection of a flange plated moment connection with a double angle shear. This will be
shown on the screen on the joint as follows:
Shear and moment connection assigned to a joint.

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Note that when the connections are drawn in low-resolution (wire) mode, the shear connection is
drawn under the line of the beam and the moment connection is drawn above the beam line. These
positions are assuming that the direction of the local beam axis 2 is vertical upwards.
If a bracing connection is adopted, no other connection is allowed in the same plane. The bracing
connection has all the options to combine any arrangement of beams and braces. The only condition
is to adopt a maximum number of one brace per quadrant. In this case the low-resolution connection
draw will be placed over the related node.
Bracing connection assigned to a joint

7) To view the results of the connection designs on the screen press the button of the toolbar. The
capacity ratio and status of the current load condition will be displayed for all selected connections.
A shear connection displaying its capacity ratio and status for the current load condition
Note that the capacity ratio may be different for the different selected connections because the loads
acting on them are different but the connections are identical.
If you want to consider the envelope of all load conditions, press the button.
Connection capacity and status for the envelope of all load conditions
To draw connections in extruded (3D) form, press the extruded shape button ( ) or the shrink
extruded shape button ( ).
Three-dimensional view of a double-angle shear connection.

Notice that the true dimensional characteristics of the connections are shown (plate length, bolts, etc).
8) To view the designs Double-Click on the connection to view the Connection Pad
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Before the connection pad is displayed, the program will show the dialog box Loads specification for
report that will ask you if you want to consider the forces envelope, critical forces or all the load
conditions forces separately in the connection Pad.
Loads specification dialog window.

When a group connection is designed, it uses a conservative envelope of forces for each design set of
joints of the group, for more details see the Design Criteria section later. If you want to see the design
envelope of forces, it can be displayed for each design set of joints. To do so select the required
connection and then press on the toolbar and go to Detailing/Connections..., in the Loads
specification for report dialog, select the option Envelope forces. If the forces dialog is inactive, turn
it on from Configuration/ Connections/ Show "Loads specification for report" dialog box.
More information on the connection pad is found in the following sections of this chapter.
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Connection Pad to edit and check connections.
9) To view a detailed design report select the button
10) To view the connection geometry report select the button

11) A detailed or summary report for connection groups is available by selecting all the desired
connections and selecting the Reports/Connections design... option in the main menu.
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Connections reports dialog window.

You can generate a report organized by family, connection type, description, tag, etc.
Notice also that you can have a list of the joints and their connections with the option Reports//List of
joints
It is very useful to know the joints that need to be designed and the ones that have already assigned
connections.
12) If you modify a member size, structure geometry or loads, you will need to redesign your
connections by clicking on the redesign button in the connection toolbar. The command will act
on the selected connections and will preserve the previously defined groups and connection types.
Note that for grouped connections the redesign will be based on the description of the connections
(connections with the same description are grouped).
Hint: To enable or disable the display of the descriptions, press the button in the Model
properties toolbar.
13) To select all connections in a single group, click on one connection in the group and click , or
click to color all the groups individually (up to 9 unique groups can be colored, all connections
that are designed individually are given the same color (white).
As you can see getting connection designs is quick and easy, however, there is significant flexibility
in exactly how connections are assigned and designed. The following sections describe in more detail
the features that were used above.
Notes:
If the strength ratio is less than the limit specified by the engineer, but the status of the
connection is N.G. (because of some geometric requirement is not satisfied or the members
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compatibility does not comply), the connection drawing could be incorrect. In this case the
capacity verifications are not valid anymore and the calculation assumptions are incorrect
Besides the geometry verification and members compatibility made by the program, the
engineer should verify that the geometry of the designed connections is appropriate. The 3D
and 2D graphics can be used as a tool to verify the connections appropriateness. An example
of such a situation is when the beam flange width is wider than the column internal space in a
BCW connection or when there are beams with depths larger than the girder depths they
frame into. In these cases the program does not display any error message, but the connection
drawings will clearly show this incompatibility. The user could specify special copes in these
cases and may independently verify some additional connection capacities, so that the
connection could still be OK.
When the beam axial load is taken into account for shear connections the program also
verifies the flexural and prying action capacities of some connection elements. This may lead
to the use of thicker plates or the reduction of bolt gages. In this particular case and in all
cases in general, the connection calculations required to guarantee the required ductility
prescribed by the code are the responsibility of the engineer.
After connections assignment or after the re-design of groups of connections, it is strongly
recommended to verify the design status of the resultant connections. A useful tool for this
purpose is the that allows the selection of all structure connections that are O.K. or
N.G. respectively, and it is activated after pressing either status display button (for the
current load case) or (for the load envelope).

Some shear connections such as the TEE, BP, US, TP and SS does not allow axial forces,
therefore, the engineer should verify that the applied connections are able to transfer all the
forces between members.
Inclination angles of members (Skew and Slope)

Many of the connections allow beam inclination angles, either horizontal and/or vertical. The list of
the connections that allow inclination angles are as follows:
Connection Family Inclination angles
Horizontal Vertical Both
CA BCF Yes Yes Yes
Clip (shear) BCW Yes Yes Yes
Angle/s
BG Yes Yes Yes
SP BCF Yes Yes Yes
Shear Plate BCW Yes Yes Yes
BG Yes Yes Yes
BS No No No
CS No No No
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EP BCF Yes Yes Yes

End Plate BCW Yes Yes Yes
BG Yes Yes Yes
SS BCF No No No
Stiffened BCW No No No
Shr
US BCF No No No
Unstiffened BCW No No No
Shr
TEE BCF No No No
Shear Tee BCW No No No
BG No No No
TP BCF No No No
Through BCW No No No
Plate
BP BCF Yes No No
Bent Plate BCW Yes No No
BG Yes No No
DW BCF Yes Yes No
Direct Weld BCW Yes Yes No
EEP BCF Yes Yes No
Ext. End BCW Yes Yes No
Plate
FP BCF Yes Yes Yes
Flange BCW Yes Yes No
Plate
BG Yes No No
BS No No No
CS No No No
MA BCF No No No
Moment
Angles
MT BCF No No No
Moment
Tee
CP CC No No No
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Cap Plate
4A BS No No No
Four
Angles
Splice
PBr BCW No No No
Plate
Bracket
TBr BCF No No No
Tee Bracket
Bracing CBB No No No
connections CVR
beams
Bracing CBB, CVR, No Yes (20-70) No
connections VXB
braces
The CA connection has a 15 skew limit imposed by the code. Each BP template connection has the
skew angle limits specified in the connection pad.
Remark: For a correct calculation and graphic representation of the connections, the beam local
axis 2 must be coincident with the global Y positive axis (upwards).
The inclination angles are considered as follows:
Skew angle for BCF and BCW families,
The skew angle in degrees is defined over a horizontal plane defined between the local axis of the
support and the beam longitudinal axis. Counterclockwise angles are considered positive. Its default
value is 0 (rectangular joint).
Slope angle for BCF and BCW families,
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The slope angle in degrees is defined over a vertical plane defined between the local axis of the
support and the beam longitudinal axis. Upward angles are considered positive. Its default value is 0
(rectangular joint).
For braces:
Remarks:
The components of the beam forces (moment, axial, shear) transmitted to the support vary
according to the inclination angles. When only a skew angle exists, the beam forces are
conservatively assumed to remain the same, that is to say, it is considered as rectangular joint.
When only slope angle exists, the beam forces are decomposed over the support axis. When
skew and slope angles exist, it is treated as if only the slope angle would exist. It is the
engineer responsibility to verify in each case the additional required capacity verifications due
to the inclination angles.
The maximum angle at which a connection will automatically be considered a beam-column
web as opposed to a beam-column flange connection must be defined. This limit is currently
assumed to be 44 from the support face (BCF) or from the support side (BCW). When a
connection should be assigned with an angle larger than this limit, it can be assigned either
with the worksheet tools or by changing the members geometry temporarily to assign
the connection. The worksheet tools should be applied over an existing connection. They
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could apply even a BCF connection over a BCW connection, so you will have a BCF
connection with a skew angle greater than 44.
To differentiate between sloped beams and diagonals, the user should identify the braces with
the option located in the worksheet Members\Nodes and Description\Braces. If this flag is
enabled the program will assume that the member is a brace. Otherwise (default option), it
will consider it as a sloped beam.
The maximum slope angle allowed for members is 30. Members with bigger vertical
inclination angles are not considered for the connection assignment.
HSS Section Supports

The connections that accept HSS section supports include some specific and other modified capacity
verifications in reference to I shape supports.
The following connections allow square or rectangular HSS supports:
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Connection Family Characteristics

to beam to support
CA BCF,BCW bolted/welded welded
SP BCF,BCW bolted welded
TP BCF,BCW bolted welded
TEE BCF,BCW bolted/welded welded
US BCF,BCW bolted/welded welded
SS BCF,BCW bolted/welded welded
DW BCF,BCW welded welded
EEP BCF,BCW welded bolted (to HSS)
welded(to Doubler)
FP (or BCF, BCW bolted/welded welded
diaphragm
plate)
Bracing CBB Bolted (CA, SP), welded
/welded
The following connections allow circular HSS supports:

Connection Family Characteristics
to beam to support
SP BCF,BCW bolted welded
TP BCF,BCW bolted welded
Design Criteria
It is important for the user to know exactly how the design process with the connection toolbar is
performed. Each assignment button in the toolbar (either from the Smart Connections or Basic
Connections group) is associated with a list of one or more connection templates.
Design criteria for RA and RAM SS

When assigning by group, and the connection template is assigned (after joints are selected) the
program will check the templates in the order of the list. As soon as it finds a connection template
that complies with the strength requirements and geometrical conditions of all the appropriate joint
sets (joints of the same family with identical geometry and inclination angles - see the joint grouping
graphic below), it will be assigned. Note that the order of the list will give the hierarchy and
preference for the connection assignment. If no connection meets all the requirements, the last
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checked connection in the list would be assigned even if it does not satisfy the force or geometric
conditions for all the joint sets.
The user has to be aware that the design may not always be successful, and the program will display a
message if the assignment has not been successful. The user should always check the obtained results
to correct or reject the assigned connections that are not acceptable (status = N.G. or ratio>max ratio
defined by the user).
Any database connection template may be included in the list of an assignment button. When an
assignment button is applied to the model, the resultant connections are based on one of the specified
connection templates, but the model connection itself is stored with the structure and is not linked to
the template after assignment.
Either the assignment method is by group or individually, the resultant connections receive the name
of the template used for design. If the assignment was by group, the connections will receive also as a
description the name of the assignment button.
It should be noted that the resultant connections of Smart Connections buttons, might have
differences in the resisting elements (number of bolts, size and thickness of some pieces) between
assignment joint sets.
For moment connections this criterion may not always be conservative, therefore, for these
connections the program is considering four different combination of forces (maximum moment with
maximum and minimum axial, and minimum moment with maximum and minimum axial). In this
way the design is covering the worst possible combination of forces in a conservative way.
The following drawing shows schematically how the selected model joints are grouped when
assigning connections by group.
Joint grouping when the connections are assigned by group.

The design of the shear connections by group considers the load envelope of all the joints on a given
assignment set. The beam axial force is not taken into account in the shear connections, and it is
assumed to be taken by a moment connection when the beam moment value is relevant. As it was
stated in the "Inclination angles of members" section, the beam loads are decomposed over the
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support axis, taking into account only the slope angle, and in this case, the design loads are the result
of the most adverse load combination.
Some shear connections such as the SP, accept positive and negative shear loads (reported always as
positive values), as the connection is symmetric. However, other connections such as SS or US do not
allow negative shear loads.
The design of the moment connections by group considers the four different combinations of forces
(maximum moment with maximum and minimum axial load, and minimum moment with maximum
and minimum axial load). In this way the design is conservatively covering the worst possible
combination of forces.
The load envelope ratio for shear and moment connections could be bigger than the worst load
condition stress ratio due to the envelope calculation method, particularly when the axial load and
slope angle are relevant.
The joint loads considered for connection design, are only those shown in the connection pad. Joint
loads as the M22 bending moment and torsional moment are not considered nor checked in any way
during connection design and calculation.
The next flowchart describes schematically the design procedure that is followed when the
connections are designed in groups:
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Thus the connections design configuration should be executed in two parts:

The definition of the templates to be used.
The configuration of the different assignment buttons of the toolbar, defining the template
lists that will be included in each assignment button.
Remarks:
The shear connections assigned to joints where the moment is bigger than a minimum value,
will only take the shear force and not the axial force, as it is assumed that the required
moment connection will take the axial force.
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The bracing connections where the geometry is imposed (it is not automatically calculated)
and/or a load is specified in one connector may generate moments in the gusset-to-column or
gusset-to beam connections. These moments should be transmitted only by directly welded
connections. Single plates or clip angles are not allowed to deal with moments and an error
message will be displayed in this case.
The connection assignation will be effective only in the joints where the range check of the
connection variables is fulfilled. For example, the range for the skew and slope angles,
member section types, etc. If after the connection assignation a variable is modified, and it is
out of the valid range, the connection is invalidated and it does not allow reporting data or
results and it is not displayed. In the connections reports, such connections will be displayed
with a Not Designed status.
The next sections explain all the program characteristics as the Templates Database, Connection
Toolbar, Connection Worksheet and Connection Output. Notice that the Database and the Connection
Toolbar can be customized according to your requirements for connection design.
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Suggested steps for bracing connection design
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Seismic provisions for connections

The connection designs for structures under seismic loads implement the specifications and
requirements of ANSI/AISC 341-05 and ANSI/AISC 358-05.
The program includes prequalified connections from the Recommended Seismic design criteria for
new steel moment-frame buildings FEMA 530 each prequalified connection is limited to specific
conditions for which they are prequalified, including size of the elements, grade of the material, and
other details of the connection.
The prequalified connections that are included in the program are:
Directly welded connections:
Welded Unreinforced Flanges, Bolted Web (WUF-B)
Welded Unreinforced Flanges, Welded Web (WUF-W)
Reduced Beam Section (RBS)
Flange Plate Connections
Welded Flange Plate (WFP)
Bolted Flange Plate (BFP)
Extended End Plate Moment Connections (EEP)
The method includes calculates the requirements and loads that are applied at each connection and
design the connections with the strength of the critical sections.
The location of the plastic hinge for prequalified connections is valid for beams with limited gravity
loads. If the gravity loads have a significant value then a plastic analysis of the frame should be
performed to determine the hinge locations. The excess of the gravity demand can shift the locations
of the plastic hinges and even change the form of the collapse mechanism.
The probable plastic moment in the plastic hinge should be determined with the following equation:
Ry= Ratio between expected yield strength and specific yield strength
Ze= Plastic modulus of the section at the location of the plastic hinge
CPR=Factor to account for the peak connection strength, including strain hardening, local restraint.
Fy= Specific yield strength of the material.
According to AISC, the formulation used can be 1.1RyMp; where Ry is the coefficient applied to the
beams for seismic provisions and Mp is the probable moment at the plastic hinge, to determine the
plastic moment capacity of the beam. However, for most connection types, the peak moment
developed is somewhat higher than 1.1 factors; therefore, the factor Cpr is used for individual
connections, with a default minimum value of 1.2. The program will take the greatest value between
the minimum (1.2) and the resultant of the equation (3-2 FEMA350).
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Solicitations at critical sections

Determine the shear at the plastic hinge considering the gravity loads that are applied to the beam. To
complete the design of the connections, it must be determined the shear and the flexure strength
demands at each critical section. The moments are taken at two important critical sections: at column
face and at the center line of the column. These sections are used to check strong-column-weak-beam
and panel zone shear conditions.
The moment at the column face is determined with the following equation:
Where Cy is:
Cpr= Peak connection strength coefficient.

Sb= Elastic section modulus of the beam at the zone of plastic hinging.
Zbe= the effective plastic section modulus of the beam at the zone of plastic hinging.
Other important conditions for the connections design include: beam requirements (Beam flange
stability, size and span effects, thickness of the flange, requirements for welded joints, bolted joints),
strength at the panel zone, system type (OMF, IMF, SMF).
Moment-resisting connections should be proportioned either so that shear yielding of the panel zone
initiates at the same time as flexural yielding of the beam elements connections or so that all yielding
occurs in the beam. The thickness of the panel zone that results in simultaneous yielding of the panel
zone and beam results from the equation:
;
tmin= Thickness of column web or doubler plate, in.
dz= Panel zone depth between continuity plates, in.
wz= Panel zone width between column flanges, in.
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Where the column is found inadequate to resist the imposed loads, a web plate (doubler) and/or
stiffeners will be designed. A valid joint should have a column with an I-section with one or two I-
section beams attached to the flanges. Otherwise, no checks are performed. The required shear
strength Vu of the connection shall be determined using the load combination 1.2D+0.5L+0.2S.
When designing gusset connections, it can be chosen a concentrically braced frame system (OCBF or
SCBF) in order to include the necessary requirements in the design to anticipate limited inelastic
deformation (OCBF) or significant inelastic deformation (SCBF) in the connection. When the brace
(W, L, HSS rectangular, HSS circular, etc.) is in tension, the brace section can be reinforced with
plates to increase the effective net area to account for shear lag effect.
For OCBF and SCBF the required tensile and compressive strength of the brace are considered as
demands for the connection capacities according to sections 13.3 and 14.4 of the AISC Seismic
Provisions of Structural Steel Building (i.e. AISC 341-05)
The next table shows a resume of the design codes, seismic codes and seismic prequalifications
adopted for each connection in RAM Connection.
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The Connection Database

RAM Connection ships with an extensive collection of pre-defined connections templates. The
engineer is free to add, remove or modify connections from this provided list of connections.
Database Organization
Each connection in the database is categorized according to the family to which it belongs. RAM
Connection currently offers engineers the following families of connections; each connection is given
one of these designations:
1. Beam - Column Flange (BCF)
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2. Beam - Column Web (BCW)

3. Beam Girder (BG)
4. Beam Splice (BS)
5. Column Splice (CS)
6. Continuous beam over column (CC)
7. Column, beams and braces (CBB)
8. Chevron braces (CVR)
9. Vertical X braces (VXB)
To view all the connections that are installed on your computer, execute the menu option
Configuration/Databases/Connections... command as illustrated below:
Go to Databases/Connections
The window that is displayed is the connection-database window.

Each connection template in the database can be considered a Basic or a Smart connection.
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Basic Connection: A connection template that can automatically adjust the geometry (position or
dimensions) of the connection pieces to fit the connection members. It does not calculate the quantity
or dimensions of the connecting pieces (bolts, plates etc) to resist the applied forces.
Smart Connection: A connection template that can automatically calculate the quantity and
dimensions of the connecting pieces (bolts, welds, plate sizes etc) to resist the applied forces.
Within each folder is a list of single connection templates. Two templates with the same name are not
allowed, even in different folders. It is the engineers prerogative how to group templates within a
folder. The folder name should be used as an organizational tool to assist you in grouping
connections according to your own practice. The connection templates that are installed with RAM
Connection are grouped in two main groups (Smart and Basic connections) and subdivided according
to function (Shear, Moment or Bracing) and type (Shear plate, end plate etc). This classification
keeps the shear, moment and bracing connections separate. However, the engineer can also create
folders where the bracing, moment and shear connection templates are in one folder and even in one
connection template (combined connection template, only for moment and shear connections).
The smart connections folders contain a single connection for each family and connection type, but
each of these connections contains the intelligence to design some of its own properties based on the
forces (this is the characteristic that makes them Smart) and members to which it is assigned. In
fact, these are the connection templates assigned to the default connection toolbar that was used in the
previous How To section. The Basic connections templates adjust the dimensions and location of
the connection pieces according to the joint members. Once again it should be noticed that this
organizational structure (separating the smart connection templates from the other connection
templates) is not significant in terms of how RAM Connection works. However, before creating your
own connection database think about how you want to organize the data, it will make it easier to
locate the connections you want to consider for design.
It is very important to note that in the case of Smart Connections, while some of the connection
parameters are designed based on the required forces, others may be designed according to geometry.
If a smart connection template does not design the connection the way you would typically like, you
may create copies of the smart connection with variations on the parameter that you want designed.
For example, the default Smart DA does not design your bolts size, the default size is inch and if
the bolts fail they will not be increased in size. To handle this situation create 3 copies of the smart
connection template (using the database command Copy the selected object ), each with its own
bolt dimension (5/8, , 7/8) then put all these connection templates in the list of the appropriate
assignment button (see customizing the toolbar) and the first one that works for the selected joint
group will be assigned.
The following smart connection templates are included in the program. Note that the items that are
optimized in each template are listed, if an item is not listed then there is a default value associated
with the connection that you can modify as required to suit your requirements:
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Type of Family and Description Optimization of the following

connections parameters
(Folder name)
Smart DA BCF, BCW, BG double angle number of bolts for bolted
connections connections, weld size for
welded connections and
angle size
Smart DA Beam BS double angle bolted connections number of bolts and angle
splice size
Smart SP BCF, BCW, BG, single plate angle number of bolts, plate size.
connections weld size to support
Smart SP Beam BS single plate angle connections number of bolts, plate size
splice
Smart EP BCF, BCW, BG end plate connections number of bolts, plate size.
weld size to beam for bolted
connections and plate size
and welds sizes for welded
connections
Smart ST BCF, BG shear tee connections tee size, number of bolts for
bolted and weld size for
welded connections
Smart SS BCF, BCW stiffened seated bolts rows , weld size and
connections, type SST, SSP, SS2L connector size
Smart US BCF, BCW unstiffened seated angle size bolts rows or weld
connections size
Smart DW BCF, BCW, BG directly welded extended plate size for BCW
connections connections
Smart FP BCF, BCW, BG bolted flange plate bolts rows, distances between
connections bolts, top and bottom plate
thickness, weld size to
support
Smart FP BCF, BCW, BG welded flange plate welds sizes, top and bottom
connections plate sizes
Smart EEP BCF extended end plate connections bolts sizes, pf , bolts spacing,
plate size
Smart MA BCF bolted moment angle bolt rows and angle size
Smart Gussets CBB, CVR VXB connections See the following table for
details
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Gusset Gusset-to-Brace Gusset-to-Beam or Column
All For W and For L, T2L, Directly Single Double

WT C, I2C y HSS Welded Plate Angles
sections sections
Le, Le1 and Number of Weld length Required Required Number of
Le2 distances bolts on (toe and heel) weld size weld size bolts on
to let the claw if it is support if
gusset be angles welded it is bolted
compatible
Number of Number of Number Number of
with the
bolts on bolts if it is of bolts bolts on
connectors
splice bolted beam/gusset
geometry
plates if it is
bolted
Plate Support weld
thickness size if it is
welded
Beam/gusset
weld size if
it is welded
Basic connection templates are organized in different folders with the following naming convention:
Basic + {Connections type initials} + {connection family} + {connection characteristics}.
The connection template name thus reflects the relevant characteristics of the connection.
Remark: The folders where the Connection Database, and the Toolbar are located could be
configured, by choosing any required directory, even a network directory. To do this, select the
option Configuration/Genera/Default folders... For details please see the dialog help context.
Directories configuration
Defining Connections
The steps to define a connection template and add it to the connection database are discussed next.
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Proceed to the database from Configuration/Databases/Connections...
Press New group button (top of the toolbar)
Enter a name for the New folder where you are going to define your connections.
Press New item to define a new connection template.

Note: if you want to enter a new connection in an existing folder, place the cursor in the folder where
you want to insert the connection. The program will not allow you to enter a connection unless there
are available folders (groups) already defined and selected. The following window will appear:
Enter a descriptive name for the template. The name is used to identify the template and has to be
unique in the whole database.
Then choose if you want to define a simple or a combined connection.
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A simple connection is comprised of either a shear or a moment connection. A combined connection

is comprised of both a shear and a moment connection type. For example, the extended end plate
connection is considered a combined connection.
Select family, Shear Connection and Moment Connection for a combined connection, and press OK.
Or Select the family and the connection type for a simple connection
(1) Family: describes the type of joint, beam-to-girder, beam-to-column-flange, etc. The 9 available
families in the list are:
1. Beam - Column Flange
2. Beam - Column Web
3. Beam - Girder
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4. Beam Splice
5. Column Splice
6. Continuous beam over column
7. Column, beams and braces
8. Chevron braces
9. Vertical X braces
(2) Connection type: For simple connections only the corresponding list (Shear, Moment or Gusset)
will be displayed (2), and for combined connections both connection lists will be displayed (2a and
2b). The drop down list will contain all the available connections depending on the selected family;
for example, shear web plates are available only in Beam Splice or Column Splice families.
(3) OK: To finish the connection template definition, press the OK button. The corresponding
connection pad to enter/edit all the connection data will be displayed.
After pressing the OK button the connection pad is displayed. The DATABASE window title indicate
we are creating a connection template for the database.
Note: To create a connection similar to an existing connection, you can use the Copy button. Place
the cursor at the connection that you want to copy and press the button and the program will ask
you for the new connection name.
You also have the following tools to manage the database:
Create a new template folder
Create a new template

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Edit the current template
Delete the current template or folder (with all its templates)
Rename the current template or folder
Move the current folder or template one position up
Move the current folder or template one position down
Export to the clipboard all the templates of the current folder
Import the templates from the clipboard
Order alphabetically all folders
Order alphabetically all connections of the selected folder

If you want to create multiple connections that are similar except for one or few parameters (number
of anchors, or size of plates etc) then it may be preferable to use the ability to generate connections in
Excel as illustrated below.
1) Select the folder you want copied to Excel.
2) As illustrated above, press the button Copy to clipboard. Open Excel and paste the information
in a worksheet
In Excel you will see the templates and its variables names. Each template data corresponds to one
table row.
3) In Excel modify the desired data. REMEMBER to name the connections uniquely (maintain the
folder name at the beginning of the name).
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4) Then select ALL the information and copy the data to the clipboard (Ctrl+C)
5) In RAM Connection paste the connection templates into the database by pressing the indicated
paste button.
The new connection templates will be imported.

Note: The process to import several connection templates may take some time.
Databases for sections, materials, bolts and welds

The program already comes with the most common types of bolts, welds, materials and sections. In
the case of materials and sections of members, if the current members materials or sections do not
exist in the corresponding database, they can be defined in a very similar way as connections. When
used with RAM Advanse or RAM SS, materials and sections of members are extracted from the main
program. See the main program manual for further details.
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A dialog window will appear with the list of available items and the tool buttons to create, edit and
manage the database.
A new pad with the data related to the selected item will appear when you edit or create it.
Connection Toolbar
The connection toolbar helps in the design and management of connections. It is located on the right
side of the worksheet and it is comprised of different sections or groups of buttons classified
according to their function.
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Connection toolbar groups
Connection Toolbar in RAM Connection for RA and RAM SS

Group1: Selection options (connections and joints)
This first group of the connection toolbar is devoted for the selection of connections. Here the
frequently used commands for the selection of connections are assigned to the following buttons:
To select equal connections (all connection parameters as bolts, welds, members, inclination
angles, etc. are identical)
To select all connections of the model
To unselect all connections
To select all connections with the same tag (same designed elements)
The program offers many graphical ways for selecting model connections.
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You can click on the desired connection or you can drag around it with the mouse. To select multiple
connections, press Shift while clicking with the mouse on each connection.
You can click with the left button of the mouse over each desired connection.
You can make a fence over the desired connections clicking and dragging the mouse from one corner
to the other.
You can select groups of connections too, select an instance of the desired connection and go to
Tools/Connection Selection and choose the desired option.
Available options for the connection selection

If you want to select connections by description (remember that a design group has the same
description), select an instance of the desired connection and press in the Selection toolbar. All
connections in the model that share the same description will be selected.
Press to select all connections that are identical (in every parameter of the connection pad). Note
that all the connections that have exactly the same properties, even if they have different descriptions
and template names, will be selected. This tool is normally used to select the connections to be
detailed after with the command Detailing/Connections When using the connections detailer the
Connection Pad will consider all equal (selected) connections, in this way a change can be made to
multiple connections at one time.
Selecting joints:
Before assigning a connection to a joint, the members and node that make up the joint need to be
selected. You can find several options for the selection of joints in Tools/Select joints option.
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Available options for the joints selection.

Notice that you have a Special selection... option, which allows the selection of joints of a particular
family, with special characteristics as a determined range of beam heights and end conditions.
Special selection of joints. Notice that you can limit the selection by beam depth and beam end
conditions.
Another important option for joints selection is the command Select connection nodes and members
in Tools/Connection Selection. This tool is very useful if you want to change or modify the design of
a group of connections. The related members and nodes will be highlighted in the model. Then you
can erase the connections of the selected joints and/or proceed with a new design by pressing any
assignment button of the connection toolbar.
Note: The beam local axis 2 is supposed vertical. Other orientation would lead to nonsense
connections.
Group2: Result display options

The second group is devoted for the display tools:
It colors the selected connections by description.

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It displays the tag of the selected connections.
It displays graphically the number and template name of the selected connections.
It displays the strength ratio and status of the selected connections for the current load condition.
It displays the strength ratio and status of the selected connections for the load envelope.
When a smart connection template is assigned, certain parameters are designed automatically (plate
thickness, bolts, welds etc). The user can get quick visual feedback of the designed parameters by
pressing the button which displays a line summary (tag) with the value of the designed
parameters on the selected connections. For basic connections this button will show the connection
template name. Press to select all smart connections with the same designed elements
(expressed in the tag). This tool is useful when connections are designed individually, and the user
wants to find all the connections that have similar designs so as to assist in determining an
appropriate grouping of connections. Note that connections with the same tag could have different
connection data as for example the members sections.
Press the button to display graphically the number and template name of the selected
connections.
Display of the connection number and the template name (for smart connections).
To select connections by status, you have to first display the status and capacity ratio of the
connections using the (current load condition) or (envelope of load conditions) buttons of the
connection toolbar . This will enable the buttons at the top of the graphic screen. Press the
to select all the OK connections or press to select all the not good (N.G.) connections.
Group3: Design and Assignment settings

The third group of buttons is used in the design of connections. The available buttons are:
to specify if connection design on selected joints will be made by group (button lifted) or
individually (button depressed).
to assign the same description to the selected connections. Note that when the connections were
designed by group, they are automatically given a description consisting of the assign button name
plus a sequential number. The same description can be given to several connections to group them for
design purposes to ensure the same designs during assignment, but all must have been designed with
the same assignment button.
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to define the design criteria to be adopted, including the maximum allowable strength ratio and
load conditions to be considered. For details see the How to Use RAM Connection? section at the
beginning of this chapter.
to redesign connections. This tool is very useful when the model is re-analyzed due to changes in
model geometry, loads or member sections. In this case the program will redesign all the selected
connections considering the new loads and/or geometry of the model. This command is equivalent to
reassigning the connections to the joints in their original groups (same description).
This command performs the following actions in each design group:
1. Selection of their joints.
2. Deletion of the current connections.
3. Application of the original design button, which is equivalent to applying each template on
the button list.
Warning!
To maintain the original design criteria, the user has to select absolutely all the connections of the
original design groups. If the connections descriptions (groups) or the list of templates of the
assignment buttons were modified after the assignation, the user might get results different from the
original design, even if loads or members have not been changed.
Remark:
For individually designed connections, this command is equivalent to re-assign the original template.
Group4: Groups of Connection Assignment Buttons

The user can create its own groups of connection assignment buttons (see Customizing the toolbar
next). By selecting one of the group buttons ( ), the available assignment buttons will
be displayed. The engineer may choose to configure the shear, moment and bracing connections in
different groups or smart connections and basic connections in different groups.
Customizing the toolbar

It is important that the connection toolbar be configured according to your preferences. The
configuration of the toolbar determines the list of connection templates that will be associated with
the assignment buttons, and the order in which these connections will be attempted. To configure the
connection toolbar, go to the main menu, and select Configuration/Connections/Customize toolbar...
The configuration window will appear with the current configuration of the toolbar.
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Connection toolbar configuration window.

On the left pane of the window (1), you have all the available database templates, on the right (2) you
will find the group buttons and the assignment buttons that are defined for the toolbar and finally in
the middle (3), you have the tools to configure the toolbar.
The assignment buttons created in the Root folder will always be visible along with the group
buttons, therefore, it is recommended to include in this folder only the assignment buttons of frequent
use.
You can create a new group button with the button. You will be asked for the name of the new
group.
Dialog window asking the name of the new group.

To create a new assignment button, place the cursor where you want the new button to be placed.
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For example locate a new assignment button in the recently created group.
Then press the button and enter the name of the button.
Then go to the list of available connections of the database and choose the templates for the
button(1). Press the button to include the current template in the button list (2). Note that if you
have selected a folder of the database, all the connection templates of the folder will be assigned to
the button keeping the same order as the database (3).
Select the connection templates you want associated with the button My Button in the group My
Group.
It is very important to specify the order of the templates within a list because this order will be used
for the assignment. If you want to sort the templates use the buttons and to move the
selected template up or down.
You can also insert a separator between buttons with the tool or erase a button with the tool
.
Notice that all buttons that are created have by default the same bitmap. The user can define the
bitmap to be associated for each button with the button tool
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The bitmap has to be a bmp file of 22x22 pixels. You have several ready-to-use choices in the
SmartConn folder.
Notice that you can draw your own bmps with any drawing application like Microsoft Paint.
Connection Worksheet
The data of the currently selected connections is displayed in the connection worksheet. It is also
possible to use the connection worksheet to assign "single" connections or delete connections. A
single connection, unlike other model connections, has not been assigned by an assignment button.
Assigning connections to the model using the worksheet

Once connections templates have been created in the database, connections can be assigned using the
worksheet. Note that if assigned from the worksheet, the connections will always be designed
individually no matter if the design individually button in the toolbar is depressed or not.
Note: It is recommended to interact and verify the status of the single connections in the model
separately from the other model connections. This is because the redesign button (in the connections
toolbar) does not display warning messages for these connections when they are inadequate (NG).
The steps to assign single connections to a model are shown below. There is also a way to replace
existing connections that is explained below down.
Assign selected connection template to model
Select members and nodes where you want the connection designed. You can select several members
and nodes at once.
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In the worksheet database area select the desired connection template to be assigned. Press the
button to assign the template connection.
The single connections are assigned.

This command will only assign connections where it is possible. For example, you cannot assign a
column splice connection on a beam to girder joint. Trying to do so will have no effect and it will be
ignored (no message is displayed). Therefore, you can select indiscriminately a large group of
members and nodes and the connection will only be applied where that connection is possible.
If the user is going to assign a Beam to Girder connection, the girder must be defined in RAM
Advanse or RAM Structural System as a physical member; otherwise the Beam to Girder connection
will not be assigned.
When a new connection template is created it can be directly assigned to a joint with the assign
button of the worksheet. Otherwise, the connection toolbar has to be configured to consider the new
template in an assignment button. Therefore, one of the main functions of the assign button in
the worksheet is to test and assign recently created templates.
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Replace (all) the current selected connection (s)

This option allows you to replace one or all the model connections currently selected and displayed in
the connection spreadsheet.
In the worksheet select the desired connection template to replace. Press one of the buttons to
replace one or all of the selected model connections respectively.
This tool is very useful to replace existing connections with other connections of the same
family, because the user only needs to select the connections and not the members and the nodes.
Note that it is not possible to assign a template from another family.
Assign connection description

It is possible to modify or assign the descriptions of your model connections. However the engineer
should be aware that the description for these connections is used to identify the design groups and
will be used also for the redesign of connections (redesign tool of the connections toolbar). It is
recommended to only change the description when two or more identical groups/connections need to
be grouped together and designed as one new group. To assign the same description to the currently
selected connections you may copy them to the clipboard (Ctrl+C) and then paste them to all the
desired connections (Ctrl+V).
Another method to assign the same description (CNX1, CNX2, ..., CNXn) to the currently selected
connections (recommended only for single connections) is to apply the assign description button
from the worksheet or connections toolbar. Alternatively the engineer can type any description label
into the spreadsheet description column.
Deleting model connections.

To delete a connection of the model select it and press . This button will delete only the selected
connections even if members, shells and nodes are also selected.
If only connections have been selected, they can also be deleted with the worksheet tool button at
the end of the worksheet.
Note: The connection label (identification number) once assigned to a model connection does not
change, even if connections with lower value labels are deleted.
Connection Pad
The connection Pad is required for the creation of templates for the database and also to review/edit a
model connection, or many model connections with the connections detailer. It is accessed when any
template of the database is edited, when the user double clicks a model connection, or when several
identical model connections are selected and the detailing command is invoked from the main menu.
The connection pad has the following areas:
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Connection pad.
1) Properties area. Used to enter connection information.
2) Drawing area. Used to display the entered data in 3D or 2D.
3) Help area. Used to display information about the specific item selected in the properties area.
1: Properties area
In this section the user enters all the necessary data to define the connection template (or
reviews/modifies the properties of the selected model connections). The following connection data
should be provided: Units system, Code, Loads, Tag, and the all the specific data required in Shear,
Moment or connections.
The available units systems are Metric, English and SI. The available codes are ASD and LRFD. The
loads can be entered in a worksheet that enables only certain loads according to the selected
connection i.e., in a bracket plate connection, only shear load is allowed. Note that when editing
model connections, the joint loads are passed to the connection automatically.
Notes: All data with the icon (when editing model connections) is passed to the connection pad
directly from RAM Advanse or RAM Structural System. When creating a template ( icon), these
data are not required, as they will be modified for each model joint. When editing a model
connection, any change in this data will not be permanent, as they are updated every time a report or
graphical presentation is required.
Templates could be used with either ASD or LRFD code, enter the information for one or for both
options, as required.
Choose the unit system of your preference to enter and display the connection data.
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Notice that the current units of each property are shown beside their value. If you enter a value
without units, the currently shown units will be considered for the value. You may also enter a value
with its own units, which could be different from the current units system, in this case the program
will transform the entered value to the current units system.
The following length units are displayed according to the unit system selected. Metric: cm, m.
English: in, ft. SI: mm, m.
Note: All the connection properties with units, (as edge distances, plate length, etc.) will show their
value and will be edited according to the current units system. If you enter a property value with
small units, a dimension in centimeters for example, the default units when editing the property will
be cm, inches or mm, according to the current units system, on the other hand, if big units would have
been used (as meters or feet), the default units would be m, feet or m. Consider that this modification
is applied only to the template or model connection currently being modified.
For example (If the current units system is English):
Entering 1.5 in Setback means 1.5 inches
Entering 0.1 ft in Setback means 0.1 feet (the default unit becomes ft).
Notice that the program will allow you to enter, for example, 1.5 kip for a length. Although this is
accepted, the resulting value may not be the expected. Also, this will not change the units of the
property (in this case a length measure will not be changed to a force measure).
If you are creating a connection template in the database through the connection pad, the first time
the connection pad is displayed; it is filled with the default connection properties values. If you want
to see it drawn with some specific member sections (and materials) or if you want to get preliminary
or test reports, you should assign your required sections and materials.
2: Drawing area
In this part of the Connection Pad a true 3D or 2D visual representation of the selected connection is
shown.
Press to view the 3D model of the joint or press to view the 2D drawing of the joint at the
bottom part of the window. Notice that you can only see one representation at a time.
3D view of a Single Plate BCF.
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2D Drawing with different views and the option to export as a DXF file.
The following buttons are used to zoom and rotate the view of the connection:
Connection pad tools.
You may view the connection transparent (3D view),

To zoom, press one of the following buttons:
Zoom in.
Zoom out.
Zoom fence. Press this button and drag a fence around the area you want to zoom in on.
Fit in window. Press this button to return the currently displayed structure to the full window
space image.
If a mouse wheel is available , the engineer can use the wheel to rotate, zoom in or out.
First, make the drawing area active, you may do this with a right-click over the center of the drawing.
To zoom, use the mouse wheel. To rotate horizontally, use the Shift-mouse wheel combination. To
rotate vertically, in the plane perpendicular to the screen, use the Ctrl-mouse wheel combination. To
rotate vertically, in the screen plane, use the Ctrl-Shift-mouse wheel combination.
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Font Size
Increase the font size for the graphic in the screen.
Reduce the font size for the graphic in the screen.
DXF files
This module has the option to export graphics to DXF.
Press , name the file, and save it. The graphic will be available to open with any CAD program.
Activate and inactivate graphic layers.
Activate and inactivate edges movement. You can reposition the dim lines when this option is
enabled. Notice that the new positions are not saved and this should be done prior to printing or
exporting the drawing.
Print graphics
Print current graphic. This button allows you to print the graphics of the screen directly.
You can also print to a file if the button is pressed.
Panning
To pan (move the drawing across the screen), use the right mouse button to click on the location you
want to be centered on the screen.
3: Help area
In this section of the Connection Pad the help information related to the selected data in the
Properties area is displayed:
Click the button to return to the previous explanation of the help window.
Click the button to print the current explanation of the help window.
The Connection Pad also has a toolbar in the top part of the window, which has different functions:
Toolbar of the Connection Pad (when editing a model connection)
Click this button to save all the data entered or modified in the Connection Pad.
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Click this button to prevent from saving all the data that has been entered or modified in
the Connection Pad.
Push this button to display the Drawing area (3D view). Pull the button to hide it.
Push this button to display the Drawing area (2D view). Pull the button to hide it.
Push this button to display the Help area. Pull it to hide the Help area.
Click this button to see the connection data report.
Click this button to see the model connection results report.

Notice that you have a status traffic light at the bottom right of the toolbar. If the red light is on, it
shows that the status and strength ratio of the connection are no good. When the yellow light is on,
the strength ratio is OK but there is a design requirement not fulfilled and finally, if the green light is
on, the connection design status is OK.
Connections Reports
You can obtain connection reports from the Connection Pad or from the program main menu.
To obtain data or results reports from the Connection Pad, either you are reviewing/editing a
connection or creating/editing a connection template. You can press one of the following buttons:
or .
The data report provides the full description of the connection(s) considering the geometry and
characteristics of the members and connection elements.
The results report provides all the connection capacity values for each load condition or for the load
envelope depending on the option selected in the dialog Loads specification for report before the pad
was opened. At the beginning of the report there is a list of the load conditions considered. The
second section of the report checks that the critical dimensions are within allowable code prescribed
ranges or geometrical requirements. If a dimension is out of range, the status of the connection will
reflect it, invalidating the connection. There is also a geometric verification to see the compatibility
of the connection with the members (for example, this check will indicate if a plate exceeds the
support width) in which case a warning message will also be reported. The third section shows the
different capacity checks that are performed comparing the calculated capacity of the connection with
the connection required force. If any capacity is not sufficient, the status of the connection will
change to N.G. (not good). Finally, at the bottom of the report, the most critical strength ratio and the
status of the connection are reported.
RAM Connection for RA or RAM SS also offers the possibility to have detailed or summary
reports of several connections.
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To obtain model connection reports for a group of connections, select the desired connections and go
to Reports/Connections design
Select the type of report, summary or detailed. You can specify if the connections will be grouped by
tag, by type, by family, by description or connectors.
The Connectors report is a summary of all the connectors with their main characteristics (note that
the connections are grouped according to the listed parameters, so, within the connections of a group
there could be differences in the parameters not listed), while the rest of reports are a review of the
design that include the strength ratio and status considering the selected load conditions. The detailed
report always considers the connections load envelope of the selected load conditions.
Note that you have an option to report a list of joints.
Additionally, the user can print the 3D graphic area with the desired connections. To do this, choose
the desired graphic view. Go to File/Add text box...
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Enter the desired text that will be included in the graphics printing.
To print the actual view, execute the menu option File/Print... select the printer options and accept
printing.
References
The used references are:
ANSI/AISC 360-05 Manual of Steel Construction.
ANSI/AISC 341-05 Seismic Provisions for Structural Steel Buildings.
ANSI/AISC 358-05 Prequalified Connections for Special and Intermediate Steel Moment
Frames for Seismic Applications.
Federal Emergency Management Agency Recommended Seismic Design Criteria for New
Steel Moment-Frame Buildings, FEMA-350/June 2000.
Murray Thomas M., Extended End-Plate Moment Connections, Steel Design Guide Series 4
2nd edition, AISC, 2003.
Ellifritt Duane S. and Sputo Thomas, Design Criteria for Stiffened Seated Connections to
Column Webs, Proceedings of NSCC Sponsored by AISC, New Orleans, April, 1-3, 1998
J. H. Garret, JR. and R. L. Brockenbrough, Design Loads for Seated-beam in LRFD,
Engineering Journal, AISC, 1986.
Akbar R. Tamboli, Handbook of Structural Steel Connection Design and Details, McGraw
Hill, 1999
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Sherman, Donald R., Ales, Joseph M., The Design of Shear Tabs with Tubular Columns,
Master of Engineering Project, University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee, 1990.
Thornton, William A., Loescher Michael, AISC - Hollow Structural Sections Connections
Manual, American Institute of Steel Construction, 1997.
Bull Moose Tube HSS Connections Manual, Bull Moose Tube Company, 1999.
J.A. Packer, J.E. Henderson, Hollow Structural Section - Connections and Trusses - A Design
Guide, Canadian Institute of Steel Construction, 1997.
Sherman, D. R. and J. M Ales, 1991, The Design of Shear Tabs with Tubular Connections,
Proceedings of the 1991 National Steel Construction Conference, pp.1.1-1.22, AISC,
Chicago, IL.
Dowswell Bo, Connection Design for Steel Structures (Lecture Notes), Structural Design
Solutions, LLC, 2003.
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Chapter 3: Connections examples for RC-RA
Chapter 3: Connections example for RC-RA

This chapter will take you step by step through the design of steel connections. The structure to be
used in this chapter is only illustrative and is shown below:
It is a small steel building with steel columns, beams and girders.

See the previous examples for more details regarding to the generation and analysis of a structure.
The file of this example is available in the Data\Samples folder of RAM Advanse.
1) Retrieve the structure
Select the Open File command.
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Open Connections Example.
2) Assign basic connections to the model

RAM Advanse is shipped with ready-to-use connections templates called basic connections. You will
see in the following sections how you can customize them to your work practice. For the moment we
will work with the standard settings.
Remark: The example model comes already with connections. To erase all connections, select all the
structure (Press in Selection toolbar), display the connection worksheet (press in Panels
toolbar, select the Conn Tab ) and press in the
worksheet.
Note. - Previous start assigning the connections, the user should take care to make distinction
between inclined beams and braces in the worksheet to let the program assign the connections
correctly. For that:
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Select all the braces of the model, go to Connectivity and description of the tab Members in the
worksheet, and change No to Yes by making double click on the cell.
Once the user has done this distinction, he is ready to start assigning connections.
So, in order to start assigning connections the user needs to display the Connection Toolbar at the
right of his screen.
To display the connection toolbar, go to the menu View, Toolbars,
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Select the load conditions that will be considered in the design. Press the button (2) in
Connection toolbar and select all load conditions for the example.
Select all load conditions and keep a stress ratio limit of 1.0 (default value) for the connections
design.
In order to apply any command you have to use the 'select and apply rule'. So, first, select the whole
structure. Press in Selection toolbar (3).
Now you are ready to assign your first connections. As a first try you need to know exactly the
required connection on each joint. A recommended procedure is to design individually each joint and
evaluate the obtained connections.
Press the 'Design each connection individually' button in the connection toolbar (4). Then press
the Basic Connections button group (5) and select the Basic SP (Single Plate) connection
(6).
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Steps to assign smart single plate connections to the whole structure. Note that the toolbars position
is only a configuration possibility as the user could change position and activate/deactivate toolbars.
In few moments the program will suggest an optimum single plate connection for each joint of the
structure that can have a shear connection.
Model with all shear joints with a single plate connection.
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Press the button to see the template name of each connection, which includes the family. To
evaluate the different single plate connections required, select first one instance of the desired
connection family; in this case select a BCW connection.
Left-click on a SP-BCW connection

Go to Tools/Connection Selection and execute the command Select connections of the same family.
Press the button to see the main characteristics of each connection.
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Single
Plate BCW connections designed individually for each joint.
Note that there are connections that require 4 bolts while others require only 3 bolts. Lets suppose
that for construction we decide to adopt the same connection for all BCW connections.
Select all the structure (with ), lift up the button to design by group and press again the button
to assign single plate connections ( .) You can select the BCW connections and you will see that
all BCW connections are with 3 bolts (as expected). The other families have also 3 bolts. When you
design by group you can obtain the same connection for each family independently of the related
sections and materials of the joints.
You can check the status and strength ratio pressing the button for the critical load and for
the current load condition. Notice that a different ratio is shown for each connection.
Notice that you can select all connections that have an OK or N.G. status pressing one of the
following buttons. In this case all connections have an OK status.
You can print a summary report. Select all the structure and go to Reports/Connections Design and
select the option Group by tag. With this report you will obtain a summary of all adopted connections
with their main characteristics and the critical strength ratios.
For the example you have:
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Descriptio Fam Ty Tag ID Ratio Status

n ily pe
Basic SP BCW SP SP_BCW_1/4PL_3 46 1.16 NG

79 B3/4
Basic SP BCF SP_BCF_1/4PL_3 43 0.42 Ok
80 B3/4
Basic SP BG SP_BG_1/4PL_3B 69 0.42 ok
83 3/4
Now you can continue with the design of the moment connections.
Press to view all the hinges of the structure (you have to select previously all members). The
moment connections will be designed only for the fixed joints.
Select all the structure (with ), press the button to design individually and press the FP Bolted
button. To see the designed connections pick two samples of the FP connections (one
for BCW and one for BCF) and use the command Select all connections of the same type.
Flange plate connections individually designed.
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You can check the status and ratio of the connections (with or ) and also the main
characteristics (with ).
Next, you can continue with the design of the brace connections, for that, select all the structure
(with ), press the Gusset button and select CBB_DA (Column, Beams and Braces-Double
Angle) connection .
As you can see 6 CBB Connections were assigned.
Now you have finished the connection design. Notice that the task was performed very fast and in a
simple way. What you need to know now, is how to configure your connections design. This will be
shown in the next sections.
If you want to review in detail a connection or several connections of the same type and members,
select the, and go to the Modules/Connections option of the main menu. For example select the SP
BCF connections of the first floor (perimeter columns) and go to the detailing of connections.
Review all the data for the selected connections in the connection Pad. You can print the data or the
results reports by pressing or respectively.

You can edit any parameter of the connections. This is very useful when the design was not
successful in order to achieve an adequate connection. Notice, however, that any manual change will
be lost if the connections are redesigned or reassigned.
Now it is time to save your structure with all your connections. Press in Model toolbar.
What if the loads, geometry or any design condition change? No problem, you can redesign all or part
of your connections very fast. For example, select your FP BCW connections (tip: use the option
Select connections of the same type in the Tools/Connection selection menu). Press the button
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to change the connection configuration with a stress ratio limit of 0.80. Press the button to see
the status and ratio for the selected connections.
To change this press the redesign button ( ) in the toolbar. Note that the strength ratio for the
critical load is now under the new limit and that some connections have been modified to comply
with the new limit.
3) Create a connection template

Although RAM Advanse has by default several templates in the database, the user may want to
define new templates with all the specific characteristics required by the user practice.
It is always suggested to back up your connections database (file Connections.ini in the DB
folder of main directory) before generating or changing your templates.
To access to the connections database go to the main menu and select the
Configuration/Databases/Connections option:
A dialog window showing the available connections grouped in folders will appear:
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Create a new folder with the button. Enter a name for the new group of connections. For the
example you can adopt the "My SHR SP" group.
With the former folder selected, press the button to create a new connection. The following
window will be displayed
Enter the name, family and type of the desired template and press OK. In this case enter the options
shown in the figure.
Notice that the name of the template is used to identify the connection and has to be unique in the
whole database (including all folders). Thus you have to assign a name that describes the geometry
and main characteristics of the connection.
The following window will be displayed:
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You can review/change all the parameters of the template connection.

The following data are required: Loads, Tag name, Main Data and the specific data required in Shear
and/or Moment connections. For the units choose the English system.
For the case of the loads, notice that they are preceded with the or icon, which means that these
data will be transferred automatically to the connection from the main program. Therefore you can
leave this field with no entries.
Now you can enter the specific parameters for the connection. Note that the beam, support sections
and materials are also transferred from the main program and they are not required to be defined. The
default values shown are used only for the 3D drawing.
Notice also that you have to enter only the parameters that are different from the desired values and
are constant for all connections to be generated with the template.
For this case accept all the default values, pressing the OK button.
Any change that you perform will be reflected in the Drawing Area. Press the button to see the
drawing area if this option is not enabled.
You can use any of the available tools of the Drawing Area
to zoom, rotate or modify the view of the connection.
The context sensitive help ( ) is also available to give technical information related to the current
parameter to be edited (where the cursor is located).
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4) Edit the templates to be used

If you want to enter a similar connection of the existing ones, you can use the Copy button. For
example, place the cursor at the connection SP_1/4_BCF_2_3/4 and press the button as shown
below:
Enter the new name of the connection. For this example use SP_1/4_BCF_3_3/4.
Edit the new connection:
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In this example change the number of bolts from 2 to 3 and press the OK button. Note that the
connection is displayed with 3 bolts and that the length has automatically changed to fit the bolts.
Change the number of bolts from to 2 to 3 for the new template.
5) Create a connection database

If you want to create several connections, the procedure outlined in steps 1 and 2 may be very lengthy
and time consuming. A very fast procedure can be adopted in order to change/create a set of
connections.
First, you have to create a connection prototype as performed in steps 2 and 3.
Lets generate a whole set of Single Plate connections of the database.
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Select the former generated folder. Press the button Copy to clipboard. Open Excel and paste it in
a worksheet
The spreadsheet will look similar to the following figure:
Note that each column of the spreadsheet contains the different values of a specific parameter of the
connection. You can use the different tools available on Excel to copy or change the values. In this
example copy the data line (row 4) 4 times. The following columns will be edited in the following
way:
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The name and the number of bolt rows (Nrow) are changed.
The user can keep or even erase the rest of the columns. In the latter case the connection will take the
default values.
Once the data is defined, the user may proceed with the generation.
Then select ALL the information and copy the data to the clipboard (Ctrl+C)
Press the button to paste the connections into the database.

The program will ask if the existing connections are going to be replaced. Answer yes and then a
message with the number of generated connections (6) will be displayed.
The following connections will be generated:
As you can see, this way of generating the connections is fast and allows creating the complete set of
templates that a design office may need with the required custom values.
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Notice that you have to configure the connection toolbar in order to use your recently created
templates in an assigning button. However, you can assign them through the worksheet with the
tool .
6) Configure the toolbar

Normally, a reduced list of connections of the same type may be required for a specific project. This
list may be defined in an assignment button in the following way:
Go to Configuration/ Connections in the main menu. Execute the option Customize Toolbar....
The following window will appear:
There are three groups of connections that are predefined; a new group can be defined.
Press to define a new group. Enter the name of the group (My group).
Dialog window to define a new group of buttons in the toolbar.
Press to define a new assigning button.
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Dialog window to define the name of the new button.
Steps to assign the group of SP templates to the new button.
Select the desired template or group (in this case My SHR SP) and press the button. Repeat the
process until you have assigned all the connections of the list. Note that the order in the list is very
important because it will define the priority in the selection of the template. To change the order in
the list you can use the buttons.
You can assign an adequate bitmap to your button. Press and select the bitmap for the single
plates.
Remark: You can create your own bitmaps with any drawing tool like PaintTM.
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Dialog window for selecting the bitmap for the new assigning button.
Now you have a new button ready to be used in the connection design with your single plate
connections. You can try it in the model following a similar procedure as performed with the basic
connections.
7) Assign smart connections to the model

The program comes with another group of templates besides the basic connections. They are the
Smart connections, where the program determines all the main design parameters as the connector
size, number of bolts, size of welds, etc. based on the connection forces. This allows having one
smart connection template per family and connection type. This self-optimizing templates are
included in the Smart Connections group.
Remark: If you have previously created connections from the basic group, erase all connections. To
do so, select all the structure (Press in Selection toolbar), display the connection worksheet (press
in Panels toolbar, select the Conn Tab ) and press
in the worksheet.
First, select the whole structure. Press
Press the 'Design each connection individually' button in the connection toolbar. Then press the
Smart Connections button group and select the Smart SP (Single Plate) connection .
As you may notice the different Single Plate connections have been assigned to the model. Notice
that when the display button is pressed, the name of the used template is shown which indicate
only the connection type and family (i.e. SP BCF). To view the main designed parameters, press .
If you review the results of the design you can see that they are similar to the results obtained with
the basic connections in the first part of the example. Notice however that the result for a design by
group will not be the same because the program will design an optimum connection for each
subgroup (same family and member sections).
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Chapter 4: Connections examples for RC-RSS
Chapter 4: Connections example for RC-RSS

This chapter will take you step by step through the creation, design and optimization of steel
connections in RAM Connection. The structure to be used in this chapter is only illustrative and is
shown below:
It is a small building with steel columns, beams and girders. The perimeter beams and columns will
be the lateral framing while the interior columns and beams will be part of the gravity framing.
See the examples in the RAM SS Tutorial for more details for the generation and analysis of a
building. The file of this example is available in the Data folder of RAM SS.
1) Run RAM Connection

Once the structure is created in RAM Modeler (gravity and lateral framing, slab data, load data and
story data of the structure) you can define or design the steel gravity columns and beams with the
design modules, then you can perform the lateral analysis in RAM Frame. Once the sections of the
structure are completely defined, you are ready to use RAM Connection. This module is a powerful
tool to help in the rapid, interactive, design of the most common connections.
For this example, exit RAM Manager, run RAM Connection and open the file ConnEx.rss. Notice
that the model is completely defined and analyzed.
The RAM Connection window will appear. You can review your model using the following graphic
options:
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Review
your RAM SS model using the different available display tools. 1) Visualization toolbar 2) Cursor
toolbar 3) Model Properties toolbar 4) 3D Model toolbar and 5) Forces toolbar. Note that the
toolbars position is only a configuration possibility as the user could change position and
activate/deactivate toolbars.
2) Assign basic connections to the model

RAM Connection is shipped with ready-to-use connections templates called basic connections. You
will see in the following sections how you can customize them to your work practice. For the
moment we will work with the standard settings.
Remark: If the example model is already with connections, you will have to erase them. Select all
the structure (Press in Selection toolbar), display the connection worksheet (press in Panels
toolbar) and press in the worksheet.
In order to start assigning connections you need to use any of the default assignment group buttons of
the Connection Toolbar ( ).
But first, select the load conditions that will be considered in the design. Press the button (1) in
Connection toolbar and select all load conditions for the example.
Note that the load combinations generated in RAM SS (RAM Frame) will be used for the
connections' design. To do this, press the button in the Loads toolbar.
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Select all load combinations and keep a stress ratio limit of 1.0 (default value) for the connections
design.
In order to apply any command you have to use the 'select and apply rule'. So, first, select the whole
structure. Press in Selection toolbar (2).
Now you are ready to assign your first connections. As a first try you need to know exactly the
required connection on each joint. A recommended procedure is to design individually each joint and
evaluate the obtained connections.
Press the 'Design each connection individually' button in the connection toolbar (3). Then press
the Basic Connections button group (4) and select the Basic SP (Single Plate) connection
(5).
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Steps to assign smart single plate connections to the whole structure.

In few moments the program will suggest an optimum single plate connection for each joint of the
structure that can have a shear connection.
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Model with all shear joints with a single plate connection.
Press the button to see the template name of each connection, which includes the family. To
evaluate the different single plate connections required, select first one instance of the desired
connection family; in this case select a BCW connection.
Left-click on a SP-BCW connection

Go to Tools/Connection Selection and execute the command Select connections of the same family.
Press the button to see the main characteristics of each connection.
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Single
Plate BCW connections designed individually for each joint.
Note that some connections require 4 bolts, 3 bolts and the rest require only 2 bolts. Let suppose that
for construction we decide to use the same connection for all BCW connections.
Select all the structure (with ), lift up the button to design by group and press again the
button to assign single plate connections ( + Basic SP). You can select the BCW connections
and you will see that all BCW connections are with 4 bolts (as expected). The other families have
only 3 bolts. When you design by group you can obtain the same connection for each family
independently of the related sections and materials of the joints.
You can check the status and strength ratio pressing the button for the load envelope and
for the current load condition. Notice that a different ratio is shown for each connection.
Notice that you can select all connections that have an OK or N.G. status pressing one of the
following buttons. In this case all connections have an OK status.
You can print a summary report. Select all the structure and go to Reports/Connections Design and
select the option Group by tag. With this report you will obtain a summary of all connections with
their main characteristics and the critical strength ratios.
For the example you will have:
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Descriptio Fam Ty Tag ID Ratio Status

n ily pe
Basic SP BCW SP SP_BCW_1/4PL_3 46 1.16 N.G.

1 B3/4
Basic SP BCF SP_BCF_1/4PL_3 43 0.42 OK
2 B3/4
Basic SP BG SP_BG_1/4PL_3B 69 0.42 OK
3 3/4
Now you can continue with the design of the moment connections.
Press to view all the hinges of the structure (you have to select previously all members). The
moment connections will be designed only for the fixed joints.
Select all the structure (with ), press the button to design individually and press the Basic
FP Bolted button. To see the designed connections pick one instance of the FP connections
(for BCW) and use the command Select all connections of the same type.
Flange plate connections individually designed.
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You can check the status and ratio of the connections (with or ) and also the main
characteristics (with ).
Next, you can continue with the design of the brace connections, for that, select all the structure
(with ), press the Gusset button and select CBB_DA (Column, Beams and Braces-Double
Angle) connection .
As you can see 6 CBB Connections were assigned.
Now you have finished the connection design. Notice that the task was performed very fast and in a
simple way. What you need to know now, is how to configure your connection design. This will be
shown in the next sections.
If you want to review in detail a connection or several connections of the same type and members,
select them and go to the Detailing/Connections option of the main menu. For example select the SP
BCF connections of the first floor (perimeter columns) and go to the detailing of connections. To do
so, you can select an instance of the SP BCF connection and press the button of the connection
toolbar.
Review all the data for the selected connections in the connection Pad. You can print the data or the
results reports by pressing or respectively.
You can edit any parameter of the connections. This is very useful when the design was not
successful in order to achieve an adequate connection. Notice, however, that any manual change will
be lost if the connections are redesigned or reassigned.
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Now it is time to save your structure with all your connections. Press in Model toolbar.
What if the loads, geometry or any design condition change? No problem, you can redesign all or part
of your connections very fast. For example, select your FP BCW connections (tip: use the option
Select connections of the same type in the Tools/Connection Selection menu). Press the button to
change the connection configuration with a stress ratio limit of 0.80. Press the button to see the
status and ratio for the selected connections.
Some FP BCW and SP BCW connections do not comply with the conservative stress limit ratio used
(0.80). To change this press the redesign button ( ) in the toolbar. Note that the strength ratio for
the envelope is now under the new limit and that some connections have been modified to comply
with the new limit.
3) Create a connection template

Although RAM Connection has by default several templates in the database, the user may want to
define new templates with all the specific characteristics required by the user practice.
Hint: It is always suggested to back up your connections database (file Connections.ini in the DB
folder of main directory) before generating or changing your templates.
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To access to the connections database go to the main menu and select the
Configuration/Databases/Connections option:
A dialog window showing the available connections grouped in folders will appear:
Create a new folder with the button. Enter a name for the new group of connections. For the
example you can use the "My SHR SP" group.
With the former folder selected, press the button to create a new connection. The following
window will be displayed
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Enter the name, family and type of the desired template and press OK. In this case enter the options
shown in the figure.
Notice that the name of the template is used to identify the connection and has to be unique in the
whole database (including all folders). Thus you have to assign a name that describes the geometry
and main characteristics of the connection
The following window will be displayed:
You can review/change all the parameters of the connection template.
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The following data are required: Units, Code, Loads, Connection ID, Tag name, Main Data and the
specific data required in Shear and/or Moment connections. For the units choose the English system.
The available codes are ASD and LRFD. Chose LRFD.
Now you can enter the specific parameters for the connection. Note that the beam and support
sections and materials are also transferred from the main program and you do not need to define
them. The default values shown are used only for the 3D drawing.
Notice also that you have to enter only the parameters that are different from the desired values and
are constant for all connections to be generated with the template.
For this case accept all the default values, pressing the OK button.
Any change that you perform will be reflected in the Drawing Area. Press the button to see the
drawing area if this option is not enabled.
You can use any of the available tools of the Drawing Area to zoom and rotate the view of the
connection.
The context sensitive help ( ) is also available to give technical information related to the current
parameter to be edited (where the cursor is located).
4) Edit the templates to be used

If you want to enter a similar connection of the existing ones, you can use the Copy button. For
example, place the cursor at the connection SP_1/4_BCF_2_3/4 and press the button as shown
below:
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Enter the new name of the connection. For this example use SP_1/4_BCF_3_3/4.
Edit the new connection:
In this example change the number of bolts from 2 to 3 and press the OK button. Note that the
connection is displayed with 3 bolts and that the length has automatically changed to fit the bolts.
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Change the number of bolts from to 2 to 3 for the new template.
5) Create a connection database

If you want to create several connections, the procedure outlined in the former Section may be very
lengthy and time consuming. A very fast procedure can be selected in order to change/create a set of
connections.
First, you have to create a connection prototype as performed in Section 3.
Lets generate a whole set of Single Plate connections.
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Select the former generated folder. Press the button Copy to clipboard. Open Excel and paste it in
a worksheet
The spreadsheet will look similar to the following figure:
Note that each column of the spreadsheet contains the different values of a specific parameter of the
connection. You can use the different tools available on Excel to copy or change the values. In this
example copy the data line (row 4) 4 times. The following columns will be edited in the following
way:
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The name and the number of bolt rows (Nrow) are changed.
The user can keep or even erase the rest of the columns. In the latter case the connection will take the
default values.
Once the data is defined, the user may proceed with the generation.
Then select ALL the information and copy the data to the clipboard (Ctrl+C)
Press the button to paste the connections into the database.

The program will ask if the existing connections are going to be replaced. Answer yes and then a
message with the number of generated connections (6) will be displayed.
The following connections will be generated:
As you can see, this way of generating the connections is fast and allows creating the complete set of
templates that a design office may need with the required custom values.
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Notice that you have to configure the connection toolbar in order to use your recently created
templates in an assigning button. However, you can assign them through the worksheet with the tool
.
6) Configure the toolbar

Normally, a reduced list of connections of the same type may be required for a specific project. This
list may be defined in an assignment button in the following way:
Go to Configuration/Connections in the main menu. Execute the option Customize Toolbar.

The following window will appear:
There are three groups of connections that are predefined. A new group can be defined.
Press to define a new group. Enter the name of the group (My group).
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Dialog window to define a new group of buttons in the toolbar.
Press to define a new assigning button.
Dialog window to define the name of the new button.
Steps to assign the group of SP templates to the new button.
Select the desired template or group (in this case My SHR SP) and press the button. Repeat the
process until you have assigned all the connections of the list. Note that the order in the list is very
important because it will define the priority in the selection of the template. To change the order in
the list you can use the buttons.
You can assign an adequate bitmap to your button. Press and select the bitmap for the single
plates.
Remark: You can create your own bitmaps with any drawing tool like PaintTM.
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Dialog window for selecting the bitmap for the new assigning button.
Now you have a new button ready to be used in the connection design with your single plate
connections. You can try it in the model following a similar procedure as performed with the basic
connections.
7) Assign smart connections to the model

The program comes with another group of templates besides the basic connections. They are the
'Smart' connections, where the program determines all the main design parameters as the connector
size, number of bolts, size of welds, etc. based on the connection forces. This allows having one
smart connection template per family and connection type. These self-optimizing templates are
included in the Smart Connections group.
Remark: If you have previously created connections from the basic group, erase all connections. To
do so, select all the structure (Press in Selection toolbar), display the connection worksheet (press
in Panels toolbar) and press in the worksheet.
First, select the whole structure. Press
Press the 'Design each connection individually' button in the connection toolbar. Then press the
Smart Connections button group and select the Smart SP (Single Plate) connection .
As you may notice the different Single Plate connections have been assigned to the model. Notice
that when the display button is pressed, the name of the used template is shown that indicates
only the connection type and family (i.e. SP BCF). To view the main designed parameters, press
. If you review the results of the design you can see that they are similar to the results obtained
with the basic connections in the first part of the example. Notice however that the result for a design
by group will not be the same because the program will design an optimum connection for each
subgroup (same family and member sections).
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_________________________________________________________________________

RAM Connection V8i

Press (Cut the selected block to the Clipboard) or (Ctrl + X) ..................................................................... 17

How to learn RAM Connection?

Welded unreinforced flange (DW) bolted shear connection (WUF-B).

Chapter 1: General Overview

Design in RAM Connection

Units available in RAM Connection

Units configuration window.

Customizing the interface

Show/hide toolbars window

RAM Connection (RA, RSS)

For RAM Connection

Zoom and rotation

Visualization and Cursor toolbars to define the view of the model.

Mouse wheel is equivalent to b or

Ctrl + W (or mouse wheel double click) is equivalent to .

To enlarge a picture, press the button (zoom in).

To reduce a picture, press the button (zoom out).

Selecting members, nodes and connections

Selecting and hiding elements

Selection of members in line example.

Other basic operations

Fill the column with the value of the cursor

Copy/Cut or Paste information to or from the spreadsheet

Press (Copy the selected block to the Clipboard) or (Ctrl + C)

Press (Cut the selected block to the Clipboard) or (Ctrl + X)

Press (Paste the Clipboard information to the cursor location) (Ctrl + V)

Reassign numbers to selected connections

Help context window.

Connection groups (by description)

Click on the name of the connection (in the worksheet):

Load cases and combinations

Create new load combinations.

Edit the load combinations (previously created in RAM Connection).

Clear load combinations.

Window for the generation of load combinations.

Display of data and results

Press to see the model in 3-D. Connections will be drawn in 3-D.

displays the selected connections in colors, according to their description.

How to find technical information about a specific connection?

How to Use RAM Connection?

Use of RAM Connection in RAM Advanse or RAM SS

Dialog window to configure the connections design

Depress state button to design the connections individually

Joint selection options.

Types of connections according to the selected group.

Press the Double Angle ( ) button

Shear and moment connection assigned to a joint.

Bracing connection assigned to a joint

Three-dimensional view of a double-angle shear connection.

Loads specification dialog window.

Connection Pad to edit and check connections.

9) To view a detailed design report select the button

10) To view the connection geometry report select the button

Connections reports dialog window.

current load case) or (for the load envelope).

Inclination angles of members (Skew and Slope)

EP BCF Yes Yes Yes

HSS Section Supports

Connection Family Characteristics

The following connections allow circular HSS supports:

Design criteria for RA and RAM SS