RAM SBeam 2024 (24.00.00.334)

Some errors in previous versions have been corrected in RAM SBeam 2024. The more significant errors are listed here. The error only occurred for the precise conditions indicated. Errors that may have resulted in un-conservative designs are shown with an asterisk. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

INVALID LOAD WARNINGS: In the Loads – Load Cases commands, if an attempt is made to add an invalid load such as a Concentrated load at a support or a load beyond the end of the beam, a warning is given and the addition prevented. However, it is possible, by adding or deleting a cantilever or by changing a span length after the loads have been defined, to create these invalid load conditions. The program now checks for these conditions when Design is invoked, and issues a warning of the condition, preventing the design from being performed until the condition is corrected.
Effect: loads applied beyond the ends of the beam were ignored without warning.

EXPORT FROM RAM STRUCTURAL SYSTEM: In the event that the deck table being used in RAM Structural System is different from that used in RAM SBeam, there may not be a match for the deck type assigned to the beam when the beam is exported from RAM Structural System. The program now detects that condition and sets the beam to noncomposite, with a notification. The user can, if desired, set the beam back to composite and specify the deck type and the composite properties in RAM SBeam.
Effect: errors when exporting beams from RAM Structural System

CONCENTRATED LOAD EXPORT*: When a beam was exported from RAM Structural System, concentrated loads may have been lost if there were negative Live concentrated loads (upward) defined at the same location as positive (downward) Live concentrated loads.
Effect: In the export from RAM Structural System to RAM SBeam, negative point loads were not correctly transferred when the negative Live loads occurred at the same location as positive Live loads.

COMPOSITE - UNSHORED DEFLECTION CRITERIA SAVE AS DEFAULT: Composite - Unshored Deflection Criteria would not be saved when Save As Default was selected on that tab.
Effect: Default changes for were not saved as expected.

MOMENT CAPACITY OF ASYMMETRIC I-SHAPED MEMBERS: In the calculation of the moment capacity of asymmetric I-shaped members in Section F4 of AISC 360-16, the reported moment capacity was erroneous when Iyc/Iy was greater than 0.23 (the program always used Rpc = 1.0 even when a larger value was permitted).
Effect: The program conservatively used a Rpc = 1.0 in the determination of the capacity.

BUILT-UP BOX SHAPES: The reported capacities of built-up box sections with slender elements designed according to AISC 360-05/10 Section F7 were incorrect.
Effect: Built-up box sections with slender elements designed according to AISC 360-05/10 reported incorrect capacities and consequently an incorrect interaction ratio when the design was governed by the limit states of Flange and Web Local Buckling.

SINGLY SYMMETRIC I-SECTIONS AND CHANNELS: For singly symmetric I-Sections and Channels with unequal flanges designed according to AISC 360-05/10, the reported bending capacity was conservative if Flange Local Buckling governed the design and the smaller of the unequal flanges was the compression flange.
Effect: When Flange Local Buckling of AISC 360-05 /10 governed the design of singly symmetric I-Sections and Channels with unequal flanges, the reported bending capacity of the governing section was conservative.

DEFLECTION LIMIT – SHORED COMPOSITE BEAM: The Dead Load deflection limit for shored composite beams listed in the Gravity Beam Design report was incorrect.
Effect: The design of shored composite beams was correctly performed but the report listed an incorrect Dead Load deflection limit. Report error only.

DEFLECTION LIMIT – NEGATIVE TOTAL DEFLECTION: The Negative Total deflection limit for the cantilever deflection of composite beams listed in the Gravity Beam Design report was incorrect.
Effect: Composite beams with cantilevers were correctly designed but the report listed incorrect limits for the Negative Total Deflection for the cantilevers. Report error only.

CAN/CSA S16 WWF SECTIONS: The table of steel shapes for Canada, RAMCAN.TAB, includes welded wide-flange (WWF) shapes. Due to a flawed symmetry test in the program, these WWF sections may have erroneously been determined to be asymmetric sections and subsequently designed using the moment capacity equations applicable to asymmetric I- shapes.
Effect: The moment capacities of WWF shapes, which are symmetric, may have been erroneously (and conservatively) calculated using the requirements for asymmetric sections.

ASD 9TH USER-SPECIFIED DEMAND CAPACITY RATIO*: The controlling bending stress to allowable stress ratio for beams designed according to ASD 9th was not limited to the user-specified demand capacity ratio limit.
Effect: Although beams designed according to the ASD 9th Edition specification were correctly designed to the Code-based limits, a user-assigned demand capacity ratio limit other than 1.0 was not correctly enforced while checking the controlling bending stress to allowable stress ratio. Beam sizes that should have failed based on a user-specified DCR may have passed because the DCR was less than 1.0.

CASTELLATED AND CELLULAR BEAMS: Previously, if in Windows Settings – Time & Language the “Region” selection was anything other than United States or Canada, the option to design C-Beams (castellated and cellular beams) was hidden. This feature is now available regardless of region. Note that designs are only available based on AISC codes.
Effect: Inability to select C-Beams in some regions.