RamSeries manual


Problem data

This is the information needed for the analysis and not related to the geometry.

Units

Mesh units are the units in which are represented the coordinates of the geometry and mesh. Results units are the units used to represent the results of the analysis.

Mesh units can be: meter (m), centimeter (cm) or millimeter (mm)

Results units can be expressed as:

¨      N-m where:

o       Displacements are in m

o       Strengths are in N/m or N·m/m

o       Stresses are in Pa= N/m2

¨      N-mm where:

o       Displacements are in mm

o       Strengths are in N/mm or N·mm/mm

o       Stresses are in N/mm2

¨      Kp-cm where:

o       Displacements are in cm

o       Strengths are in Kp/cm or Kp·cm/cm

o       Stresses are in Kp/cm2

¨      KN,m,Mpa where:

o       Displacements are in m

o       Strengths are in kN/m or kN·m/m (kN=103 N)

o       Stresses are in Mpa=106 Pa

Note that the units in this last system does not form a compatible system.

Gravity

The three components of the gravity define a vector, which will be normalized inside the program, and represents the direction of the gravity if the self-weight is considered.

Results

Beam Res granularity means the number of subdivisions that will have every beam to represent the results. More subdivisions give more quality in the results visualization and more disk space. This option does not modify the precision of the result, only its visualization.

Shell res axes permits to choose if the strengths results will be displayed in local axes, in main axes or in both. Local axes are the ones defined in the properties section. Main axes will be defined later. If it is not necessary to save disk space, choose both.

Output shell stresses If chosen, the stresses and Von Misses in both, the face up and the face down of the shell are calculated.

Output_beams_Maximums When there are more than one loadcase, it is possible to output a special loadcase containing the maximums for beams. Option Automatic, outputs it only if there are steel sections. Option Always, output it if there are more than one loadcase.

Shell internal 6-noded elem If chosen, mesh generated as 3-noded triangle elements will be internally calculated as 6-noded triangles. It gives more precision in the results and needs more computer time. It should be always used except when strengths in the shell plane are dominant. In this last case, both options are feasible.

Shell smooth res If chosen, rambshell will smooth the strength results where possible. The results of the calculation are strengths in the interior of every element that are discontinuous from one element to another. Smoothing means to approximate other values of the strengths so as they are continuous from one element to another. This can only be made if the geometry is smooth by itself from one element to another.

With the option Solver type, the solver of the equations system that is used internally is chosen. Options are:

·        Solver tolerance: When the iteration process reaches this tolerance, the solver will stop.

·        Solver tolerance minimum: If the solver arrives to its maximum iteration number, this tolerance will decide if results are accepted.

·        Max. iterations: maximum number of iterations permitted to the solver.

Normally, the best option is to choose Automatic. Advanced users should choose Skyline solver if it does not take too much memory and Sparse solver for big problems depending on the available RAM memory.

Smooth per material: (option only available for solids). When mixing two materials very different, like steel and concrete, the stresses are not continuus between materials. Then, it is necessary to set this option in order to see the stresses jump in the two materials boundary.

Analysis

Analysis type: Normally, this option should be set to Beams and shells. If the problem to analyze has only elements in one plane and it can be considered as a plane strain, plane stress or a plate problem, select one of these options. In these cases, the input of the data is the same than for the general analysis but the problem to solve is much faster. So, it saves a lot of computing time.

Consider Beam P-Delta: if this option is set, the beam P-delta method is applied in order to calculate second order effects for columns.

Be careful because one of the effects in a bad designed structure is that it will not be possible to obtain a solution. The recommended way of working is to calculate first in first order, and after with second order. If the strengths increment more than a certain value (20%-30%), a redesign of the structure is advised.