Bentley’s RAM International Solutions Center has released Version 11.3 of the RAM Structural System – Bentley’s modeling, analysis, and professional design software for structural engineers involved in the design of professional building structures of all types. The software provides powerful automated and integrated tools that enhance structural engineers’ productivity, allowing them to be more profitable and to more quickly produce economical designs.

RAM Structural System V11.3 includes several new design and usability features:

• The latest steel design specifications – AISC 360-05 as published in the AISC “Steel Construction Manual” 13th Edition.
• The requirements of the Direct Analysis Method of AISC 360-05.
• Slab edges can now be modeled as free-form slab edges, allowing for the modeling of more complex edges, including the ability to vary the slab edge distance along the length of the beam.
• The steel design tables for the U.S. have been updated to reflect the properties of the currently available steel sections as outlined in the “Steel Construction Manual.”
• The steel design tables for the U.K. have been updated to include the Corus Advance sections. The deck tables have been enhanced to include the Tegral ComFlor decks, with the capability of designing those decks with FibreFlor steel professional fiber reinforcing.
• An RSS Feed on the main screen provides up-to-date announcements of program releases, downloads, seminars, and training.
• The baseplate design capabilities of the Steel Column Design module have been enhanced to allow the engineer to specify square baseplates, even though smaller, rectangular baseplates may be adequate; this conforms to common design practice.