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Technical Capabilities
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Perform analysis and design including 3D finite element analysis

RAM Elements helps engineers and designers perform design tasks for steel, concrete, cold-formed steel, timber, and masonry building projects within a single easy-to-learn and use application. With a simple graphic interface, users have the ability to quickly design trusses, continuous beams, frames, retaining walls, masonry walls, tilt-up walls, shear walls, or footings.

Streamline your work with a single software application

With full 3D finite element analysis and design plus standalone or integrated design modules all in an easy-to-use package, RAM Elements eliminates the need to learn different programs for steel, concrete, masonry, wood, or cold-formed steel design and eliminates the need to purchase additional products for specialized projects like retaining walls or tilt-up walls.

Design comprehensive structural models easily

Make modeling even the most complex projects faster and easier by taking advantage of modeling capabilities that offer increased flexibility. Leverage the customizable desktop environment, so your most common commands are readily accessible. RAM Elements offers physical member modeling features so you can design as an engineer, without being a finite element specialist. Design components as part of your 2D or 3D finite element model effortlessly, by bringing all the information into the design module automatically. Perform all the necessary design checks including the production of complete drawings detailed reports and detailing rebar requirements.

Customize your work

Model quickly and accurately with customizable features and conform to your company standards. Customize toolbars, model views, display options, and unit systems and easily create templates so it’s easier to replicate on your everyday design structures and save time on every project.

“Bentley solutions allowed us to work more efficiently, saving significant resource hours and materials.”

Technical Capabilities

Analysis Design Design & Detailing Modules

Analysis

Dynamic analysis (eigenvalue and response spectra) with CQC, SRSS and ABS methods for superposition and subspace iteration, Ritz vectors and Lanczos/Arnoldi for eigen analysis
Iterative nonlinear P-Delta analysis
Linear Buckling analysis (Lanczos/Arnoldi or Subspace iteration)
Tension-only members
Compression-only springs
Springs to connect members for semi-rigid joints, setting the rotational stiffness at the member ends
Flexible or rigid floor diaphragms
Automatic mass generation with or without the need for rigid diaphragms
Prismatic and real tapered member analysis (exact stiffness finite element)
In-plane and out-of-plane stresses in shells
Allows imposed nodal displacements
Import of DXF, STAAD.Pro, RAM Structural System, OpenRE and SAP2000as well as full integration with Structural Synchronizer (ISM) Export to DXF, SDNF, OpenRE and RAM SBeam

Design

Hot rolled steel design per AISC 360-16, 2010 and 2005 (in both ASD or LRFD), AISC 341-16, 2010 and 2005, BS 5950-1:2000, AS 4100-1998, CSA S16-09 and NBR 8800-08
Specialty checks for tapered members (AISC DG 25) and member torsion design (AISC DG 9)
Cold-formed steel design per AISI S100-16, 2012, 2007 and 2001
Reinforced concrete design per ACI 318-14, 11, 08, and 05, plus BS 8110-1:1997
Reinforced/unreinforced masonry design per ACI 530-13,11, 08, and 05 in ASD and SD
Wood design (sawed lumber, timber, or glulam) per ANSI/ AF&PA NDS-2005 in ASD and LRFD

Design & Detailing Modules

Reinforced concrete beam, column, and footing design
Designs for flexure, shear, and torsion for beams
Designs for axial, bi-axial bending, shear, and slenderness effects for columns
Seismic provisions for column detailing
Calculation of lap length, development length, and cutoff points
Retaining wall design
- Analysis and design of reinforced or unreinforced concrete or masonry retaining walls
- Options to define cantilever, gravity, or restrained retaining walls (with a lateral restraint and pinned or fixed bases)
- Tapered stems or stems with several blocks with thickness and reinforcement changes
- Axial loads on the stem are considered (with or without eccentricity)
Reinforced concrete shear wall design
- Consideration of boundary elements as columns or flanges
- Analysis of the wall with FEM
- Vertical concentrated loads with or without eccentricity
- Vertical distributed in-plane loads

Continuous beam design
- Tilt-up wall design
- Steel, wood, or concrete beams
  Automatic skip loading
- Fixed, pinned, or compression-only springs for the bottom support of the wall
- Simplified or finite element analysis methods
- Automatic design according to the ACI 551 code in addition to ACI 318
- Vertical concentrated and distributed in-plane loads: dead or live, with or without eccentricity lateral distributed out-of-plane loads: wind or seismic
- Isolated or continuous footings option
Masonry wall design
- Bearing walls, shear walls, columns, and lintels
- Unreinforced or reinforced bearing and/or shear walls
- FEM (finite elements method) analysis of the wall

Analysis

Dynamic analysis (eigenvalue and response spectra) with CQC, SRSS and ABS methods for superposition and subspace iteration, Ritz vectors and Lanczos/Arnoldi for eigen analysis
Iterative nonlinear P-Delta analysis
Linear Buckling analysis (Lanczos/Arnoldi or Subspace iteration)
Tension-only members
Compression-only springs
Springs to connect members for semi-rigid joints, setting the rotational stiffness at the member ends
Flexible or rigid floor diaphragms
Automatic mass generation with or without the need for rigid diaphragms
Prismatic and real tapered member analysis (exact stiffness finite element)
In-plane and out-of-plane stresses in shells
Allows imposed nodal displacements
Import of DXF, STAAD.Pro, RAM Structural System, OpenRE and SAP2000as well as full integration with Structural Synchronizer (ISM) Export to DXF, SDNF, OpenRE and RAM SBeam

Design

Hot rolled steel design per AISC 360-16, 2010 and 2005 (in both ASD or LRFD), AISC 341-16, 2010 and 2005, BS 5950-1:2000, AS 4100-1998, CSA S16-09 and NBR 8800-08
Specialty checks for tapered members (AISC DG 25) and member torsion design (AISC DG 9)
Cold-formed steel design per AISI S100-16, 2012, 2007 and 2001
Reinforced concrete design per ACI 318-14, 11, 08, and 05, plus BS 8110-1:1997
Reinforced/unreinforced masonry design per ACI 530-13,11, 08, and 05 in ASD and SD
Wood design (sawed lumber, timber, or glulam) per ANSI/ AF&PA NDS-2005 in ASD and LRFD

Design & Detailing Modules

Reinforced concrete beam, column, and footing design
Designs for flexure, shear, and torsion for beams
Designs for axial, bi-axial bending, shear, and slenderness effects for columns
Seismic provisions for column detailing
Calculation of lap length, development length, and cutoff points
Retaining wall design
- Analysis and design of reinforced or unreinforced concrete or masonry retaining walls
- Options to define cantilever, gravity, or restrained retaining walls (with a lateral restraint and pinned or fixed bases)
- Tapered stems or stems with several blocks with thickness and reinforcement changes
- Axial loads on the stem are considered (with or without eccentricity)
Reinforced concrete shear wall design
- Consideration of boundary elements as columns or flanges
- Analysis of the wall with FEM
- Vertical concentrated loads with or without eccentricity
- Vertical distributed in-plane loads

Continuous beam design
- Tilt-up wall design
- Steel, wood, or concrete beams
  Automatic skip loading
- Fixed, pinned, or compression-only springs for the bottom support of the wall
- Simplified or finite element analysis methods
- Automatic design according to the ACI 551 code in addition to ACI 318
- Vertical concentrated and distributed in-plane loads: dead or live, with or without eccentricity lateral distributed out-of-plane loads: wind or seismic
- Isolated or continuous footings option
Masonry wall design
- Bearing walls, shear walls, columns, and lintels
- Unreinforced or reinforced bearing and/or shear walls
- FEM (finite elements method) analysis of the wall

Featured Training

Browse a variety of upcoming training and previously recorded courses taught by our in-house, industry experts.

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Blogs

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What is RAM Elements?

RAM Elements is a 3D structural analysis and design software. RAM Elements helps engineers and designers perform design tasks for steel, concrete, cold-formed steel, timber, and masonry building projects within a single easy-to-learn and use application.

Where can I find RAM Elements tutorials or a RAM Elements demo?

RAM Elements tutorials can be found on Bentley Communities, however here are some FREE RAM webinars at Virtuosity, Bentley’s eStore.

Where can I get RAM Elements training or RAM Elements courses?

If you want to receive tailored training or attend a RAM Elements course, Virtuosity offers extra training and mentoring services. You can choose from tailor-made training, on-demand learning, consulting services, mentoring and more.

What is the price of RAM Elements? How much does RAM Elements cost?

A practitioner license of RAM Elements costs $1,380 USD. Prices vary per region. While there are various types of licensing available, a common choice is the 12-month practitioner license offered through Virtuosity, Bentley’s eCommerce store. When you purchase through Virtuosity you get a Virtuoso Subscription which means you get both the software AND the training, expert services, and custom mentoring you need to get started quickly.

System Requirements

Processor

1.3 GHz or faster processor (x64)

Operating System

Microsoft Windows 10 or higher

RAM

2 GB minimum, 4 GB recommended

Hard Disk

675 MB free disk space for installation
2 GB available for analyzing models

Display

Open GL compatible graphics card with at least 512 MB in video memory, 1024×768 minimum screen resolution

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RAM Elements

3D structural analysis and design software

Perform analysis and design including 3D finite element analysis

Streamline your work with a single software application

Design comprehensive structural models easily

Customize your work