Using Strip Wizard

Strip Wizard is a dialog that automates the initial steps in the process of creating a model in RAM Concept . When
modeling a straightforward slab or beam, you can efficiently use Strip Wizard to enter the structural data
without having to draw in a plan window. With the wizard, you can enter the spans, tributaries, loads and post
tensioning in the same way you would with a conventional twodimensional program. Since entering the
structural data in Strip Wizard is so quick and easy, it is particularly useful for preliminary design of slabs,
beams, and joists.
Strip Wizard uses the structural information you provide to build a model in a new RAM Concept file. You can
then modify the file by drawing openings, surface steps, point loads, and such using plan windows. Strip Wizard
is deliberately simple, so use it to create the basic structure, and then modify the structure in plans if necessary.
The authors intend that Strip Wizard be largely for assessment of twodimensional behavior. The (automatic)
design results are only for one direction (the xaxis). Since RAM Concept is a threedimensional program, line
supports are automatically included along the edges of the model that allow deflection but no rotation. This
closely simulates twodimensional behavior.

37.1 Starting Strip Wizard

When you start Strip Wizard, it prompts you to create a new RAM Concept file. This file is where the wizard
generates your model once you enter all the structural data. Strip Wizard uses all the generic settings defined in
the new file (such as units, materials, loadings, etc). If you want Strip Wizard to use your custom settings, create
the new file from a template. For example, if you want certain concrete mixes to be available when specifying
general design parameters, you should create the new file from a RAM Concept template with these concrete
mixes.
After you have chosen options in the New File dialog, the Strip Wizard dialog appears. At this point, you can load
previously saved Strip Wizard settings if you want (see Loading and saving Strip Wizard settings for more
information). To start defining your strip, proceed to the next page in the wizard by clicking Next.
1. Choose File > Strip Wizard.
2. Specify options in the New File dialog box and then click OK. The Strip Wizard dialog appears.
3. Click Next to proceed or you can load Strip Wizard Settings (see Loading and saving Strip Wizard settings
for more information).

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37.2 Specifying general parameters

Specify the structure type, spans and concrete mixes on the General Parameters page of the Wizard.
Structure
Type

Decide what type of structure you want Strip Wizard to create and whether to use post
tensioning. The floor can be set up as posttensioned or reinforced and can be one of the
following systems:

Twoway slab
Oneway slab
Beam
Joist

Spans

Enter the number of spans for the strip (not including cantilevers). Decide if you are using
start or end cantilevers. Check Asymmetric to allow the model to have different tributaries
on either side of the columns.

Concrete
Mixes

Choose a concrete mix for the slabs and beams and one for the supports.

E: The concrete mixes available are the mixes in the new file created when you started Strip Wizard. If you
want to use specific mixes, use a template when creating the new file.

37.3 Entering span data

The table you see on the Span Data page depends on the information you entered on the General Parameters
page. The cantilevers and spans appear as rows in the table. The table columns depend on whether you are
modeling a oneway or twoway system, beam system, or joist system.
For this table and subsequent pages, the top data rows name is Typical. Data entered here automatically
copies to the rows below. You can overwrite the copied data.

37.3.1 One-way and two-way systems

Span length, slab thickness and tributary width define these systems. They can vary span by span.
Length

The span length from center to center of supports.

Thickness

The span length from center to center of supports.

Start Width The slab width at the beginning (or left hand end) of the span. For asymmetric strips, L Start
Width is the left start width, and R Start Width is the right start width.
End Width

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The slab width at the end of the span. For asymmetric strips, L End Width is the left end width,
and R End Width is the right end width.

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37.3.2 Beam systems

Span length, beam depth, beam width, slab thickness and tributary width define these systems. They can vary
span by span.
Length

The span length from center to center of supports.

W Depth

The beam web structural depth (including the flange depth).

W Width

The beam web width.

F Depth

The flange (slab) depth (thickness).

Start Trib Width The tributary (and hence slab) width at the beginning (or left hand end) of the span. For
asymmetric strips, L Trib Start Width is the left tributary start width, and R Trib Start Width
is the right tributary start width.
End Trib Width

The tributary (and hence slab) width at the end of the span. For asymmetric strips, L Trib
End Width is the left tributary end width, and R End Width is the right tributary end width.

37.3.3 Joist systems

Span length, web properties (depth, width, spacing and number), slab thickness and tributary width define these
systems. They can vary span by span. This system does not allow asymmetry.
Length

The span length from center to center of supports.

W Depth

The joist web structural depth (including the flange depth).

W Width

The joist web width.

F Depth

The flange (slab) depth (thickness).

Pan Start Offset

The distance from the beginning (or left hand end) of the span to the pan (or void
former).

Pan End Offset

The distance from the end of the pan (or void former) to the end of the span.

Additional Web
Properties

The following properties determine the tributary width for the whole model. The
width cannot vary span by span.

Spacing

The centertocenter spacing of the webs.

Number

The total number of webs

37.4 Entering support data

The Support Data page is for entering supports above and below. You must specify supports below but they are
optional above.

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37.4.1 Support (above and below) properties

Depth, width, height, bottom fixity and top fixity define the supports. They can vary span by span.
Strip Wizard interprets a support with a width four or more times the depth as a wall. Otherwise, it is a column.
Depth

The support dimension parallel to the span.

Width

The support dimension perpendicular to the span (enter zero for round columns).

Height

The supports height from its base to middepth of the floor.

Bottom Fixity

The moment connection at the base of the support.

Top Fixity

The moment connection between the support and the floor.

37.5 Adding drop caps and drop panels

The Drop Caps and Drop Panels page is for entering drop caps and drop panels for twoway slabs. The page is
not available for oneway slabs, beams or joists.
Strip Wizard uses drop caps for punching shear only; it ignores them for flexural design. Some codes provide
guidance on what dimensions are required to consider a thickening as a drop panel. Strip Wizard does not check
such rules.

37.5.1 Drop cap and drop panel properties

Thickness, width, before length and after length define the drops. They can vary span by span.
It is possible to have drop caps and drop panels at the same support. The drop cap should be the thicker of the
two.
Thickness

The total thickness (structural depth) of the drop. This is not the incremental increase in
thickness.

Width

The drop dimension perpendicular to the span.

Before Length The dimension parallel to the span from the beginning of the drop to the support center.
After Length

The dimension parallel to the span from the support center to the end of the drop.

37.6 Entering the loads

The Loads page is for entering area and line loads in the zdirection for two standard loadings.

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37.6.1 Load properties

Area and line loads can be input for two different loadings on each span.
Dead Area Load The area load over the entire span.
Dead Line Load The line load from the first support center to the second support center for each span.
Live Area Load

The live load over the entire span.

Live Line Load

The live load from the first support center to the second support center for each span.

Loadings to use The Dead and Live are just names. You can specify the loads as belonging to any of the
Standard loadings in the RAM Concept file.
Dead

This can be any one of the standard loadings in the RAM Concept file.

Live

This can be any one of the standard loadings in the RAM Concept file (except for that used for
Dead).

37.7 Specifying the post-tensioning

The PostTensioning page is only available if you checked PostTensioned in the Structure Type section of the
General Parameters page.
Most of the data entered on this page relates to minimum precompression, load balancing and tendon cover.
Strip Wizard uses this data in conjunction with data for spans, depths and loads to generate a single profiled
tendon.

37.7.1 General PT information

You specify the type of tendon and information that helps to determine the number of strands.
PT System Specifies the size and type of strands for the tendon (as defined in the Materials Specification of
the RAM Concept file).
Stressing

Specifies the stressing (jack) locations. RAM Concept calculates tendon friction and other losses if
jacks are located at one or both ends.

Min P/A

The minimum average precompression required for the concrete. Following the code minimum
does not usually result in the most economical design.

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37.7.2 Balance load

Balance load refers to the amount of uplift provided by the tendons. The industry has traditionally expressed
this as a percentage of gravity loads.
Min Balance Load
Percentage:

The percentage of the specified load balanced by tendons.

Balance Load Considers:

Specifies the loadings that the balance loading is based upon. The choices are
selfweight of concrete, selfweight plus dead, or total load.

37.7.3 Profiling
These selections vary the tendon profile shape.
Straight Profile
Distance at Supports

The length of tendon that is horizontal at a support. The dimension is the total flat
distance, not the distance each side of the support.

Round Profiles to
Nearest

The profile distance increment. This allows rounding of tendon high and low points to
convenient values. If this value is too large it may cause cover violations.

37.8 Specifying reinforcement

The Reinforcement page is for specifying reinforcement bars and general covers.

37.8.1 Reinforcing bar

You specify the bars from those available in the RAM Concept file.
Top

Name of reinforcement bar used in the top face for flexural design.

Bottom

Name of reinforcement bar used in the bottom face for flexural design.

Shear

Name of reinforcement bar used for oneway shear design.

37.8.2 Reinforcement clear cover

The covers are for bars and tendons. Rounding of tendon profiles could override the tendon covers.
Top

Clear cover to the top longitudinal bars and tendons.

Bottom

Clear cover to the bottom longitudinal bars and tendons.

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37.8.3 Punching shear checks

You decide if RAM Concept performs punching shear calculations.
Perform punching Checking this box instructs RAM Concept to draw punching shear checks at each column.
shear checks
Cover to CGS

The distance from the top of the slab to the centroid of the top reinforcement. Usually this
is the distance from the top of the slab to the bottom of the top bar. RAM Concept
subtracts this distance from the slab thickness to determine the d distance.

37.9 Completing Strip Wizard

The Completing Strip Wizard page is the final page in the wizard dialog. At this point, you can choose to save the
information you have just entered so that you may load it into the wizard later. See Loading and saving Strip
Wizard settings for more information.
When you click Finish on the Completing Strip Wizard page, Strip Wizard draws your model in the RAM Concept
file based on the data you have provided. The leftmost support of your model is located at the origin (0,0).
Open plans on the Mesh Input, Latitude Tendon, and Design Strip layers to view your model. You cannot view
the finite element mesh, however, until you generate the mesh.
1. Click Finish on the Completing Strip Wizard page.

37.10 Generating the mesh and calculating results

After completing Strip Wizard, you are ready to generate the mesh and run an analysis calculation on your
model.
To get the best finite element mesh you need to regenerate twice: once before, and once after, calculating.This is
because calculating generates the design strips, which in turn can be used to improve the mesh the second time
you generate.
See Chapter 18, Generating the Mesh and Chapter 28, Calculating Results for further information.

37.11 Loading and saving Strip Wizard settings

The data you entered into the Strip Wizard can be saved as a Strip Wizard Settings file (with a filename
extension of .cptstrip) and reloaded into the wizard later. The Strip Wizard Settings file contains only the

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information you entered into the wizard pages. Save your Strip Wizard Settings before you click Finish on the
final page of the dialog.
Loading Strip Wizard Settings just sets the values in the Strip Wizard dialog to the values stored in the Settings
file. After you load your Strip Wizard Settings, you then page through the dialog as usual by clicking Next. You
can change the data in the wizard to create a different strip. This does not affect the Settings file you loaded. You
must save a new Strip Wizard Settings file if you want your changes to be stored for later use.

37.11.1 To load strip wizard settings

1. Click Load on the Welcome to Strip Wizard page.
2. Select the Strip Wizard Settings file (with a filename extension of .cptstrip) and click Open.

37.11.2 To save Strip Wizard settings

1. Click Save on the Completing the Strip Wizard page (before you click Finish).
2. Enter the name of your Strip Wizard Settings file and click Save.

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Strip Wizard Tutorial

This chapter walks you through the steps for using Strip Wizard to provide a preliminary design for the slab
(grid B) in the PT Flat Plate Tutorial.
Alternative metric values and units are identified in square brackets [ ] next to the US units. The metric values
are not exact conversions.
The codes used are ACI 31802, AS36002001, BS8110:1997, EC2 2004 and IS 456.
For more information, see Using Strip Wizard.

49.1 Start Strip Wizard

When you choose File > Strip Wizard, the New File dialog automatically opens before the Strip Wizard dialog
box is opened. After you create the new RAM Concept file, the Strip Wizard dialog appears.
Start the Strip Wizard
1.
2.
3.
4.

Choose File > Strip Wizard.

In the New File dialog box, set the Structure Type to Elevated and choose the Code.
Click OK.
The Strip Wizard dialog box appears; click Next to proceed to the General Parameters page.

49.2 Set the general parameters

On the General Parameters page, you define the structure type, number and type of spans, and concrete mixes.
Set the general parameters as follows
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Choose TwoWay as the structural system.

Check Posttensioned.
Set the number of spans to 3.
Check Asymmetric strip.
Set the concrete mix for slabs and beams to 5000 psi [32 MPa for AS3600; C32/40 for BS8110 and EC2; M40
for IS 456].
6. Set the concrete mix for supports to 5000 psi [32 MPa for AS3600; C32/40 for BS8110 and EC2; M40 for IS
456].

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7. Click Next to proceed to the Span Data page.

49.3 Enter the span data

Enter the span dimensions and data on the Span Data page. (The type of data entered depends on which
structural system you chose on the General Parameters page.)
Set the span data as follows
1. Set the length of Span 1 and 2 to 30 ft [9 m].
2. Set the length of Span 3 to 25 ft [7.75 m].
3. Set the thickness of all three spans to 10 inches [250 mm].
E: To set all the values in a column at once, enter the value in the Typical row (first row) of that column.
For example, for the step above, you can simply type 10 [250] in the Typical row of the Thickness column
to set the thickness of all three spans to 10 inches [250 mm].
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Set the left start width of Span 1 to 11.5 ft [3.5 m].

Set the left start width of Span 2 and 3 to 15 ft [4.5 m].
Set the right start width of Span 1 and 2 to 14 ft [4.25 m].
Set the right start width of Span 3 to 1 ft [0.3 m].
Set the left end width of Spans 1, 2 and 3 to 15 ft [4.5 m].
Set the right end width of Span 1 and 2 to 14 ft [4.25 m].
Set the right end width of Span 3 to 1 ft [0.3 m].

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Figure 471: The Span Data page.

11. Click Next to proceed to the Support Data page.

49.4 Create the supports below

Add the four supports in the Supports Below table on the Support Data page.
Set the supports below as follows
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Set the depth of all four supports below to 24 inches [600 mm].
Set the width of all four supports below to 24 inches [600 mm].
Set the height of all four supports below to 10 ft [3 m].
Leave the bottom and top fixity of all supports below as Fixed.
Click Next to proceed to the Drop Caps and Drop Panels page.

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49.5 Add drop caps

Enter the dimensions for a drop cap at Supports 2 and 4 in the Drop Caps table (top table) on the Drop Cap and
Drop Panels page.
Set the drop cap data as follows
1. For Support 2 in the Drop Caps table set the following values:
a. Set the thickness to 20 inches [500 mm].
b. Set the left width to 22.5 inches [600 mm].
c. Set the right width to 22.5 inches [600 mm].
d. Set the before length to 22.5 inches [600 mm].
e. Set the after length to 22.5 inches [600 mm].
2. For Support 4 in the Drop Caps table set the following values:
a. Set the thickness to 20 inches [500 mm].
b. Set the left width to 33 inches [900 mm].
c. Set the right width to 12 inches [300 mm].
d. Set the before length to 33 inches [900 mm].
e. Set the after length to 0 inches [0 mm].
3. Click Next to proceed to the Loads page.

49.6 Specify the loads

Enter the area loads on the Loads page.
Set the loads as follows
1. Set the typical Dead Area Load to 20 psf [1 kN/m2].
2. Set the typical Live Area Load to 40 psf [2 kN/m2].
3. Click Next to proceed to the PostTensioning page.
E: You can leave the Dead Line Load and Live Line Load fields blank (no need to enter zero).

49.7 Define the post-tensioning

Enter the posttensioning parameters on the PostTensioning page.
Set the posttensioning as follows
1. Uncheck the stressing Start and End check boxes.
2. Set the minimum P/A to 140 psi [1 MPa].

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3. Set the minimum balance load percentage to 65%.
4. Click Next to proceed to the Reinforcement page.

49.8 Specify the reinforcement parameters

Enter the reinforcement parameters on the Reinforcement page.
Set the reinforcement as follows
1. Set the top reinforcing bar to #5 [N16 for AS3600; T16 for BS8110 and IS456; H16 for EC2].
2. Set the bottom reinforcing bar to #4 [N12 for AS3600; T12 for BS8110 and IS456; H12 for EC2].
3. Set the top and bottom reinforcement clear cover to 1 inch [25 mm].
E: Strip Wizard does not differentiate between cover to tendons and reinforcement bar.
4. Check the Perform punching shear checks box.
5. Set Cover to CGS to 1.625 inch [41 mm].
6. Click Next to proceed to the Completion page.

49.9 Complete the Strip Wizard

Completing the Strip Wizard is the final page of the Strip Wizard dialog box. You can save the data you just
entered in a Strip Wizard Settings file by clicking Save. When you click Finish, Strip Wizard creates your strip in
the open RAM Concept file.
Complete the strip
1. Click Save and name the file in the Save Strip Wizard File As dialog box that appears.
2. Click Finish.

49.10 Proceed with RAM Concept

After you have completed Strip Wizard, you can proceed with RAM Concept . After you have created your strip,
generate the mesh (with a 2.5foot [0.75 m] mesh) and run a calculation analysis. Refer to the relevant manual
chapters, or one of the three PT Flat Plate tutorials for further information.
View your strip
1. Choose Layers > Mesh Input > Standard Plan .

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Figure 472: The completed strip on the Mesh Input: Standard Plan.

Figure 473: The Element: Standard Plan showing the completed strip after the mesh has been generated.

Figure 474: The Element: Standard Plan after calculation and mesh regeneration.

Figure 475: The completed strip on the ManualLatitude Tendon: Standard Plan.

49.11 Comparison with PT Flat Plate Tutorial

The results of the Strip Wizard analysis are similar but not the same as the PT Flat Plate Tutorial. The reasons for
different results include:

Strip Wizard does not automatically consider transverse continuity effects.

Increased balcony loads not considered by Strip Wizard.
Strip Wizard automatically modified the drapes in spans 2 and 3 (you can change these if you wish).
Longitude tendons not considered by Strip Wizard.

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49.12 Conclusion
Strip Wizard allows you to perform a preliminary or final design for a strip within a floor. The results are similar
to those generated by any strip program, but not as accurate as a RAM Concept model that considers all of the
irregularities within a floor.

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