The project I'm currently working on involves steel framing supported by a lower concrete level. The steel columns will be supported on concrete beams with a 4.5" recess at the steel column location. To accurately design the top reinforcement of these concrete beams I need to model the top reinforcement below the recess. My initial plan was to just increase the top cover of the beams that will support the steel columns. That way I will still accurately design the bottom reinforcement as well (I know that I could just model the beams as 4.5" shallower, but then the design of my bottom reinforcement would be too conservative).
The issue I'm encountering: When I increase the top cover an additional 4.5" I get a design warning that says "Top flexural reinforcement spacing larger than code limit by ___% for Bar Set #__."
I know the real issue is not the spacing. I applied the new cover to a frozen design that had no design warnings. Is there a maximum cover that RAM imposes that could be causing this error?
If I can't get this figured out, I'm thinking that my only other option would be to use one model with the correct beam depth to design the bottom reinforcement and another model with 4.5" shallower beams to design the top reinforcement. I really don't want to do this given the obvious drawbacks of having to update both models anytime anything in the building changes.
Any help is appreciated!