When looking into a code of msm8916, I found the corresponding code in file boot_sd_ramdump.h.

#define SD_PATH                  "/mmc1/"
#define SD_RAM_DUMP_PATH SD_PATH "ram_dump/"

void boot_ram_dumps_to_sd_card( bl_shared_data_type *bl_shared_data )
{
  do /* dummy while loop which executes only once and used to break on error */
  {
    /* Poll the hotplug device */
    boot_hotplug_poll_and_mount_first_fat(HOTPLUG_TYPE_MMC, HOTPLUG_ITER_EXTERNAL_DEVICES_ONLY);

    /* Return if cookie file doesn't exit.*/
    if((boot_ram_dump_check_rdcookie(SD_RAM_DUMP_PATH) < 0)  &&
       (boot_ram_dump_check_rdcookie(SD_PATH) < 0))
        break;

#ifdef FEATURE_DLOAD_MEM_DEBUG
    /*only perform memory debug operations when it's supported*/
    if(dload_mem_debug_supported())
    {
    /* Initialize the debug memory regions array */
      dload_mem_debug_init();
    }
#endif

    /*Store the ramdumps to sd card without deletion*/
    boot_process_sd_dumps();

    /* reset target if reset cookie present */
    boot_ramdump_reset();
  } while(0);

  /* At the end of sd card ram dump, if we are in raw ram dump mode, reset the device
     so we don't enter sahara */
  if((boot_shared_imem_cookie_ptr != NULL) &&
     (boot_shared_imem_cookie_ptr->uefi_ram_dump_magic == BOOT_RAW_RAM_DUMP_MAGIC_NUM))
  {
      mmu_flush_cache();
      boot_hw_reset(BOOT_WARM_RESET_TYPE);
  }
}

The routine initiates the ramdumps to SD card, checks for the ramdump cookie file ("rdcookie.txt") and proceeds with the ramdump to SD card if cookie file is present.

static int boot_ram_dump_check_rdcookie(const char *path)
{
    uint32 str_size = 0;
    int fd;

    str_size = strlcpy(cookiefilepath, path, MAX_FILE_NAME);
    BL_VERIFY((str_size < MAX_FILE_NAME), BL_ERR_SBL);

    str_size = strlcpy(cookiefilename, path, MAX_FILE_NAME);
    BL_VERIFY((str_size < MAX_FILE_NAME), BL_ERR_SBL);

    str_size = strlcat(cookiefilename, "rdcookie.txt", MAX_FILE_NAME);
    BL_VERIFY((str_size < MAX_FILE_NAME), BL_ERR_SBL);

    fd = boot_efs_open(cookiefilename, O_RDONLY);

    if (fd >= 0)
    {
        boot_efs_close(fd);
    }

    return fd;
}

By FAT formatting a SD card and placing a rdcookie.txt file in either the SD card root or a ram_dump folder, RAM dump can be enabled if accessible.