Tips & Tricks

December 29, 2025

What’s New for IBC 2024 in RISA: A Closer Look

With RISA’s latest release of RISA-3D v23.0.1, we’re continuing to expand support for IBC 2024, helping engineers stay aligned with the latest building code requirements as adoption accelerates across the U.S.—including federally funded projects. This release builds on v23.0.0 ASCE 7-22 enhancements and adds key material design updates that move RISA further into full IBC 2024 compliance. New Material Design Updates Supporting IBC 2024 The upcoming release introduces several important design code updates referenced by IBC 2024, including: Steel Seismic design per AISC 341-22 Prequalified connections per AISC 358-22 Continued support for AISC 360-22 (16th Edition) steel design Ongoing updates to the hot-rolled shape database, including compatibility with both 15th and 16th Edition steel manuals These updates support modern seismic detailing requirements and ensure consistency with current steel industry standards. Masonry Masonry design per TMS 402-22, aligning with the latest strength and serviceability provisions adopted by IBC 2024. Key updates include: Revisions to shear design equations, including clarified definitions of shear area as outlined in Table 4.4.5, improving consistency and transparency in shear capacity calculations. Updated strength reduction factors for flexure and combined flexure + axial. Unlike previous editions that used a fixed ϕ-factor of 0.9, TMS 402-22 introduces tension-controlled,…

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How to verify loads graphically in RISAFloor
November 9, 2016

How to verify loads graphically in RISAFloor

RISAFloor does not record the applied area loads in a spreadsheet. To simplify modeling, it instead assumes a default area load over the entire diaphragm area. Additionally, you are free to apply area loads beyond the default loads. Whatever is drawn last will be considered the applied loading...

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Basic Code Terms for Seismic Behavior and Why We Use Them
November 2, 2016

Basic Code Terms for Seismic Behavior and Why We Use Them

Seismic Forces are generated automatically using seismic parameters R, SD1, and SDS in the Seismic Load Generator when using the Director to go from RISAFloor to RISA-3D or when inserting Seismic Loads on a rigid diaphragm in RISA-3D. Additionally, Seismic Load Combinations can be generated using...

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Shear Splices between Slabs
October 20, 2016

Shear Splices between Slabs

In RISAFoundation v8, you can add a shear splice between slabs so that it acts like a hinge. This is useful for modeling the effects of shear keys or dowel joints between slabs.

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Instabilities in RISA-3D with Flexible Diaphragms
October 19, 2016

Instabilities in RISA-3D with Flexible Diaphragms

In a model that contains both RISAFloor and RISA-3D data it is possible to define your diaphragms as either flexible or rigid for lateral design. You can do this from the Diaphragms spreadsheet in either program:

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Understanding the Slab Design Cut Results
September 7, 2016

Understanding the Slab Design Cut Results

In RISAFoundation, the user has the ability to manually draw a single Design Cut anywhere on a slab. The Design Strips also automatically include Design Cuts which are used to determine the governing design forces in the Design Strip. For more detailed information on the specifics of Design Strip...

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How Does RISA-3D Account for Torsional Warping?
August 17, 2016

How Does RISA-3D Account for Torsional Warping?

Twisting of a member or frame induces torsional forces and stresses. This is included in the RISA-3D analysis as long as you have the Torsional Warping checkbox selected on the Solution tab of (Global) Model Settings.

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