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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Why Don’t My Response Spectra Reactions Satisfy Statics?
April 3, 2012

Why Don’t My Response Spectra Reactions Satisfy Statics?

The applied loads in a response spectrum analysis (RSA) are the applied masses times the accelerations in the response spectra. Each mode of vibration produces its own set of joint reactions. The reactions for each mode obey statics as shown in the portal frame example shown below: Response...

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How Do I Resolve a P-Delta Instability?
February 23, 2012

How Do I Resolve a P-Delta Instability?

Investigating P-Delta instabilities in RISA-3D (or RISA-2D) can be difficult. The first step is usually to solve the model without the P-Delta effect included to see if there are any obvious deflection problems that could cause issues with a P-Delta analysis. But, what can be done when this doesn’t...

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Using Projected Loads in RISA-3D
August 18, 2011

Using Projected Loads in RISA-3D

RISA-3D, RISA-2D and RISAFloor have the capability to project distributed and area loads onto members. Consider the case of snow load on two buildings: one with a flat roof and one with a sloped roof. Ignoring the concept of shedding, if both buildings have the same footprint then they should both...

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How to Model a Hole in a Plate
June 16, 2011

How to Model a Hole in a Plate

While RISA-3D (or RISA-2D) does not have an explicit tool to punch a hole in a plate, you can use the following steps to manually model them:

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How RISA-3D Handles Single Angles
March 31, 2011

How RISA-3D Handles Single Angles

The bending and axial code checks for single angles differ somewhat from other shape types, because single angles behave quite differently in bending and compression depending on how they are braced along their length.

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How Do I Investigate My RISA-3D Model Using the Deflected Shape?
March 9, 2011

How Do I Investigate My RISA-3D Model Using the Deflected Shape?

When your RISA-3D model is not behaving as you anticipated, one of the best tools you have is viewing the deflected shape. Displaying the deflection graphically will help you visualize how the model is behaving and will often times bring to light modeling errors.

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