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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Seismic Design of Steel Structures in RISA-3D
March 25, 2020

Seismic Design of Steel Structures in RISA-3D

RISA-3D includes the ability to design steel structures for seismic provisions found in AISC 341 and AISC 358 including moment frames and braced frames. For more information, review the video below.

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Assigning Seismic Loads in RISA-3D
March 28, 2019

Assigning Seismic Loads in RISA-3D

RISA-3D has two ways of automatically generating seismic-related Basic Load Categories (BLCs) which can be later referenced in the Load Combinations (LCs):

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Improved Drift Reporting
September 11, 2017

Improved Drift Reporting

RISA-3D v15 now includes automatic drift definitions for diaphragms as well as simplified story drift application. The reported drift results have been updated as well, and are now much more relevant for today’s codes. Drift results will report results in red text when seismic drift exceeds the...

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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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Calculation of Forces in Seismic Brace Connections
June 28, 2016

Calculation of Forces in Seismic Brace Connections

Seismic brace connections are a bit different from other connection types in RISAConnection. This is because the brace and connection elements must be designed for both tension and compression loading.

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