If you've ever wondered what it’s like to be an industrial structural engineer, let me paint you a picture: Imagine juggling a dozen problems at once—steel frames, conveyor supports, pipe racks, tank foundations—all while trying to decipher a set of drawings that look like they were faxed from 1997. And, of course, every single solution is needed yesterday.
But don’t worry! With the right tools (cough RISA and ADAPT cough), navigating this daily chaos becomes a lot more manageable. So, grab your coffee (black, obviously), and let’s walk through a typical day.
6:30 AM: Morning Coffee & Evaluating Additional Loads
The first email of the day: “Can we add another 10,000 lbs of equipment to the mezzanine? What about seismic drift and vibration?” Instead of a lengthy hand calculation, you fire up RISAFloor and check gravity load distribution. Exporting to RISA-3D, you analyze modal frequencies and check if the additional weight will push the structure into an uncomfortable range for human occupancy.
Seismic drift is next. A quick response spectrum analysis in RISA-3D confirms that the drift is still within acceptable limits. You send your report with confidence—no major framing changes required.
9:00 AM: Field Issue - Pipe Rack Base Plate Misalignment
A call from the field: “The base plates don’t align with the anchor rods. The fabricator swears the drawings were correct.”
You check the RISA-3D model and verify the column locations. The issue turns out to be an improper tolerance assumption—the contractor used oversized base plate holes that weren’t accounted for in the field erection plan. To prevent delays, you run a quick base plate check in RISAConnection to confirm the holes can work with the given anchor bolt group. The solution: slight hole modifications, which the contractor can field-drill instead of scrapping the base plates. Crisis averted.
12:00 PM: Optimizing a Post-Tensioned Slab for an Equipment Foundation
Lunchtime? Not yet. The client is concerned about cracking in a post-tensioned equipment foundation subjected to repetitive dynamic loads.
Opening ADAPT-Builder, you refine the tendon layout, adjusting drape heights to optimize prestress distribution while keeping total tendon force within allowable limits. The goal is to control long-term deflections while minimizing restraint-to-shortening effects at anchor points.
Next, you move to check stress distribution and ensure that no localized cracking will occur due to high-point loads. After tweaking the mix of mild reinforcement and post-tensioning, you send the revised design. The contractor will appreciate the reduction in required rebar placement.
3:00 PM: Wind/Seismic Revisions on Heavy Equipment Support Structure
The project manager stops by: “The client wants fewer braces—can we use a moment frame instead?”
Braced frames were chosen for efficiency, but an MRF allows a more open workspace. You update the RISA-3D model, removing braces and adding rigid connections. A second-order P-delta analysis shows increased deflection but within code limits, though columns must be slightly heavier. To check stability, you run a direct analysis method. Your recommendation: an MRF works, but steel tonnage increases by 15%.
5:30 PM: Last-Minute Load Revisions and a Final Check
As you’re about to pack up, another email lands: “We need to add a large vibration isolator to the structure. Can we check the effects of dynamic loading?”
You already have your RISA-3D model set up, so it’s a quick check. Running a frequency analysis, you confirm that the structure’s natural frequencies are well-separated from the expected operational frequency range of the isolator.
A final check for resonance effects shows no critical overlaps—no need for structural stiffening. You document the findings and sign off for the day.
