Risa Tips & Tricks: How to Use Our Structural Analysis Software

July 30, 2026

Need Help with RISA? Here Are Your Go-To Resources

RISA supports you at every stage of your design process, from the first click in the program to the final design. Whether you need a quick answer or in-depth guidance, we offer a wide range of resources to help you work efficiently and with confidence. The RISA Help Files Get answers on all the behind-the-scenes technical information including analysis methods, variable definitions, and design assumptions. The help file provides transparency into the program methodology to make sure RISA engineers can feel confident in the results. The help file is available for each program in the RISA suite for tailored information. It can be accessed at risa.com/help or press F1 within the program for even easier access. Tips & Tricks Blog Explore modeling tips, troubleshooting ideas, and engineering insights on the RISA blog. Our blog articles are designed as quick reads to help engineers find answers fast. Start reading at blog.risa.com. The Video Library See the workflow in real time with the RISA video library at risa.com/videos. From quick clips showing a specific concept to full on-demand webinars, these videos help you understand workflows and seamlessly navigate the interface. Learning Paths Start exploring RISA with on-demand interactive training through our learning…

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September 09, 2015

Why don’t the Beams in my Frame have axial force?

The beams in a lateral force resisting system, such as a braced frame or...

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September 02, 2015

How should I model beams in Revit to make them import into RISAFloor…

Revit offers two options for setting the elevation of beams. The way these...

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August 25, 2015

What does the Include Structure Weight Checkbox Do for Seismic Loads?

In the Seismic Loads dialog there is a checkbox for “Include structure...

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August 20, 2015

Residual Rigid Response (Dynamics)

When running a Response Spectrum analysis for seismic design, the response...

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August 11, 2015

What Loads Transfer from RISAFloor to RISA-3D?

RIAFloor designs the gravity system and then integrates with RISA-3D to...

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August 08, 2015

How do you add Shear Caps to columns?

Per the ACI, you can add a Shear Cap to your column to increase the shear...

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August 07, 2015

How to Create a Custom Shape in RISA-3D

There are multiple options in RISA-3D and RISAFloor to create a custom...

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July 14, 2015

How to Import a Seismic Moment Connection into RISAConnection

Design for seismic connection detailing is now available in RISAConnection...

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June 15, 2015

Capture Animation in RISA

This video will demonstrate how to capture the animation from RISA-3D into...

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