Tips & Tricks
July 3, 2025
From Sketch to Steel: Streamlining Fabricator Coordination
In structural steel projects, the transition from design to fabrication is a common source of coordination challenges. One of the biggest pain points? Connection design. Whether it’s miscommunication on end reactions or unclear design intent, connection assumptions can break down in the gap between engineering and detailing. By using RISA-3D and RISAConnection—and leveraging direct integrations with SDS2 and Tekla Structures—structural engineers can streamline the handoff to fabricators, reduce errors, and improve collaboration. This post walks through how to support real-world coordination using these tools in practice. 1. Model and Analyze the Steel Frame in RISA-3D Start by building your structural steel frame in RISA-3D. Define geometry, assign member sizes, apply loads, and analyze the model. Once you're satisfied with the analysis results, RISA-3D provides the connection forces—axial, shear, and moment reactions—for each member end. 2. Export Connection Forces to RISAConnection Next, send selected members and their design forces to RISAConnection. This direct integration eliminates the need to manually transfer loads or recreate geometry. Once in RISAConnection, you can: Choose from a library of shear, moment, and braced connections Model the full geometry, including bolt patterns, welds, and gusset plates View pass/fail results for each limit state, with clear failure mode…
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May 6, 2025
RISA Employee Spotlight: Wendi Garces
Wendi Garces is the Controller at RISA, bringing a wealth of experience from various industries, including travel, insurance, software, transit, and manufacturing. She even had a unique stint in Off-Road and IndyCar Racing, showcasing her adventurous spirit and adaptability. After earning her BS in...

April 29, 2025
RISA Customer Portal for Educational Users
RISA Educational Program RISA is proud to continue supporting the next generation of structural engineers by offering free access to our software through the RISA Educational Grant Program. For 2025, participating universities can access RISA software for $0 with a streamlined renewal and purchase...

April 22, 2025
Reinforced vs. Post-Tensioned Concrete: Which One Fits Your Project?
When designing a concrete structure, engineers must decide between conventionally reinforced concrete and post-tensioned (PT) concrete. This choice impacts the structure’s efficiency, cost, and long-term performance. Each system has unique mechanical behaviors and design considerations that...

April 8, 2025
RISA Employee Spotlight: Aaron Seybert
Aaron Seybert is a Structural Solutions Specialist at RISA, bringing over 15 years of experience in sales, management, marketing, and operations. Before joining RISA, he worked within the athletic and higher education sectors, handling both B2C and B2B relationships. His ability to connect with...

April 3, 2025
Case Study: WVDP Phase 1A - Decommissioning
Decommissioning a nuclear facility requires precision, planning, and advanced structural analysis. At the West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP) Phase 1A, American DND engineers faced the challenge of safely dismantling heavily reinforced structures—some with walls up to five feet thick—without...

March 26, 2025
HSS Beam to Column Moment Connection now available in RISAConnection v16
The new HSS Beam to Column Moment Connection allows engineers to efficiently design and analyze rigid connections between HSS beams and HSS or wide-flange columns. Unlike typical bolted or welded connections, this moment connection provides enhanced rigidity while maintaining the benefits of HSS...

March 25, 2025
Wood vs. Steel: Making the Right Choice for Your Building
Choosing between wood and steel for your next project isn’t just a material decision—it’s a balancing act of strength, cost, sustainability, and performance. As structural engineers, we know there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. But with the right tools (like RISA), you can model, compare, and...

March 24, 2025
Engineering Tomorrow: Hidden Costs of Manual Calculations
When was the last time you took a step back and evaluated the efficiency of your structural design workflow? Many engineers rely on spreadsheets, hand calculations, or outdated processes simply because they’ve always done it that way. But what if those manual methods are costing more than you...
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