November 16, 2016

Custom Column Strip Widths

RISAFloor v11 now includes the ability to create custom column strip widths in order to optimize the design of slab reinforcement.

Tags: RISAFloor ES, Concrete, New

November 11, 2016 | RISAFloor ES, RISAFloor, New, Modeling

Project Grid Improvements

RISAFloor v11 now includes new and improved project grids which allow you to customize the grids while also adding radial and skewed grids.

November 16, 2017 | Loads, RISAFloor, New

Area Load Query Tool

RISAFloor v11 includes the new Area Load Query tool which allows users to visually inspect the area loads applied to a floor level…

July 29, 2025 | Featured, RISAFoundation, New

Slab vs. Spread Footing in RISAFoundation: What's the Difference?

We often get asked: “Should I model my foundation as a slab or a spread footing in RISAFoundation?” While both are valid options, they use very different analysis methods, and the results can vary accordingly. In this article, we’ll walk through a side-by-side comparison, using the same modeled conditions to highlight how the results differ — and why. Model Setup To keep things consistent, we modeled a single condition in two ways: once with a spread footing and once with a mat slab. Mat Dimensions: 10' x 10' x 1' Pedestal: 1' x 1' x 2' Loads Applied: 40 k vertical dead load 10 k lateral dead load 15 k lateral wind load 14.79 k concrete self-weight Soil Overburden: Set to 0 for both elements Slab Mesh Size: Refined below default for more detailed results Load Combinations: A basic set used for clarity (see screenshots in RISAFoundation) Analysis Methodology Feature Spread Footing Slab Element Analysis Type Rigid body Finite Element Analysis (FEA) Support Model Single support point Compression-only springs (based on subgrade modulus) Mesh Behavior No submesh Submeshed into smaller plate elements Lever Arm for Lateral Loads Spread Footings: Full pedestal height + full footing thickness Slabs: Full pedestal height…