February 15, 2022

Hanger Columns now available in RISAFloor

With the release of RISAFloor Version 16, users can now model, analyze and design hanger columns. This type of construction has been widely requested by customers and will allow customers to accurately model hanging mezzanine levels in building structures.

Hanging Bed 1

What are Hanger Columns?

Unlike tradition columns, hanger columns resist load primarily in tension due to the fact that they are not supported at their base. This type of construction is widely used in multi-story commercial and residential buildings because it allows for the column layout on individual floors to be modified where larger, open spaces are required by the building’s program. When utilized to support mezzanine floors, the floor loads are distributed up the column to the floor above.

Creating a Hanging Mezzanine Floor in RISAFloor

Create beam supported floor at elevation above desired mezzanine. This will allow for the mezzanine to be added and "hung" from existing structure.

2022 02 09 14h34 24 2022 02 09 14h33 10

Create "Mezzanine" floor level by navigating to Insert > Floor and choosing the desired floor elevation.

Mezzfloor

Open the "Draw or Modify Columns" tool located on the Graphical Editing Toolbar and select Hanger Columns. If more than two levels exist, select the bottom and top levels as required.

Hanger1

Model columns at desired locations. Hanger columns will be marked with an orange "hanger" symbol and can be either gravity or lateral members.

Hangercolumns2 Hangercolumns3

Next, switch to show the mezzanine level in plan view and the hanger columns will be shown in cyan. The floor framing can now be added using the "Draw or Modify Beams" tool along with the "Create Infill Framing" tool.

Mezz3

Finally, the slab edge for the mezzanine can be added and the floor is ready for loading, analysis and design.

Mezzanine1

Note: Make sure to uncheck the "No Wind/Drift" option found in the Floors spreadsheet for the mezzanine level since this "hanging floor" will not act as a lateral diaphragm. Also, hanger columns are always pinned at the top of the column when transferred into RISA-3D.

Nodrfit

For more information about hanger columns and their use in RISAFloor, search Hanger Columns in the RISAFloor Online Help File section.

RISA Help File

Tags: RISAFloor, New, Hanger Columns

March 10, 2021 | New Release, New, Composite Steel, RISACalc

Composite Steel Beam Design in RISACalc

Composite steel beam design is now available in RISACalc per the AISC and CSA steel design manuals with the following supported steel codes: American Codes: AISC 15th (360-16): ASD & LRFD AISC 14th (360-10): ASD & LRFD AISC 13th (360-05): ASD & LRFD AISC 9th: ASD AISC 3rd: LRFD AISC 2nd: LRFD Canadian Codes: CSA S16-14 CSA S16-09 CSA S16-05 CSA S16-01 Within the RISACalc interface, you can easily set up all the parameters necessary to perform composite steel beam design, including member size, camber criteria, steel deck information, headed stud and information about the adjacent framing. Each of the parameters can also be viewed graphically, providing instant feedback of the complete design criteria. Defining Composite Beam Properties To begin defining the properties, users can quickly choose the required beam shape from the drop down menu or can easily type in the size of the member under consideration. In the case of camber, RISACalc allows for optimization or explicit definition in the case where an existing member needs to be evaluated. Additionally, metal deck profiles from the Verco or Vulcraft catalogs are specified along with the deck angle and concrete properties. Users can also uncheck the metal deck option if…

February 26, 2015 | RISA-3D, RISAFloor, RISA-2D, New, Wood

Canadian Wood Design now Available

Timber design per the Canadian CSA 086-2009 design code is now available. Canadian wood member design is very similar to the US NDS member design. There are slightly different load factors, material properties, shape tables, and capacity equations, but the overall modeling procedure in RISA is the same. Selecting the Canadian Design Code Start by selecting the “CSA 086-09: Ultimate” code from the Codes tab of Global Parameters: Setting up Canadian Wood Materials The next step is to set up your materials. As long as you have selected the Canadian wood design code (as shown above), the program will know to use the material properties per the CSA 086-09 Tables 5.3.1A-D. These properties depend on the material selection and the shape selection. Setting up Metric Shape Members Wood shape selection depends on your selected units. If you are using metric units then you will be able to select your shape from the list of standard metric shapes, or manually enter a full sawn size using mm: If you are using imperial units then you will be able to select your shape from the list of standard imperial shapes, or manually enter a full sawn size using in: Design Results After…

February 14, 2022 | Design, RISAFloor, New, Cold Formed Steel

Design of CFS Face-to-Face Channels & Tube Shapes in RISAFloor

RISAFloor Version 16 now includes the analysis and design of CFS face-to-face channels and tube shapes. The Shape Selection dialog will allow you to select CS or CU Shapes with the added designation “F-to-F” for built up shapes. Tubes may be selected as an Explicit Shape. Face-to-face columns will display showing a closed cross section in floor plan views, and both columns and beams will be rendered in the Full Model view: There are a variety of code checks for closed shape sections per AISI code which are now included and performed during the design. One important parameter specific to the built-up shapes is the required definition of the value of “a” which is the spacing of the connections between the face-to-face members. This value is utilized to properly calculate the slenderness (KL/r) of the member and is required to receive a code check for any face-to-face cold-formed member. This additional spacing input is listed in Columns or Beams spreadsheet: Columns Beams Note that a value of N/A is automatically applied to single section shapes. With design complete, the detail report for face-to-face members shows all the controlling section properties including Effective Area, Section Modulus, and Moment of Inertia. For…