August 10, 2016

Use Wide Flange Braces in Vertical Brace Connections

By: RISA

RISAConnection now offers the ability to use a wide flange brace member in Vertical Brace Connections.

Vertical Brace Diagonal Connection

Vertical Brace Chevron Connection

Selecting the Wide Flange Brace

Simply choose the wide flange shape for your brace from the list of available sections:

Connection Results

The results report will now check each applicable limit state at each of the connection components. Each of these checks can be reviewed in detail in the report.

Tags: New, RISAConnection, Brace Connection

July 27, 2016 | Seismic, New, RISAConnection, Brace Connection

Using Eccentric Chevron Brace Workpoints

RISAConnection now offers the ability to enter an eccentric work point for the braces on a Vertical Brace Chevron Connection. Entering the Eccentricity The eccentricity may be horizontal, vertical, or both. These entries are in reference to the origin which lies at the intersection of the beam centerline and the gusset centerline. Work point offsets may be positive or negative, depending on which direction (from the origin) you want to move the work point. Quadrant 1: Positive Horizontal Eccentricity, Positive Vertical Eccentricity Quadrant 2: Positive Horizontal Eccentricity, Negative Vertical Eccentricity Quadrant 3: Negative Horizontal Eccentricity, Negative Vertical Eccentricity Quadrant 4: Negative Horizontal Eccentricity, Positive Vertical Eccentricity Results While the limit state checks will be the same, the calculated loads at the gusset will be different since they now will include the effect of the work point offset…

June 28, 2016 | Seismic, New, RISAConnection, News, Brace Connection, Integration

Seismic Brace Connection Integration with RISA-3D

RISAConnection version 6.0 has introduced the ability to design vertical brace connections per the seismic design provisions of the AISC 341-10 Seismic Design Manual. Now you can export Vertical Diagonal Brace Connections and Vertical Chevron Brace Connections from RISA-3D into RISAConnection as either Ordinary Concentric Braced Frames (OCBF) or Special Concentric Braced Frames (SCBF). See post for information on How to Model a Seismic Vertical Brace Connection in the stand alone version of RISAConnection. Link: Seismic Brace Connections now Available RISA-3D Input and Design: 1. First, you must create and apply a Seismic vertical brace Connection Rule to your member in RISA-3D. The application rules are the same as for non-seismic vertical braces. 2. You must also create and apply an appropriate Seismic Design Rule. For OCBF, select a “Minimal” Frame Ductility. For SCBF, select “High” Frame Ductility. 3. Solve the RISA-3D model. Note that you must solve for RISA-3D Seismic Detailing results. If your solution does not include Seismic Detailing results, you will not be able to export the correct brace axial forces into RISAConnection. 4. Solve the Connections within RISA-3D to see a summary of the connection design. 5. For details on the connection design, use the Director…

March 15, 2017 | New, RISAConnection, Brace Connection

Added Knee Brace Connections

RISAConnection v7 recently added a new Knee Brace (Kicker Brace) connection type. This connection can be designed at the brace to column or brace to beam. The connection design is very similar to that of a Chevron Brace: the resultant forces at the connection are calculated using simple statics. The appropriate limit states are then checked in the results report. Integration with RISA-3D Knee Braces may also be assigned to the brace members directly in RISA-3D and then exported to RISAConnection for design. Assign the “Knee Brace” Connection Rule to the brace member (it does not need to be applied to the supporting beam or column), then solve and use the Director tool to export to RISAConnection. Connection details may be adjusted in RISAConnection to achieve a passing design…