February 23, 2017

Using Transverse Stiffeners and Web Doublers Together

RISAConnection v7 now allows both Transverse Column Flange Stiffeners and Column Web Doublers to be applied to Beam to Column Moment Connections.

Simply select Yes for each option under Connection Category in the Connection Properties grid to apply the two options simultaneously:

This will be reflected in the 2D and 3D views for verification. You may configure the Stiffeners and Doublers using the inputs from the Connection Properties grid.

The design checks will check each element individually; the program assumes no interaction of the Transverse Stiffeners and Web Doublers.

Tags: New, RISAConnection

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…

August 2, 2011 | RISAFloor, New, Boundary Conditions

How to Assign Column Base Boundary Conditions in RISAFloor

Column boundary conditions are set in RISAFloor per the Splice Type that you have set in the Columns spreadsheet. For any column at the lowest floor level, the Splice checkbox will automatically be checked, indicating that a boundary condition will be set at the base. You may set the boundary condition to either pinned or fixed. This is controlled through the Splice Type. Setting the Splice Type to Moment creates a fixed boundary condition; setting it to Shear creates a pinned boundary condition. After solving your model and taking it into RISA-3D via the Director tool, you will be able to verify these boundary conditions. Note: After the initial export into RISA-3D, the splice type is no longer linked to the model. Therefore, you have the ability to modify these boundary conditions once in RISA-3D. This way, you have the freedom to release any restraint (in each of the six directions), rather than selecting just perfectly pinned or perfectly fixed for your lateral analysis…

January 29, 2020 | New, RISAConnection, Moment Connections

Flange Plate Column Cap Plate Moment Connection now Available

RISAConnection v11 now includes the ability to design Column to Beam Column Cap Flange Plate Moment Connections according to AISC 360. This widely requested feature allows users to define the beam as a wide flange and the column as either a wide flange, tapered wide flange or HSS tube. To begin, choose the connection type from the Moment > Flange Plates connection category. The basic theory behind flange plate moment connections (including the ones that already exist in RISAConnection) is that the moment developed within the beam is transferred as a force couple through the beam flanges into flange plates. These flange plates, in turn, transfer this force into the column through welds to the column flanges. In the Flange Plate Column Cap Plate Moment Connection, the force transfer is essentially the same however the top flange plate extends over the top of the column. The force developed within the top flange plate will be then be transferred directly into the column through welds at the top of the column. The force developed within the bottom flange plate will be transferred into the column in the same manner as an ordinary flange plate moment connection. In this configuration, the following…