February 24, 2021

Video: Applying Tapered Area Loads in RISAFloor

RISAFloor enables you to consider the loads imposed on your structure due to the drifting effects of snow. Tapered area loads in RISAFloor are ideal for modeling this surcharge load due to snow drifting since the loading is approximated by a triangle.

Tags: RISAFloor, New, Area Load, Snow Load

November 9, 2016 | Loads, RISAFloor, New

How to verify loads graphically in RISAFloor

RISAFloor does not record the applied area loads in a spreadsheet. To simplify modeling, it instead assumes a default area load over the entire diaphragm area. Additionally, you are free to apply area loads beyond the default loads. Whatever is drawn last will be considered the applied loading unless you are using an additive area load which would then be additive to the loads drawn “underneath” it. For more information about additive area loads, read the Therefore, to verify the applied loading, you must do it graphically using the Show Area Load Types toggle button from the Window toolbar. RISAFloor includes three very helpful graphical viewing options for the area loads: 1. View all the applied loading, including the default area load. 2. View only the applied area load (default is hidden). 3. View the combined area loads to see how the load will actually be applied in each load combination. This option includes a legend to show the factored magnitudes of the applied loading. You can also hover your cursor over any area and see the applied Area Load reported in the Status Bar. Use this information to compare to your input loading and load combinations to verify the…

August 26, 2010 | RISAFloor, New, Wood, Joists

How to Design Wood I-Joists with RISAFloor

RISAFloor has the capability to design wood I-Joists based on tables provided by the manufacturer, or provided by you. When modeling beams in RISAFloor, choose the Wood Product material, and choose a joist manufacturer from the shape group. If you would like to add a manufacturer’s database to the program which is not listed, or if you would like to modify the capacities of the existing databases, you can do so through Microsoft Excel. The databases are stored in the following folder: C:\RISA\Wood Schedules\I-Joists When you solve the model the program will determine the maximum moment and shear for each joist and choose the lightest adequate size from the database…

June 22, 2010 | RISA-3D, RISAFloor, New, Wood

How to Create an Engineered Wood Material

In RISA-3D and RISAFloor, the entire NDS species list is available as well as glulam materials but you may need to design a wood product that is not available in the program. You can create any wood material that is not part of the default wood materials available in RISA-3D or RISAFloor by opening the Custom Wood Species database found on the Advanced tab. The dialogue will open and you can see that several custom wood species already exist. To create a new wood species, simply click "New" and enter the properties of the new wood species. Once the material is added, you will now see this new material available in the Material spreadsheet…