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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.
On January 24th, we celebrate the International Day of Education, a reminder of the transformative power of learning. For structural engineers, education doesn’t stop at graduation. It’s a lifelong journey that ensures we stay ahead in a rapidly evolving field. Let’s explore why ongoing learning, certifications, and training programs are essential to the profession. 1. Staying Current with Industry Trends Structural engineering is constantly advancing. From new materials like high-performance concrete to groundbreaking technologies such as Building Information Modeling (BIM), the industry demands that engineers stay informed. Without continuous education, it’s easy to fall behind. Training programs, webinars, and conferences provide opportunities to stay updated on: Innovations in design and analysis tools. Updated codes and standards like ASCE 7. Emerging challenges, such as designing for climate resilience. By staying current, structural engineers ensure their designs remain safe, efficient, and compliant. 2. Enhancing Professional Competence Continuing education boosts confidence and capability. Certifications and specialized training can open doors to career advancement and increased responsibilities. For example: Earning certifications like SE (Structural Engineer) or LEED AP demonstrates expertise in niche areas. Attending courses on advanced seismic design or progressive collapse analysis strengthens technical skills. Gaining expertise in software like RISA or ADAPT…
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RISAFloor v11 now includes the ability to create custom column strip widths in order to optimize the design of slab reinforcement.
RISAFloor ES allows you to model concrete slabs of any thickness. However, there might be sections of the building that require a thicker slab. The icon is shown below and it will allow you to draw a Polygon or Rectangular shape.
In RISAFloor ES, you can quickly thicken the slab in the column strip area with the Drop Panel tool. The column strip is typically the area of highest demand so increasing the thickness may help optimize the concrete usage.
The new ACI 318-14 code has been implemented into RISA-3D v14, RISAFloor v10, and RISAFoundation v8.
The batter dimensions can be set from Wall Footing Definitions:
In RISAFoundation, Design Strips are used to create regions in a slab for reinforcement design. Design strip size and shape is determined by the user, see the Help- Slab- Design Strip Width topic.
Per the ACI, you can add a Shear Cap to your column to increase the shear strength of the slab. In RISAFloor ES two-way slabs, adding a shear cap will thicken the plates around the column automatically. The Shear Cap will affect the Punching Shear and the One-Way shear calculations. As you draw the...
RISAFloor Concrete Floor Slabs can design be transferred into RISA-3D for lateral design using either a Rigid Diaphragm or Semi-Rigid diaphragm. In RISA-3D, the wind and seismic loads are calculated and then applied into the diaphragm level to distribute the forces to the Lateral Resisting System.
Concrete buildings often have large cantilevers. In RISAFloor ES, the Support lines can be drawn to support points but also they can be drawn as cantilevers (shown below).
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