WEBINAR: Basics of Dynamics Analysis in RISA-3D
August 12, 2020

WEBINAR: Basics of Dynamics Analysis in RISA-3D

Modeling and analyzing structures for dynamic conditions is essential to understanding how a structure will react to loading such as wind and seismic. These analysis types can include simple free vibration analysis as well as more advanced response spectra and time history analysis. RISA-3D is...

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Improving Mass Participation in RISA-3D
July 21, 2020

Improving Mass Participation in RISA-3D

In structural engineering, a modal analysis uses the overall mass and stiffness of a structure to find the various periods at which the structure will naturally resonate, along with the frequencies of vibration of the structure. In RISA-3D, the modal analysis is a prerequisite to the response...

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Importing Recorded Seismic Ground Motions
March 10, 2016

Importing Recorded Seismic Ground Motions

The Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research center (PEER) has a large library of measured earthquake records. Below is an example of how to quickly convert one of these records into a format that can be imported into RISA.

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What are the Ramp Up/Coast Down Functions in Time History?
February 24, 2016

What are the Ramp Up/Coast Down Functions in Time History?

Ramp Up Function RISA allows you to define “Ramp Up Functions” to control how the force and frequency vary during this initial startup time. Typically cyclic equipment loading is applied as a reduced force or frequency when it is initially starting up. It would be overly conservative if it were...

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Importing a Time History Function
January 14, 2016

Importing a Time History Function

New in RISA-3D v14 is the introduction of a Time History analysis feature. Time history functions may be generated directly in the program based on simple sinusoidal functions. More complex functions, however, can be imported from a text file.

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Making a Time History Animation Video
November 24, 2015

Making a Time History Animation Video

Time history analysis solves for normal analysis results (joint displacements, member forces, code checks, etc.) based on loading that varies with time. For some analyses it may be useful to view an animation of the deflected shape of the structure as a function of time. This blog topic serves as a...

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Ritz Vector Solver (Dynamics) now Available
May 4, 2015

Ritz Vector Solver (Dynamics) now Available

RISA-3D v13 includes a new Ritz Vector Solver for the Dynamic analysis. When running a Response Spectrum analysis for seismic design, some structures experience large numbers of local modes that don’t contribute to the lateral response of the structure. The use of load-dependent Ritz vectors...

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Why Don’t My Response Spectra Reactions Satisfy Statics?
April 3, 2012

Why Don’t My Response Spectra Reactions Satisfy Statics?

The applied loads in a response spectrum analysis (RSA) are the applied masses times the accelerations in the response spectra. Each mode of vibration produces its own set of joint reactions. The reactions for each mode obey statics as shown in the portal frame example shown below: Response...

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