Tips & Tricks
September 16, 2025
What’s New in ASCE 7-22?
The ASCE/SEI 7-22 Minimum Design Loads and Associated Criteria for Buildings and Other Structures introduces significant updates from ASCE 7-16. The most notable changes impact wind and seismic provisions, along with new load combination rules that directly affect structural analysis and design. With the release of RISA-3D v23, engineers can now take advantage of these updates directly within their workflows. Why This Matters for Engineers? The most impactful provisions of ASCE 7-22 — wind, seismic, and load combinations — are now supported in RISA-3D v23, ensuring your projects remain compliant with the latest building codes and IBC 2024 adoption. Download the latest versions of RISA that supports ASCE 7-22 below. 1. Wind Provisions Key changes in ASCE 7-22 affect wind speed maps, velocity pressure equations, and roof zone definitions. Topic ASCE 7-16 ASCE 7-22 Design in RISA Wind Speed Maps Based on 2016 hurricane data Updated hurricane & transition zone maps RISA-3D generates wind loads per ASCE 7-22, reflecting updated maps Velocity Pressure (Kd) Included directionality factor Kd removed Automatically handled in RISA-3D wind load generation Roof Zones Based on h/B ratio for hip roofs h/B removed; new GCp values and roof zoning RISA-3D applies updated coefficients for accurate roof…
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June 24, 2025
Rethinking Tall Building Design
In structural engineering, few design challenges are as rewarding—or as unforgiving—as the tall building. While gravity systems and code checks form the backbone of any structural project, once a structure rises beyond ten or fifteen stories, a shift occurs. Wind and seismic forces begin to...
June 17, 2025
Understanding Plate and Member Interaction in RISA
When modeling plate elements alongside member elements in RISA, users may notice that member forces—such as bending moments or axial loads—are lower than expected. This behavior is often the result of how loads are shared between plates and members based on their relative stiffness. If the...

June 5, 2025
RISACalc in the Field
RISACalc in the Field: A Case Study in Confidence and Convenience It was a typical Thursday morning for Emma Ruiz, PE, a structural engineer at a small consulting firm in Colorado. Her day started with a site visit to a rural school renovation—a project where her team was assessing whether a...

May 22, 2025
How RISA Powers Manufacturing Facility Design from Top to Bottom
Case Study: Designing for Strength at Every Level When a Midwest engineering firm was tasked with designing a 120,000-square-foot manufacturing facility, they knew the challenge wasn’t just about steel and concrete—it was about integration. The structure needed to support overhead cranes, custom...

February 25, 2025
A Day in the Life of an Industrial Structural Engineer
If you've ever wondered what it’s like to be an industrial structural engineer, let me paint you a picture: Imagine juggling a dozen problems at once—steel frames, conveyor supports, pipe racks, tank foundations—all while trying to decipher a set of drawings that look like they were faxed from...

February 18, 2025
Ready to Reconnect? How to Make the Most of Returning to RISA
Whether you’re coming back to RISA after a short break or revisiting it after years away, we’re here to make your return seamless and rewarding. From updated features to enhanced training resources, RISA is more equipped than ever to support your structural engineering needs. Here’s a step-by-step...
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