Risa Tips & Tricks: How to Use Our Structural Analysis Software

April 22, 2026

RISA-3D to RISAConnection: Making the Link Work

RISAConnection is designed to work directly with your RISAFloor and RISA-3D models, not as a separate “export‑and‑forget” tool. When the integration is set up correctly, RISAConnection can read your geometry, member sizes, connection rules, design method, and load combinations, then send connection results back into RISAFloor and RISA-3D for review. This article walks through how the integration behaves, what you can and cannot change in RISAConnection, and how to work with grouped connections efficiently. 1. What Actually Comes into RISAConnection When you integrate from RISAFloor or RISA-3D, RISAConnection creates a .rcn file with the same file name as your model in the same folder. You’ll see that the project is populated with all valid connections—only connection types that RISAConnection can design will be brought in. Data that is integrated: Geometry and member sizes Connection Rules from RISAFloor / RISA-3D (including bolted vs. welded settings) Design Method (ASD or LRFD) Applicable Seismic Design Rules from RISA-3D (for seismic connection types) Load combinations that have the “Connection” check‑box enabled in the RISAFloor / RISA-3D Load Combinations spreadsheet If a connection type or configuration is not supported by RISAConnection, it will not be added to the .rcn project and a warning will be…

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February 01, 2011

What is a “Default Deck” in RISAFloor?

To understand decks it is important to know what a deck is. In typical...

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January 18, 2011

How to Model Tension-Only Bracing in RISA-3D

Before reading this, be sure to check out the article linked below on...

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January 06, 2011

How to Model X-Bracing in RISA-3D

There are several tips to modeling X-Bracing within RISA-3D that can help...

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December 29, 2010

What is P-Delta Analysis?

When a model is loaded, it deflects. The deflections in the members of the...

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December 21, 2010

How Can I Account For Continuous Tie Rods in RISA-3D Wood Walls?

Continuous tiedown systems are used to help resist overturning forces...

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December 16, 2010

How Should I Model Boundary Conditions for a Truss in RISA-3D?

When it comes to trusses in RISA-3D, boundary condition definitions (pin...

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November 29, 2010

How to Check Frame Story Shears in RISA-3D

When using rigid diaphragm analysis in RISA-3D it can be useful to...

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October 26, 2010

How to Use Spreadsheets More Effectively in RISA

RISA includes various advanced spreadsheet operations that make reviewing...

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September 20, 2010

Use RISA to Consider Bi-Directional (Quartering) Wind Loading

RISA-3D automatically considers the complex wind combinations required by...

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