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

July 30, 2026

Need Help with RISA? Here Are Your Go-To Resources

RISA supports you at every stage of your design process, from the first click in the program to the final design. Whether you need a quick answer or in-depth guidance, we offer a wide range of resources to help you work efficiently and with confidence. The RISA Help Files Get answers on all the behind-the-scenes technical information including analysis methods, variable definitions, and design assumptions. The help file provides transparency into the program methodology to make sure RISA engineers can feel confident in the results. The help file is available for each program in the RISA suite for tailored information. It can be accessed at risa.com/help or press F1 within the program for even easier access. Tips & Tricks Blog Explore modeling tips, troubleshooting ideas, and engineering insights on the RISA blog. Our blog articles are designed as quick reads to help engineers find answers fast. Start reading at blog.risa.com. The Video Library See the workflow in real time with the RISA video library at risa.com/videos. From quick clips showing a specific concept to full on-demand webinars, these videos help you understand workflows and seamlessly navigate the interface. Learning Paths Start exploring RISA with on-demand interactive training through our learning…

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Plates (2)

June 16, 2011

How to Model a Hole in a Plate

While RISA-3D (or RISA-2D) does not have an explicit tool to punch a hole...

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May 24, 2011

How to Apply a Tapered Load to Plates in RISA-3D

It’s easy to apply tapered surface loads to plates in RISA-3D by stepping...

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December 13, 2010

Rebar Design using the Internal Force Summation Tool in RISA-3D

When you have a plate model for a slab or wall in RISA-3D, the Internal...

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July 29, 2010

How to Model a Semi-Rigid Diaphragm in Standalone RISA-3D

In standalone RISA-3D models (those not integrated from RISAFloor),...

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July 28, 2010

How Do Plates Connect to Members?

In order to understand the interaction between plates and members it is...

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June 14, 2010

How Do Plates Connect to Each Other?

To best understand how plates interact with each other you must first...

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