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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RISA-2D (2)

May 04, 2015

Ritz Vector Solver (Dynamics) now Available

RISA-3D v13 includes a new Ritz Vector Solver for the Dynamic analysis....

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March 20, 2015

Moving Load Point Load Generator now Available

A common question we get in tech support is “how can I verify my moving...

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March 12, 2015

Cold-Formed Steel Back to Back Design

Cold Formed Steel channels are often built-up as back-to-back sections to...

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February 26, 2015

Canadian Wood Design now Available

Timber design per the Canadian CSA 086-2009 design code is now available....

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February 17, 2015

What's New for Code Updates in RISA

New codes have been added to RISA-3D v13 and RISAFloor v9, these include:...

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February 18, 2014

How to Add a New Pattern to the Moving Load Database

RISA-3D and RISA-2D come with a default list of existing moving load...

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March 27, 2013

Nesting Load Combinations

The Load Combinations spreadsheet in RISA-3D is limited to ten columns of...

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March 20, 2013

Plate Contours Compared to Spreadsheet Values

After solution in RISA-3D, you can use Results View Settings to view the...

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April 03, 2012

Why Don’t My Response Spectra Reactions Satisfy Statics?

The applied loads in a response spectrum analysis (RSA) are the applied...

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