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

September 3, 2026

How RISA Helps Structural Engineers Coordinate Designs with the Field

Structural drawings rarely tell the whole story. On a jobsite, conditions change, conflicts emerge, and plans evolve in real time. What begins as a clean design often requires adjustments, collaboration, and hard work to bring it fully to life. At RISA, we are committed to supporting better structures from design through construction. With integrated design features and practical tools, RISA helps engineers collaborate more efficiently with the teams onsite by reducing rework, saving time, and improving constructability. Adapting to Jobsite Conditions Even the best designs encounter unexpected conditions in the field. Whether it’s shifting a beam due to an existing conflict or revising a footing due to soil conditions, designs must adapt. In these moments, speed and confidence matter. With RISA’s flexible modeling and modification tools allow engineers to quickly update designs and confidently validate changes. This adjustability minimizes downtime, helps crews stay productive, and keeps the project on track. Clash Detection Integration One of the most common sources of jobsite frustration and delay is discovering conflicts too late. A beam overlapping with existing ductwork or a column that doesn’t align with a wall can lead to costly rework in the field. With RISA’s seamless integration with Revit, engineers can…

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RISA-3D (27)

February 07, 2013

Tapered Member Design Using AISC Design Guide 25

RISA has now incorporated the tapered member design provisions from Steel...

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October 04, 2012

Using Virtual Joist Girders in RISA-3D

The Steel Joist Institute (SJI) has developed a Virtual Joist Girder table...

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September 13, 2012

How Can I Use a Wall for Shear Only (no Bearing) in RISA-3D?

Let’s consider the example of the frame shown below. Suppose there is a...

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August 09, 2012

How to Model a Column within a Wall in RISA-3D

While RISA-3D does not currently have pilaster design, there are still...

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June 07, 2012

How to Apply Hydrostatic Loads to Circular Tanks in RISA-3D

RISA-3D v10 now has the ability to quickly and easily apply hydrostatic...

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May 17, 2012

Detailed Look at Lintel Analysis for Concrete Walls in RISA

RISA-3D now has the ability to design concrete walls with openings for...

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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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March 01, 2012

How to Get a Code Check for Custom Cold Formed Steel Shapes

In order to get code calculations, RISA-3D and RISA-2D need to know what...

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February 23, 2012

How Do I Resolve a P-Delta Instability?

Investigating P-Delta instabilities in RISA-3D (or RISA-2D) can be...

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