Tips & Tricks

January 1, 2026

Top RISA-3D Features Engineers Underuse

Powerful Tools Don’t Help If They’re Left Unused Many engineers evaluate analysis software based on core modeling and design checks. But once a demo is over, some of the most impactful features are the ones that quietly save time on real projects — especially mid-size jobs where efficiency matters most. These aren’t advanced edge-case tools. They’re everyday features that often go underused. Diaphragm Forces: See Load Paths Instead of Guessing Diaphragm force output is one of the most valuable — and least leveraged — parts of a full building model. Instead of relying on manual distribution or conservative assumptions, engineers can directly see how loads are flowing to vertical elements. For mid-size structures, this clarity can mean: Fewer overdesigned collectors More confidence in lateral load paths Faster review and revisions when layouts change Batch Results: Review Smarter, Not Longer Batch results allow engineers to review multiple load cases, members, or design checks in a single pass. Instead of hunting through individual reports, patterns become obvious quickly. On mid-size jobs, this speeds up: QA/QC reviews Iterative design changes Comparing “before and after” scenarios It’s not about skipping checks — it’s about seeing the full picture sooner. Design Iteration Speed Is the…

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🎃 Trick or Treat… It’s RISA-Jeopardy! 👻
October 30, 2025

🎃 Trick or Treat… It’s RISA-Jeopardy! 👻

Halloween isn’t just for candy and costumes—it’s the perfect time to test your spooky engineering skills! We’ve brewed up a Halloween-themed RISA Jeopardy game, packed with fun, easy questions about our software. Tip for readers: Try to answer before revealing the “treat” below each question!

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Understanding Sign Conventions for Wall Panels & Plates in RISA
September 4, 2025

Understanding Sign Conventions for Wall Panels & Plates in RISA

While members (beams and columns) follow conventions tied to their local axes, interpreting results for wall panels, plate elements, and design strips requires a slightly different perspective. These elements deal with both in-plane and out-of-plane behavior, and the sign conventions can change...

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Understanding Sign Conventions for Members Across RISA Software
September 4, 2025

Understanding Sign Conventions for Members Across RISA Software

RISA software products use different sign conventions depending on the product’s purpose and typical use case. While the conventions are logical within each program, they may appear inconsistent when moving between tools like RISA-3D, RISAFloor, RISAFoundation, and RISAConnection. This article...

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What Happens During a RISA Software Tour?
August 13, 2025

What Happens During a RISA Software Tour?

Exploring a new structural design software purchase? If you’ve ever wondered how RISA’s software could fit into your structural design workflow, a RISA Software Tour is the fastest way to find out—no guesswork, no canned presentations. In this free, 1-hour session, you’ll meet 1-on-1 with a RISA...

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Slab vs. Spread Footing in RISAFoundation: What's the Difference?
July 29, 2025

Slab vs. Spread Footing in RISAFoundation: What's the Difference?

We often get asked: “Should I model my foundation as a slab or a spread footing in RISAFoundation?” While both are valid options, they use very different analysis methods, and the results can vary accordingly. In this article, we’ll walk through a side-by-side comparison, using the same modeled...

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Pile Supported Slabs in RISAFoundation
March 6, 2025

Pile Supported Slabs in RISAFoundation

Ensuring Your Slab is Fully Supported by Piles in RISAFoundation A common mistake when modeling pile-supported slabs in RISAFoundation is forgetting to zero out the soil properties. By default, RISAFoundation assigns a soil definition to all slabs, which introduces soil springs into the model. If...

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Automating Foundation Design with RISAFoundation
December 17, 2024

Automating Foundation Design with RISAFoundation

Why RISAFoundation is Essential for Today’s Engineers? Incorporating RISAFoundation into your foundation design process is more than just a time-saver—it’s a powerful tool for enhancing the accuracy and quality of engineering deliverables. By automating the most tedious and error-prone aspects of...

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Tips for Solving a Slow Solution in RISA-3D
October 25, 2024

Tips for Solving a Slow Solution in RISA-3D

Is your RISA-3D software solution running slower than you expected? There are a few things you can do during your model set up in order to make your model more efficient and reduce the solution time. RISA has compiled a list of our most common tips for solving a slow solution in RISA-3D.

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Enhanced
March 4, 2024

Enhanced "Move" Tools in RISAFoundation

RISAFoundation includes the added ability to move selected foundation elements. This includes beams, wall footings, piles, pedestals, slabs, etc. To access the move tools, click on the Modify tab in the toolbar.

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