Overview of the RISA Workspace

RISA (Structural Analysis & Design) is a suite of software tools widely used by structural engineers for modeling, analyzing, and designing steel, concrete, timber, and other structural systems. For newcomers, the interface may appear dense, but it is intentionally organized to streamline complex workflows. Understanding each component of the default workspace will help you navigate efficiently from the first model to final design.

The primary interface elements include the menu bar, toolbar, drawing area, project explorer, and the properties panel. Together, they provide a layout that separates navigation, modeling, and data management.

The menu bar at the top offers dropdown access to all commands, grouped by function: File (new, open, save, import/export), Edit (undo, redo, copy, paste), View (zoom, pan, display options), Model (grids, members, plates, supports), Loads (load types, load combinations, load cases), Analysis (run analysis, set solver options), Results (diagrams, envelopes, reports), and Settings (units, preferences, design codes).

Below the menu bar, the toolbar provides one-click buttons for the most common actions: select, draw nodes/members, place supports, apply loads, run analysis, and toggle visibility layers. Hovering over any button displays a tooltip identifying its purpose, and you can customize the toolbar through Settings > Toolbar to add or remove buttons based on your workflow.

Drawing Area and View Controls

The drawing area occupies the central portion of the window. It is where you create your structural model in 2D or 3D. By default, RISA displays a perspective 3D view, but you can switch to orthogonal views (top, front, right) using the view cube in the upper-right corner or via the View menu. The mouse wheel zooms in and out, and holding the middle mouse button pans the view. For rotating the model in 3D, hold the middle mouse button and drag. These view controls are essential for inspecting complex geometries.

You can also turn on/off the display of labels, dimensions, and colors using the Display Options dialog (View > Display Options). This helps reduce clutter when working with large models.

Project Explorer

Located on the left side of the screen, the Project Explorer is a tree-view interface that lists every object type in your model: Nodes, Members, Plates, Supports, Loads, Load Combinations, Envelopes, and Result Tables. Clicking a branch shows all entities of that type, and you can right-click to perform bulk actions (delete, modify properties, view tables). The Project Explorer is also the fastest way to navigate to specific groups of objects — for example, to select all beams in a certain story, you can use the Group Manager within the explorer to filter by material, floor, or load assignment.

Properties Panel

When you select any object (a member, node, support, etc.), the Properties Panel appears on the right side of the screen. This panel displays all editable parameters for the selection. For a steel beam, you can modify its section shape, material grade, release conditions, and member end offsets. For a node, you can adjust its coordinates or fixity. The properties panel updates instantly as you change values, and changes are applied when you press Enter or click outside the field. This direct manipulation is much faster than hunting through menu dialogs.

If multiple objects of different types are selected, the panel shows common properties only. For beginners, it’s best to select one object at a time until you become comfortable with multi‑selection editing.

Getting Started: Building Your First Model

Before you can analyze anything, you need a structural model. The process is linear: define the geometry, assign materials and sections, apply supports and loads, then run the analysis. Below is a step‑by‑step walkthrough for a simple steel frame.

1. Create a New Model and Set Up Grids

Go to File > New. RISA prompts you to choose a model type: 3D Frame, 2D Frame, Floor, Wall, etc. For a first project, select 3D Frame and click OK.

Next, define a rectangular grid to place your columns and beams. From the Model menu, select Grid Setup. Enter the number of bays in the X and Y directions and the story heights. For example, a 3‑bay by 2‑bay structure with 12‑foot grid spacing and 15‑foot story height creates a typical small office frame. Click OK to generate the grid lines and nodes.

2. Draw the Structural Members

With the grid in place, use the Draw Member tool (icon resembling a beam) from the toolbar. Click on two nodes to create a straight member. Draw columns vertically between consecutive floor nodes, and beams horizontally along the grid lines. You can draw multiple members by continuing to click—press Esc or right‑click to finish the command.

For a complete frame, draw all columns on every story, then draw beams on each floor level. RISA automatically assigns a default steel section (e.g., W12x26) to new members, but you can change these later.

3. Assign Material and Section Properties

Select one or more members (hold Ctrl to add to selection). In the Properties Panel, find the Section field. Click the ellipsis button (…) to open the Section Database. RISA includes a comprehensive library of steel, concrete, timber, and cold‑formed sections. For a steel frame, choose a wide‑flange shape from the AISC 14 database. Then set the Material field to A992 (or your preferred grade).

Repeat for all members. You can also use the Member Groups feature to assign properties to all beams on one floor simultaneously: select multiple members, click Make Group in the Model menu, then edit the group’s properties.

4. Define Supports

Structural supports connect your model to the ground. Select all nodes at the base (bottom story columns). In the Properties Panel, find the Support field. Click the ellipsis to open the Support Definition dialog. The default is a fixed support (all translational and rotational degrees of freedom restrained). For a pinned support, uncheck RZ (rotation about Z) if your model is in the XY plane; typically, steel base plates are modeled as pinned (only translations fixed). Set the support conditions accordingly and click OK.

You can also assign supports to individual nodes by selecting them. For a 2D frame, ensure out‑of‑plane degrees are restrained to prevent instability.

Applying Loads

With geometry and supports ready, the next step is to define the forces that the structure must resist. RISA supports all common load types and load combinations per ASCE 7 or other building codes.

Types of Loads

Access the Loads menu to add load cases. The main categories are:

  • Dead Load (DL): Permanent loads such as self‑weight of the structure, finishes, walls, and fixed equipment. RISA can automatically include self‑weight by checking Include Self Weight in the dead load case definition.
  • Live Load (LL): Occupancy loads — people, furniture, movable partitions. Live loads are often applied as uniformly distributed loads (UDL) on floors or as point loads on beams.
  • Wind Load (WL): Lateral pressures calculated from wind speed, exposure, and topography. For a quick analysis, you can apply wind as equivalent static loads on the frame nodes or use the Wind Load Generator (under Loads > Generate Wind Load) which automates the process per ASCE 7.
  • Seismic Load (EQ): Earthquake forces defined via equivalent lateral force or response spectrum. RISA’s Seismic Load Generator helps compute story shears based on your site’s seismic parameters.

To apply a distributed load on a beam: select the member, go to the Loads tab in the Properties Panel (or use Loads > Distributed Loads). Choose the load case (e.g., DL), enter the magnitude in kips/ft or kN/m, and the start/end distances (default is full span). Point loads can be added at any location along a member.

Load Combinations

Structural design requires combining multiple load cases with appropriate factors (e.g., 1.2DL + 1.6LL per ASCE 7). In RISA, go to Loads > Load Combinations. You can define automatic combinations based on a selected code (e.g., ASCE 7-16) or manually enter each combination. The software will use these combinations to compute envelope forces and design checks.

For beginners, it’s safest to use the automatic generation option: click Add Auto Combo Set and choose the applicable code. RISA creates all required strength and serviceability combinations. Review them to ensure they match your project requirements — you can edit or delete individual combos.

Running the Analysis and Interpreting Results

Once the model is complete and loads are assigned, you’re ready to analyze. RISA performs a linear elastic finite element analysis for static and modal response.

Running the Analysis

Click Analyze > Run Analysis (or press F5). The Analysis Status window shows progress and any warnings or errors. Common issues include:

  • Instability warnings: Usually caused by insufficient supports or unconnected members. Check that every node has the correct degree‑of‑freedom restraints and that members are properly attached.
  • Singular stiffness matrix: Indicates a mechanism — often a missing support or release definition. Turn on the Release display to see if an end release is incorrectly applied.
  • Section not found: Verify that all assigned sections exist in the database and are correctly spelled.

If the analysis completes successfully, the Results menu becomes active.

Viewing Results

Results are displayed graphically and numerically. For a graphical overview:

  • Member Forces (axial, shear, moment diagrams): Select a member, then go to Results > Member Forces. A color‑coded diagram appears on the member, and values at each tenth point are shown in a floating window.
  • Displacements: Results > Deflections shows deflected shape and node translations. You can animate the deflection shape to better understand the structural behavior.
  • Reactions: Results > Reactions lists support forces for each load combination. Verify that the sum of vertical reactions equals total vertical load.
  • Envelopes: Results > Envelopes displays the maximum and minimum values of forces, stresses, and displacements across all load combinations.

Numerical data can be exported to tables: Results > View Spreadsheet. This opens a tabular view of all member forces, node reactions, or design check ratios. You can copy these tables to Excel for reporting.

Design Checks (Steel/Concrete)

For steel members, after analysis, run Design > Steel Design. RISA checks each member against AISC 360 (or your selected code) and displays the demand‑capacity ratio (DCR). A DCR less than 1.0 indicates sufficient capacity. The Design Results table shows governing combination, control code, and utilization. Concrete design follows a similar workflow but requires specifying reinforcing parameters.

Tips and Best Practices for Beginners

  • Start Simple: Begin with a small, fully constrained 2D frame model. Add details like releases, offsets, and lateral loads one at a time. This helps isolate learning points and reduces debugging time.
  • Use the Undo/Redo: RISA keeps a substantial undo history (up to 100 steps by default). Experiment with tools freely, knowing you can revert changes easily.
  • Leverage Templates: When starting a new model, use the built‑in templates in File > New. They include pre‑defined grids, sections, and supports for common structure types (simple frame, truss, floor slab). Modify them to fit your project.
  • Save Frequently: RISA models can become large quickly. Enable auto‑save (Settings > Preferences > File) to save every 10 minutes.
  • Explore the Help System: Press F1 at any time to open context‑sensitive help. RISA’s documentation includes step‑by‑step examples, theory manuals, and a searchable index. Also check the official RISA tutorials page for videos and sample files.
  • Verify with Hand Calculations: For a simple cantilever beam or simply supported beam, compare RISA’s results to your hand‑calculated values. This builds confidence in the software and helps you spot input errors quickly.
  • Use Layer Management: For complex models, assign members to layers (e.g., “Beams Floor 1”, “Columns”, “Bracing”). Turn layers on/off in the Display Options to reduce visual clutter when working on specific parts of the model.

Additionally, join the RISA User Forum to ask questions and share tips with the engineering community. Many experienced users post solutions for common modeling pitfalls.

Conclusion

Mastering RISA’s user interface and basic functions is the foundation for efficient structural modeling and analysis. By familiarizing yourself with the workspace layout, practicing the model‑build workflow, and methodically applying loads and interpreting results, you will quickly move from a beginner to a confident user. Remember to leverage RISA’s extensive help resources, templates, and community support as you progress to more advanced topics such as dynamic analysis, nonlinear behavior, and code‑specific design.

For further reading, refer to the RISA Knowledge Base for troubleshooting common issues, and consider investing time in the user manual to explore advanced features like steel connection design or foundation modeling.