Troubleshoot RISAConnection Integration

If you have difficulty getting your RISA-3D or RISAFloor model to integrate into RISAConnection, it is possible that you have defined connection or member information incorrectly, or there may be a program limitation which prevents the integration. Please see the following for assumptions, modeling rules, and possible error messages.

Moment Connection Considerations

The following moment connections are currently supported in RISAConnection:

• Beam to column flange plate moment connections for wide flange or HSS tube columns and wide flange beams.
• Beam to column direct weld end plate moment connections for wide flange or HSS tube columns and wide flange beams.
• Beam to column extended end plate moment connections for wide flange members.
• Beam to column partially extended end plate moment connections for wide flange members.
• Beam to column flush end plate moment connections for wide flange members.
• Column flange plate moment splice.
• Beam flange plate moment splice.
• Column direct weld moment splice.
• Beam direct weld moment splice.
• Column extended end plate moment splice.
• Beam extended end plate moment splice.

Continuous Beam over Column Connections

In order to properly export a continuous beam over column connection to RISAConnection you must obey the following rules:

• A continuous beam over connection rule must exist in the Connection Rules spreadsheet.
• That connection rule must be applied at the top of the column where a continuous beam passes over it.
• No other column members from above can frame into he connection.
• Connection rule must be applied to the top floor of the structure.
• The column member must be a prismatic Wide Flange, a HSS Tube, or a HSS Pipe.
• The beam member must be a prismatic Wide Flange.

Shear Connection Considerations

The following shear connections are currently supported in RISAConnection:

• Single or double clip-angle connections for wide flanges
• Shear tab connections for wide flanges
• End plate connections for wide flanges
• Single or double clip-angle connections for channel beams
• Shear tab connections for channel beams
• Double-sided double clip angle connections to the column or girder web.
  • Beams on either side of the web must be within 3 inches (parallel) to be considered a double-sided connection.

Vertical Brace Connections

The following vertical brace connections are currently supported in RISAConnection:

Diagonal Brace Connections

In order to properly export a diagonal brace connection to RISAConnection you must obey the following rules:

• A Diagonal Brace connection rule must exist in the Connection Rules spreadsheet.
• That connection rule must be applied to the end of the VBrace which connects to the gusset
• That connection rule must also be applied to the end of the beam which connects to the gusset and to the column.
• There may be one or two VBrace members per connection. If there are two VBrace members, they must frame in from above and below the beam respectively
• There must be one beam member on the same side as the VBrace per connection.
• The VBrace(s) may be offset from the beam / column work point. If the offset is along the length of the column then each brace cannot be more than 18 inches from the work point. If the offset is along the length of the beam then the two VBrace members must share a common work point. This eccentricity will be accounted for in the design of the connection. But, the connection design will NOT consider any of the EBF (Eccentrically Braced Frame) requirements of AISC seismic provisions.
• The beam must be horizontal, and the VBrace cannot have an angle of less than 10 degrees with respect to the Beam or the column.
• The column must be a prismatic Wide Flange, a HSS Tube, or a HSS Pipe.
• The beam must be a prismatic Wide Flange.
• The brace(s) must be a single angle, double angle, channel, tube, pipe, WT, or prismatic Wide Flange shape.

Chevron Brace connections

In order to properly export a Chevron Brace connection to RISAConnection you must obey the rules below:

• A Chevron Brace connection rule must exist in the Connection Rules spreadsheet.
• That connection rule must be applied to the ends of both VBraces which connect to the gusset.
• There must be exactly two VBrace members per connection. They must frame in from the same side (above or below) of the beam.
• The VBraces need not share a common node. However, any eccentricity that exists will not be accounted for in the connection design.
• The beam and VBraces must exist in the same plane.
• The beam must be horizontal, and the VBraces cannot have an angle of less than 10 degree with respect to the beams or the vertical plane.
• The beam must be a prismatic Wide Flange, a HSS Tube, or a HSS Pipe.
  • Note: Currently HSS beams on seismic chevron braces are not supported.
• The brace(s) must be a single angle, double angle, channel, tube, pipe, or WT, or prismatic Wide Flange shape.

Knee Brace Connections

In order to properly export a Knee (or Kicker) brace connection to RISAConnection you must obey the following rules:

• A Knee Brace connection rule must exist in the Connection Rules spreadsheet.
• That connection rule must be applied to the end of the VBrace which connects to the gusset. This can either be at the end that connects to a beam or the end that connects to a column.
• The VBrace cannot have an angle of less than 10 degrees with respect to the Beam or the column.
• The supporting member (beam or column) must be a prismatic Wide Flange, a HSS Tube, or a HSS Pipe.
• The Vbrace must be a HSS Tube, HSS Pipe, Channel, WT, Double Angle, or Single Angle shape.
• The Vbrace and its supporting member (beam or column) must be in the same plane.

Splice Connections

RISAConnection can design wide flange (including tapered wide flange) splice connections for beam and column splices. These can be either shear or moment splices. Keep in mind these items when creating your model:

• For beam to beam column to column splices, both members must be oriented in the same direction.
• You must apply your splice Connection Rule to both sides of the splice.

Base Plate Connections

RISAConnection can design single column base plate connections for shear and/or moment forces. Keep in mind these items when creating your model:

• A Base plate connection rule must exist in the Connection Rules spreadsheet.
• The column must be a Wide Flange, a HSS Tube, or a HSS Pipe.
• Base plate connection rules may only be assigned to the bottom of a column member.

Brace to Base Plate Connections

RISAConnection can design vertical brace into a column base plate connections for shear and/or moment forces. Keep in mind these items when creating your model:

• A Brace to Base Plate connection rule must exist in the Connection Rules spreadsheet.
• The column must be a Wide Flange, a HSS Tube, or a HSS Pipe.
• The brace must be a HSS Tube, HSS Pipe, Channel, WT, Double Angle, or Single Angle.
• Base plate connection rules must be assigned to the bottom of a column member and the end of the brace that connects to the column.
• The brace end node may be offset along the column center-line up to 24 inches away from the end of the column.

Truss HSS T-Connections

RISAConnection can design HSS T-Connections that have been exported from your RISA-3D model. Keep in mind these items when assigning the connection rule in RISA-3D:

• A Truss HSS T-Connection rule must exist in the Connection Rules spreadsheet.
• The branch member (vertical member) must be an HSS Tube section.
• The chord member (horizontal member) must be an HSS Tube section.
• The branch and chord members may be assigned as one of the following Shape Type Combinations:
  • Beam supported by Column
  • Column supported by Beam
  • VBrace supported by Column
  • VBrace supported by Beam
  • HBrace supported by Column
  • HBrace supported by Beam
• The chord member must be continuous under the branch. If the chord member is broken into two members it will not export.
• The branch and chord member must be in the same plane.
• The branch and chord member must be perpendicular to one another.