What's New

Version 1.1 brings RISAFoundation to the next level. With the addition of the new ACI 318-05 concrete code, you can design your mat slabs, spread and combined footings per the IBC 2006.

Overview

RISAFoundation gives you the ability to solve and optimize all types of foundation systems, including mat foundations, grade beams, isolated spread footings and combined footings.

RISAFoundation also fully and completely integrates with RISA-3D and RISAFloor, providing a complete structural design solution. Whether running standalone or from within RISA-3D/RISAFloor, RISAFoundation provides unparalleled ease, flexibility and power for the drawing, design and optimization of foundation systems.

Why RISAFoundation Stands Apart

Automatic Mesh Generation

Slabs are automatically discretized into well formed quadrilateral ­— not triangular — elements at a specified mesh size. Beams are automatically discretized.

Thick Plate Modeling

The thick plate method of RISAFoundation provides more realistic results than the thin plate modeling procedure found in other products.

Comprehensive Rebar Calculations and Detailing

RISAFoundation gives you the freedom to design and detail a slab in any direction. Grade beams and spread footings are automatically designed and detailed as well. Rebar schedule and DXF export are also available.

RISA-3D and RISAFloor Integration

RISAFoundation excels as a stand alone application. Its full integration with the RISA Building System brings productivity to a higher level. Manage all project footings in one model, in one file, and within the same environment as your structure. All loads are automatically applied and all footings are optimized at once.

Specifications

Modeling Features

• Foundation systems can be any combination of mat slabs, grade beams, spread footings and combined footings
• Slabs can be any arbitrary shape with varying thickness and can include openings and discontinuities
• Design of isolated spread footings
• Model and design grade beams: between slabs, on slab perimeters, between spread footings and independent
• Variable soil properties possible throughout the foundation system
• Impose point supports anywhere in the model. Supports can be rigid, tension only, compression only or tension-compression spring; well suited for modeling pile supports.
• Comprehensive CAD-like graphic drawing/editing capabilities that let you draw and modify as well as snap, move, rotate, copy, scale, delete, apply, mirror, etc.
• Versatile drawing grids (orthogonal, radial, skewed)
• Universal snaps allow drawing without grids
• Powerful graphic select/unselect tools including box, line, polygon, invert, criteria, spreadsheet based, with locking
• True spreadsheet editing with cut, paste, fill, math, sort, find, etc.
• Unlimited undo/redo capability and automatic timed backup
• Dynamic synchronization between spreadsheets and graphics
• Open multiple spreadsheets simultaneously
• Constant in stream error checking and data validation
• Support for all units systems & conversions at any time

Analysis Features

• State-of-the-art plate/shell element with automatic calculation of transverse shear
• Automatic meshing of slabs into well formed quadrilateral elements (NO triangular elements are created by the mesher). This is all done “behind the scenes” without any user interaction necessary, though user may optionally control the size of the mesh
• Physical member used for grade beams, automatic inclusion of internally generated mesh points
• Soil spring stiffness automatically calculated based on soil subgrade modulus and slab tributary area
• Self weight of slabs and beams is automatically calculated and may be optionally excluded in the analysis
• Unlimited load cases and load combinations
• Point loads, point moments, line loads and area/patch loads can be applied anywhere on the slab

Graphics Features

• Unlimited simultaneous model view windows
• “True to scale” rendering with translucency, even when drawing
• High-speed redraw algorithm for instant refreshing
• Dynamically zoom, pan, rotate, scroll, snap views
• Font and color control
• Saved views to quickly restore frequent or desired views
• Saved selections to quickly recall desired selection states
• Rendered or wire-frame animations of deflected model
• Distance tool for measuring between points
• High quality customizable graphics printing

Design Features

• Calculation of rebar requirements using design strips
• Design strips may easily be drawn anywhere on the slab
• Design cuts can also be drawn anywhere on the slab
• Design for bending and shear at all design cuts
• Calculation of punching shear
• Grade beams are automatically designed and detailed
• Automatic enveloping and rebar calculation
• Design codes: ACI 1999/2002/2005
• Automatic code based (ASCE, UBC, IBC, BOCA, SBC, ACI, International) load combination generation as well as user specified combinations
• Exact integration of concrete stress using either parabolic or rectangular stress blocks

Result Features

• Color contouring of the slabs based on:
• Transverse shears
• Bending moments
• Displacements
• Soil pressure
• Tabular and graphical display of design results
• Slab deflected shape plotting and animation
• Line cut tool shows the distribution of moments and shears in the slab at any location, in any direction, simply by drawing a line
• Separate detail reports for spread footing designs
• Comprehensive grade beam detail reports with force and detail design calculations and expanded diagrams
• Rebar detailing for slab and beam design
• Graphical display of total moments/shears for a design strip
• Spreadsheet results with sorting and filtering of all output: slab forces, beam forces, displacements, soil pressure, etc.
• Standard and user defined reports
• Rebar schedule and DXF export

Integrated Structural Design

RISAFoundation is a complete foundation solution and operates independently or fully integrated with RISA-3D and RISAFloor.

Design the structure in RISA-3D and/or RISAFloor and design the foundation system in RISAFoundation, with a complete flow of information both ways. All reactions are automatically imported into RISAFoundation for design and detailing of the complete foundation system.

RISA-3D, RISAFloor and RISAFoundation are so tightly integrated they operate as one program on the same model. Even better, the interfaces for RISA-3D, RISAFloor and RISAFoundation are the same, making them much easier to learn and use.

General Features

• Optimized for Windows 2000/XP/Vista
• Extensive customization options & user defaults
• Comprehensive printed reference manual & tutorials
• Encyclopedic online help with index and cross-reference
• Program technical support provided by Professional Engineers