Modeling grade beams in RISA-3D for lateral design

[DrewJo]

I'm trying to model some grade beams to tie together columns to help in uplift resistance for a lateral design. Can someone tell me the basics as far as how to do this in RISA?

Do I use pin-pin connections I assume, or fixed? Someone mentioned to me modeling them as compression only springs. How do I do that in RISA? And I don't have any footings in my model so do I just apply the dead loads the footing/soil provide at each column location?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[UcfSE]

As far as compression springs, the RISA help file is pretty good, as is their tech support. You can probably figure it out with a little time invested.

 

[jike]

Pin Pin or Fixed Fixed depends on how you plan to detail the connections. We cannot answer that for you. If you don't know then discuss it with your supervisor.