ETABS – Day 1 :-
ETABS – Standalone finite element based program for analysis and design of structures
Basic understanding of how ETABS works --- Lets understand through an example
Step 1:-
File Open
Specify the height of the storey ( don’t forget to input the storey heights correctly ), no. of
storeys, horizontal spacing correctly. Also check for the units at bottom right corner.
Click Grid only
Your model/3D framework is ready. Now we specify some section and material properties
which we use for our model like beams, columns, and concrete/steel etc.
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Step 2:-
Now, in our problem, since we have restricted the beam section to W18, we can give ETABS
a range specific to our requirements and it selects the beam for most efficient design
Click Define Frame Properties Click to Select the option “Add auto select”
Select the specific ranges of beam you want and name the section OK
Step 3 :-
Adding line objects (which represent columns and beams) to multiple stories
At the right bottom side of the program interface, click Similar stories from the drop
down box
Make sure the plan view is active. To review the story data, click Edit Edit Storey data
Edit storey command --- By default, the storey data is shown by the ETABS
Now for creating columns,
Click on left hand side vertical bar, symbol showing “Create columns in the reigion..”
Ensure that A-LatCol (– Automatic, Inbuilt column selection list for lateral force resisting
systems ) is selected
Here, specify the columns as per the required orientation (In this example, end 1 columns
on the right D1, D2 are rotated through 90 degrees
All the other columns are aligned at 0 degrees angle.
We can drag and select all the points where we need columns
Now, for selecting columns, click Select object Hold ctrl and then click the points on the
grid and select “column” in the dialog box where you get “point and column” both
Click Assign Frame/Line Local Axes Select the major direction is along ‘Y’
It will display all the columns and their alignment
(figure in the next picture)
Step 4:-
Now, similarly for creating beams,
Click on left hand side vertical bar, symbol showing “Draw lines” Check the property of
the beam as “AUTOLATBM” as we specified
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Click on the nodes (say C1 to C2) to create the beams all along the height of storeys
For deletion, we click Select Object Click on the beam as per the grid number. Here we
click on C2 to delete all the beams in that grid
Now, we draw the Secondary infill beams
Click on left hand side vertical bar, symbol showing “Create Secondary beams..” Check
the property of the beam as “A-CompBm” (which means a composite beam section )
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We can drag and select all the grids as required, which will fill with secondary beams as
shown
Go to Select Menu Intersecting Line
Select the secondary beams to be deleted. And then click Delete or Edit Delete
Step 5 :-
Now we create the floors for the structure
Click on left hand side vertical bar, symbol showing “Draw Areas..”. Then click the nodes in
clockwise direction where we need slabs/floors
Go to View Set building view options Check the box with “Object fill” under special
effects Check “Apply to all windows” click OK
Go to Define Wall/Slab/Deck sections Modify/Show sections Change the slab depth
to 3 in. OK OK
Now we add some dummy area objects, with no mass or stiffness
Click on Set elevation view on Menu Elevation OK
Click Create Areas on click Click all the bays where you need dummy areas
Similarly, Click Create Walls on click Click all the bays/grid where you need dummy walls
The final 3D view and plan view look like this :-
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Now we assign the loads on to the structure :-
Step 6 :- Define loads
Menu Define Static Load Cases Now click on Live Reduced Live in the “Type”
drop down Modify Load
Super dead in “Type” drop down and give a new name say SDEAD Add new load.
Similarly, do for cladding
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For Earthquake loading,
Quake in “Type” drop down and give a new name EQY . In Auto Lateral Load, click IBC 2003
Add New load
With EQY highlighted, select Modify Lateral load Click ‘Y direction’ OK
For wind loading ASCE 07 -02
Wind in “Type” drop down and give a new name WIND. In Auto Lateral Load, click ASCE 07 -
02 Add New load
Modify Lateral Load Select “Exposure from frame area and objects” Include area
objects – tickbox check Wind speed 100 mph OK
View of all the load cases
Step 7:-
Assigning the gravity loads on the structure
Check the plan view window is active, and click anywhere on the interior of the structure
Assign shell/area loads uniform
In the load box, press shift and double click inside it to bring the calculator
Select lb/ft enter the value ‘35’
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For live loads, follow the same way and enter its corresponding value.
Click on all the perimeter beams, and then click Assign Frame/Line loads Distributed
Cladding Units as lb/ft and enter the value (here 250 lb/ft)
Click on the plan view 3D view to show the loads on the structure
Step 8:- Create a developed elevation view on the right side of the building to apply wind
load at later time
Draw Draw developed elevation definition
Enter RIGHT in the elevations Add the elevation
In plan view Click the snap button at left bottom “ON” and click the right end nodes
click enter and then click elevation RIGHT
You will find the developed elevation view
It is an unfolded view of the right elevation
Step 9 :- Assigning wind loads to the two sides of building
In the 3D view window active Click elevation grid A OK
And Assign Shell/Area loads Wind pressure coefficient (Cp = 0.8) Check windward
box is ticked OK
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Similarly, do it for right elevation
And Assign Shell/Area loads Wind pressure coefficient (Cp = 0.5) Check leeward
box is ticked OK
Now for a quick review, we can check the loads using Display Show tables Area
assignments OK
Once the table is open Area wind pressure assignments
Now we can analyse our structure using Main Menu Run Analysis
After run analysis, for example, we can view the results from Display Show member
forces diagram Frame/Pier/Spandrel forces Static Dead load Moment 3-3
