Check list for ETABS Modelling

1 It is preferable to make our own model for new project even if we receive an ETABS model from others

2 For third party review projects or where only few corrections are required, we can use the model supplied by
the client

3 Before starting the model, make general arrangement drawings with columns and wall locations and get it
reviewed and signed off by senior engineer

4 Engineers should provide preliminary sizes/thicknesses of columns and walls

5 Obtain preliminary slab thicknesses from senior engineer. Senior engineer should give preliminary thicknesses
based on conventional RC slabs or PT slabs

6 Special attention shall be paid to cantilever slabs. Thickness of such slabs shall not be less than cantilever
length/10. Ask Engineer to provide the slab thickness with longterm deflection consideration

7 Make SAFE models for different floor slabs for ascertaining slab thicknesses etc. for long-term deflections etc.

8 If there are proposed basement(s), discuss with engineer if shoring is to be required. And make the retaining walls
accordingly.

9 Ask architect to provide the slabs and opening edges in one separate layer. For example, a layer called ST-EDGES

10 Prepare GA drawings in full conformity with Architectural drawings. Make sure that insertion point of Architectural
and structural drawings are identical. Ask architect or engineer about the insertion point.

11 After GA drawings are reviewed and signed off by the engineer, make DXF of such drawings

12 For a new project which is to be designed by us, start ETABS with an approved ETABS template

13 Check units display in ETABS. The unites shall be in kN, m

14 Save the template in working folder

15 Ask the engineer about the design code to be used. For example American or British or European Codes.
It is preferable to use American Codes for Dubai projects. Though, it is preferred to use British Standards by
Oman authorities, we can use American standards in consultation with Muscat Municipality. Indian Standards
shall be used for Indian Projects.

16 Prepare loading plan drawings

17 While importing or making a new model, always import in kN,m input

18 If ACI codes are to be used, all concrete grades shall be in "f'c" i.e. cylindrical strength.

19 Ask the engineer for the concrete grade for columns, shear walls and slabs. The grade of concrete for slabs shall
not be less than grade of vertical members (shear walls, columns)/1.4

20 If British codes are to be used, all concrete grades shall be in "C" i.e. cube strength.

21 Grade of reinforcing steel shall be 420 MPa for the designs with ACI Code

22 Grade of reinforcing steel shall be 460 MPa for the designs with British Standards

23 Check the grade of reinforcing steel

24 Check all other materials in the just opened model from the template

25 Check primary loads in model and there should be :

Dead loads (only selfweight should be assigned here)

SDL (super imposed dead loads) :

Finishes
 Partitions
Landscaping
MEP
Water-tanks
Chillers

26 LLNR : Non-reducible live loads. For example, load of MEP equipments, water tanks and chiller etc.
Check the LLNR has been checked out in ETABS window

27 LIVE : Reducible live loads

28 Check that permanent live loads of equipments etc. are assigned in seismic masses

29 Wind loads :
Wind loads in X-direction WX
Wind loads in Y-direction WY
Generate 12 cases of wind loads as per ASCE-07/12. These are automatic
generations but we need to make load combinations for these 12 cases.

Check bottom storey (should be ground floor)

check top storey (should be upper most floor)
Check parapet height

Check wind speed (Generally 100 miles/hour but check with engineer)

30 Wind load panel for WX would like as shown below :

31 Give direction angle. 0 deg.

32 Wind load panel for WY would like as shown below :

33 Give direction angle. 90 deg

34 If all 12 cases are generated, make sure that load combinations have been made for all these 12 wind load cases.

35 Add grid lines. Some consultants and local authorities require Grid lines to be added as per Architectural
drawings.

36 Seismic/Earthquake loads :

37 Earthquake zone shall be considered as under :

Zone 2A : General buildings (residential) up to 10 floors

Zone 2B : General buildings (residential) above 10 floors, Schools, Hospitals, Civil Defense Buildings
and shopping malls

38 Zone factor (Z) for Zone 2A : 0.15

Zone factor (Z) for Zone 2B : 0.20

39 Values of Ca and Cv shall be automatically adjusted by the program

Load combinations with Earthquake loading shall be adjusted as per values of Ca which
depends on zone factor. And hence, load combinations for Zone 2A and Zone 2B would be
different.

40 Importance factor : 1.0 Generally

1.25 for schools check whether 1.00 can be used

Engineer would advise on the above

41 Earthquake load shall be with four load cases

EQXP Earthquake in X-direction with positive eccentricity

EQYP Earthquake in Y-direction with positive eccentricity
EQXN Earthquake in X-direction with negative eccentricity
EQYN Earthquake in Y-direction with negative eccentricity

42 Soil Profile : Depends on soil investigation report. Engineer to advise.

43 Overstrength factor (R) = 4.5 for buildings having shear walls. Engineer to confirm.

44 Minimum Eccentricity : 0.05

Overwrite eccentricity if torsional irregularity is present. It cannot be done now as torsional
irregularity can be found out after the analysis and hence, we have to incorporate it after
the analysis.

45 Storey range : From base to uppermost floor

46 The panel for earthquake data shall look like :

47 Generate other primary earthquake loads by "√" ticking on Eccentricity for different primary earthquake loads

Define mass source as :

48 Response spectrum analysis : Senior engineer to advise

Check response spectrum graph
Check scale factors etc.
Check vertical scale factor

49 Load Combinations :

Senior engineer to advise. Load combinations depends on ACI (American) or British Codes.
For resoponse spectrum analysis with veritcal component specified, check the load combination
Generate load combinations for overstrength factor (Ω) if transfer floors/beams/columns are present.

50 Edit the ETABS model to conform to number of stories.

51 Edit heights for various stories.

52 Import the DXF of top most floor first and proceed down.

53 Generate data for column sizes with modifiers and cover to reinforcement
54 Generate data for shear walls with modifiers and cover to reinforcement
54 Generate data for spandrels with modifiers and cover to reinforcement
55 Generate data for slabs for modifiers and cover to reinforcement
56 It is prohibited to provide the modifiers from outside as these are difficult to be checked later

57 Make sure that the columns are assigned as columns and beams are assigned as beams in "Define Section
Properties"

58 Beam Properties :

59 Column Properties :
60 Insert columns as per GA drawings

61 Draw shear walls. Any shear walls should have at least two elements.
Maximum length of shear walls should not be more than 2.0 meters

62 Draw retaining walls. Maximum length of retaining walls shall not be more than 3.0 meters

63 Draw beams with actual sizes as mentioned on current drawings

64 Check if any beam has been assigned as column cross section

65 Check if any column has been assigned as beam cross section

66 Draw Slabs. Try to have 3x3 slabs elements between the areas bounded by the columns. Discuss with senior
engineer. Slabs/beams should be meshed at interfaces.

67 Check layout of columns as per drawings

68 Check layout of walls as per drawings
69 Check layout of beams as per drawings
70 Check layout of slabs as per drawings

71 Check columns sizes as per drawings

72 Check wall thicknesses as per drawings.
73 Check beam sizes as per drawings
74 Check slab thickness as per drawings

75 Assign the pier numbers to shear walls

76 Assign the spandrel numbers to spandrels

77 Assign diaphragm for each floor. If slabs are discontinuous, assign different diaphragm numbers for different slab
areas. Diaphragms shall be SEMI RIGID

78 The above should be done for all floors. And highlight the items on drawings which have been checked. Keep the
79 check print for senior engineer's verification.

80 Assign various loading on slabs as per loading plans.

Block work loading in toilet areas shall be assigned as per the block-work layout. For this, the beams shall be
assigned a very low cross section with assigning adequate modifires

81 Highlight the loading plans after verifying the loading on the model and keep the check-print.

82 Analysis the model

83 Review and remove the warnings

84 First, design the columns and walls for dead and live load cases (without any lateral load cases)
Running only for dead and live load cases would reveal any instability etc. Correct the model
to have proper stability for dead and live loads.

85 Design the columns and walls for wind and seismic loads now.

86 Design the transfer beams, columns and walls etc. for special seismic load combination with Ω factors.

87 Adjust the sizes of failed columns

88 Decrease the sizes of columns which have very less reinforcement.

89 Column reinforcement should be around 2.5 to 3.0%

90 Walls reinforcement should be around 2.5 to 3.0%

91 Check beams designs

92 Adjust sizes of failed beams.

93 Decrease the sizes of oversized beams

94 Check vertical deflection of beams

95 Check lateral deflections at storey levels for wind

96 Check lateral deflections at storey levels for seismic/earthquake

97 Check storey deflection as per seismic requirements

98 If there are two buildings adjacent to each other, check for seismic separation.

99 If buildings have expansion joints, check for seismic separations.

100 Keep on analyzing and designing until optimum design have been obtained.

101 Modify the drawings as per final wall thicknesses

102 Modify the drawings as per final columns sizes

103 Modify the drawings as per final beam sizes

104 Modify the drawings as per final slab thicknesses

105 Provide vertical reinforcement in walls as per design

106 Provide horizontal reinforcement in walls as per design

107 Provide reinforcement in spandrels as per design

108 Provide vertical reinforcement in columns as per design

109 Provide ties in columns as per engineer's advise

110 Finally make sure that the model and drawings conform to each other for :

111 Geometry at all floors

112 Wall layout and wall thicknesses at all floors

113 Spandrel layout and spandrel sizes at all floors

114 Column layout and columns sizes at all floors

115 Beam layout and beam sizes at all floors

116 Slab layout and slab thicknesses at all floors

117 Loading on slabs as per loading plan at all floors

118 Vertical reinforcement in walls are as per design

119 Horizontal reinforcement in walls are as per design

120 Reinforcement in spandrels are as per design

121 Vertical reinforcement in columns are as per design

122 Ties in columns as per engineer's advise. Bars are tied alternately