BASIC INTRODUCTION TO ETABS

NOSHEEN NAZ
DEPT. OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

ABSTRACT: ETABS is civil engineering iii. ETABS is also used in designing

software used for analysis and design of building complex steel braced frame and
structures. The main purpose of this paper is to moment frame lateral systems.
discuss about its history, main purpose of this
iv. ETABS also used in seismic
software, its uses, its features and how it works applications.
and analysis and design steps. ETABS is
basically a friendly user software, mostly suitable C. Main Features of Etabs
for high rise RCC buildings. Etabs is best
analysis software which is more advance in i. User Interface
analysis and enables a user to analysis a building
quickly. ii. Hardware Accelerated Graphics
(for navigation of models)
INDEX TERM: ETABS, Analysis,
RCCbuilding. iii. Modelling templates
A. Introduction iv. Model views( Analytical Model
Views, Physical Model Views)
ETABS stands for extended 3D (three
dimensional) analysis of Building systems. It is v. Grid systems
structural analysis and design software which was
develop by computers and structure,Inc. CSI is vi. Drawing tools(Intelligent Snaps,
structural and earthquake engineering software Architectural tracing)
company founded in 1975. Ashraf Habibullah is
vii. Plans and Elevations( Plans and
founder, president and CEO of CSI .Etabs was Elevation views, Developed
first used create the mathematical model of the Elevations)
Burj Khalifa, the highest building of the world.
viii. Interactive Table Data Editing
B. Basic purpose of ETABS
ix. Meshing Tools( Object Based
i. CSI Etabs is used to model and Meshing, External Meshing,
analyses structures mainly Line Constraints
buildings and their components
to see how a building behaves x. Building components(towers,
under various load. frame
elements(beams,columns,Braces
ii. Normally, ETABS is used for the )
analysis of concrete shear walls
and concrete moment frames.
xi. Section properties(concrete, xix. Tools (Section Designer, Import
Steel, Composite section) and Export)

xii. Shells( Walls, Floors, Ramps)

xiii. Link Elements( Linear, Multi-

Linear Elastic, Multi-Linear
Plastic, Gaps, Hooks)

xiv. Floor Diaphragms( Rigid, Semi

Rigid, Flexible)

xv. LOADING Features A.

Automated Code Based
Loading(Seismic, wind) B.
Point, Line, Area and Thermal
Loads(Uniform loads,
USER INTERFACE
Trapezoidal loads, Joint loads)
C. Cladding D. Live Load
Reduction

xvi. Analysis Features A. Dynamic

( Dynamics overview, Response
Spectrum Analysis, Time
history Analysis, Linear Model
Time Analysis, Linear Direct
Integration Time History) B. P-
Delta C. Buckling D. Pushover
E. Staged Construction(
Construction Sequencing ,
Creep and Shrinkage) F. Load MESHING OF SLAB WITH ETAB
Cases and Combinations G.
Model Alive( for conceptual
design ,for testing “what-if”
scenarios

xvii. Design A. Steel Frame B.

Concrete Frame C. Composite
Beam and Column D. Shear
wall E. Steel joist

xviii. Output and Display A.

Deformed Geometry B.
Reaction Diagrams C. Tabular
output D. Section Cuts E.
Rendered Views LINK ELEMENT PROPERTIES
D. Basic Function of Etabs iv. DESIGN

i. MODELLING

DESIGN OF TALL BUILDING IN ETABS

3D-MODELLING
v. REPORTING
ii. LOADING

ASSIGNING LOADS REPORTING IN ETABS

iii. ANALYSIS E. Main steps for Analysis and Design

i. New Model

• Press(file>New Model)
• Choose(use build- in settings)
• Design(grid only)
• Design Story Data
• Press Ok

PUSHOVER ANALYSIS ii. Define Materials(Steel /Concrete)

iii. Define Section Properties(Frame
Sections->Beams/Columns)

• Press Add new Property

• Choose section type
• Name Section
• Choose Material • Draw
• Define Dimensions • Draw Floor/wall Objects
• Press modify rebar button- • Quick Draw Floor/wall
>reinforcement(columns)-> to be • Select the defined slab
checked/design
• choose section(beam/column) ix. DRAW/ASSIGN SHEAR WALLS
• For beams->set Modifier->0.35
• Draw
• For columns->set modifier->0.7
• Draw Floor/Wall Objects
iv. Define Section Property(Slab • Quick Draw/Assign Wall
Section->Slab) • Select the defined Wall

• Add New property x. Meshing

• Modeling type(Shell->Thin)
• Select
• Type->Slab
• Select object type
• Choose Thickness
• Floors
• For Slab-> Set Modifier->0.25
• Press Edit
v. Define walls • Edit Shells
• Divide Shells
• Define
• Change the number into 4 area
• Section property
• Wall sections xi. Defining Loads
• Add New Property xii. Add Live Load
xiii. Add Wall Load
• Modelling Type(Shell-> thin) xiv. Add Super Imposed Load
• For Shear walls->Set Modifier->0.7 xv. Add Wind Load
xvi. Add Earthquake Load
vi. Draw Columns xvii. Add Load Combinations
xviii. Meshing the Shear Wall
• Draw xix. Assigning Diaphragms
• Draw beam/Columns/Brace xx. Offsetting and Rigidity
Modifications
• Quick draw Columns xxi. Auto Line Constraint
• Select Previously defined column xxii. Sequential Construction
xxiii. Analysis

F. Major Projects using Etabs

vii. Draw/Assign Beam
i. Seismic Design
• Draw/assign Beams/Columns/Braces
ii. Tall Building Design
• Select defined beam
iii. Structural and Foundation Analysis
viii. Draw/Assign Slabs iv. construction technologies(Earthquake
Resistant Structures
 v. Analysis of Diagrid Structure by using
Etabs
vi. Blast resisting Structures
vii. Comparative Analysis of multi-Storey
building with and without soft storey for
seismic actions

G. Brief Conclusion
ETABS is fast and quick software for
users. Etabs allows user for graphic input
and modification for the sake of easy and
quick model creation for any type of
structure. Creation of 3D model with
utilization of plan views and elevations,
3D model of complex structure can be
created easily.

F. REFERENCES
i. building code of Pakistan 2007
ii. Structural Analysis by RC. HIBLER
iii. Structuralbd.com