Structural Analysis and Design using by ETABS Software

Ass. Lec. Twana Ali Omar

MSc. Structural Engineering
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Introduction:
ETABS is an integrated software package for the structural analysis and design of buildings. ETABS offers
3D object based modeling and visualization tools, linear and nonlinear analytical power, design capabilities
for a wide range of materials, and graphic displays, reports, and schematic drawings that allow users to
quickly and easily understand analysis and design results. ETABS integrates every aspect of the engineering
design process. CAD drawings can be converted directly into ETABS models or used as templates onto
which ETABS objects may be overlaid. Design of steel and concrete frames (with automated optimization),
composite beams, composite columns, steel joists, and concrete and masonry shear walls is included, as is
the capacity check for steel connections and base plates.
ETABS Software Features:
• User Interface: One Window, Many Features Window
• Modeling
• Building Components
• Loading
• Analysis
• Performance-Based Design
• Design
• Output & Display
• Reporting
• Import & Export

What ETABS Can Do? :

ETABS offers the widest assortment of analysis and design tools available for the structural engineer
working on building structures. The following list represents just a portion of the types of systems and
analyses that ETABS can handle easily:
• Multi-story commercial, government and health care facilities
• Parking garages with circular and linear ramps
• Buildings with curved beams, walls and floor edges
• Buildings with steel, concrete, composite or joist floor framing
• Projects with multiple towers
• Complex shear walls and cores with arbitrary openings
• Flat and waffle slab concrete buildings
• Buildings subjected to any number of vertical and lateral load cases and combinations, including
automated wind and seismic loads
• Automated transfer of vertical loads on floors to beams and walls
• Capacity check of beam-to-column and beam-to-beam steel connections
• P-Delta analysis with static or dynamic analysis
• Punching shear checks for concrete slabs
• Construction sequence loading analysis
• Foundation/support settlement
• Buildings with base isolators and dampers
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• Design optimization for steel and concrete frames
• Design of concrete slabs using mild reinforcement and posttensioning
• Design capacity check of steel column base plates
• Floor modeling with rigid or semi-rigid diaphragms

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Physical Modeling Terminology (ETABS)

A) Objects, Members, and Elements.

Objects represent the physical structural members in the model, they are these objects that the user
“draws” in the ETABS interface, Objects are intended to be an accurate representation of the
physical members
Elements, refer to the finite elements used internally by the program to generate the stiffness matrices.
In ETABS, the objects, or physical members drawn by the user, are typically subdivided internally
into the greater number of finite elements needed for the analysis model, without user input. Because
the user is working only with of physical object-based model, then the Programme will convert it into
an Element-based model that is used for analysis.

The following object types are available, listed in order of geometrical dimension:
Joint objects are automatically created at the corners or ends of all other types of objects, and they can
be explicitly added anywhere in the model.
Frame objects are used to model beams, columns, braces and trusses.
Shell objects are used to model walls, slabs, decks, planks, and other thin-walled members. Shell
objects will be meshed automatically into the elements needed for analysis.

B) Groups
A group is a named collection of objects. It may contain any number of objects of any number of
types. Groups have many uses, including:
-Quick selection of objects for editing and assigning.
-Grouping objects that are to share the same design.

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C) Load Patterns
Loads represent actions upon the structure, such as force, pressure, support displacement, thermal
effects, and others.
As many named load patterns as needed can be defined. Typically, separate load patterns would be
defined for dead load, live load, static earthquake load, wind load, snow load, thermal load, and so
on. Loads that need to vary independently, for design purposes or because of how they are applied
to the building, should be defined as separate load patterns.

After defining a load pattern name, you must assign specific load values to the objects as part of that
load pattern, or define an automated lateral load if the case is for seismic or wind. The load values you
assign to an object specify the type of load (e.g., force, displacement, temperature), its magnitude, and
direction (if applicable). Different loads can be assigned to different objects as part of a single load
pattern, along with the automated lateral load, if so desired. Each object can be subjected to multiple
load patterns.

D) Load Cases
A load case defines how loads are to be applied to the structure, and how the structural response is to
be calculated. Many types of load cases are available. Most broadly, load cases are classified as linear
or nonlinear, depending on how the structure responds to the loading.
• Linear Static Load Case: The most common type of analysis. Loads are applied without
dynamical effects. The results of linear analyses may be superposed, i.e., added together,
after analysis
• Non-Linear Static Load Case: Loads are applied without dynamical effects. The results of
nonlinear load cases normally should not be superposed. Instead, all loads acting together
on the structure should be combined directly within the specific nonlinear load case

E) Load Combinations
ETABS allows for the named combination of the results from one or more load cases and/or other
combinations. When a combination is defined, it applies to the results for every object in the model.
The five types of combinations are as follows:
• Linear Add: Results from the included load cases and combinations are added.
• Envelope: Results from the included load cases and combinations are enveloped to find
the maximum and minimum values.
• Range Add: Positive values are added to the maximum and negative values are added to

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the minimum for the included load cases and combos.
Design is always based on combinations, not directly on load cases. A combination can be created that
contains only a single load case. Each design algorithm creates its own default combinations;
supplement them with your own design combinations if needed.

F) Design Settings
ETABS offers the following integrated design postprocessors:
- Steel Frame Design
- Concrete Frame Design
- Composite Beam Design
- Composite Column Design
- Steel Joist Design
- Shear Wall Design )
- Steel Connection Design
For each of the first five design postprocessors, several settings can be adjusted to affect the design of
the model:
- The specific design code to be used for each type of object, e.g., AISC 360-10 for steel
frames, EUROCODE 2-2004 or ACI 318-2011 for concrete frames, and BS8110 97 for
shear walls.
- Preferences for how these codes should be applied to a model.
- Combinations for which the design should be checked.
- Groups of objects that should share the same design.
- Optional “overwrite” values for each object that supersede the default coefficients
and parameters used in the design code formulas selected by the program.
For steel and concrete frames, composite beam, composite column, and steel joist design, ETABS can
automatically select an optimum section from a list you define. The section also can be changed manually
during the design process. As a result, each frame object can have two different section properties
associated with it:
An “analysis section” used in the previous analysis
A “design section” resulting from the current design
The design section becomes the analysis section for the next analysis, and the iterative analysis and
design cycle should be continued until the two sections become the same.
Design results for the design section, when available, as well as all of the settings described herein, can
be considered to be part of the model.

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G) Detailing
ETABS offers the ability to produce schematic construction documents for buildings. Preferences may
be set for the size and layout of drawings; dimensioning units and label prefixes; and reinforcing bar
sizes for beams, columns and shear walls. Generated drawings, accessible on the Detailing tab of the
Model Explorer window, can include:
-Cover Sheets
-General Notes
-Beam & Column Sections
-Floor Framing Plans
-Column Schedules
-Beam Schedules
-Connection Schedules
-Column Layout
-Wall Layout
-Wall Reinforcement Plans & Elevations
H) Shell Load Sets
Occasionally it is desirable to assign loads based on the type of occupancy, e.g., hallway or office.
ETABS provides Shell Uniform Load Sets to accommodate occupancy loads that consist of several
different load patterns, i.e., the load set may contain loads from both dead and live patterns.
Shell load sets are assigned in the same manner as any other uniform shell load, and are additive to
other assigned loads. Shell objects may be assigned only one shell uniform load set.

I) Wind and Seismic Lateral Loads

The lateral loads can be in the form of wind or seismic loads. The loads are automatically calculated
from the dimensions and properties of the structure based on built-in options for a wide variety of
building codes.
For rigid diaphragm systems, the wind loads are applied at the geometric centers of each rigid floor
diaphragm. For semi-rigid diaphragms, wind loads are applied to every joint in the diaphragm. For
modeling multi-tower systems, more than one rigid or semi-rigid floor diaphragm may be applied at
any one story.

J) Rigid and Semi-Rigid Floor Models

ETABS offers three basic options for modeling various types of floor systems. Floor diaphragms can
be rigid or semi-rigid (flexible), or the user may specify no diaphragm at all.
In the case of rigid diaphragm models, each floor plate is assumed to translate in plan and rotate about

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a vertical axis as a rigid body, the basic assumption being that there are no in-plane deformations in the
floor plate.

K) Modifiers
ETABS allows for modification factors to be assigned to both frame and shell objects. For frame
objects, frame property modifiers are multiplied times the specified section properties to obtain the
final analysis section properties used for the frame elements. For shell objects, shell stiffness modifiers
are multiplied times the shell element analysis stiffnesses calculated from the specified section
property. Both of those modifiers affect only the analysis properties. They do not affect any design
properties.

L) ETABS Analysis Techniques

The types of analyses described are:

linear static analysis, P-Delta analysis, modal analysis, response-spectrum analysis, time-history
analysis, linear buckling analysis and nonlinear analysis.

L1- Linear Static Analysis

A linear static load case is automatically created for each load pattern that is defined. The
results of different load cases can be combined with each other and with other linear load
cases. Geometric and material nonlinearity, except for the P-Delta effect, are not
considered in a linear static analysis.

L2- P-Delta Analysis (Master Level)

The P-Delta option accounts for the effect of a large compressive or tensile load upon the
transverse stiffness of members in the structure. Compression reduces lateral stiffness, and
tension increases it. This type of geometric nonlinearity is known as the P-Delta effect.
This option is particularly useful for considering the effect of gravity loads upon the lateral
stiffness of building structures.
The P-Delta analysis in ETABS considers the P-Delta effect of a single loaded state upon the
structure. This effect can be computed in one of two ways:
• Iterative - Based on Loads: As a specified combination of static load patterns. For
example, this may be the sum of a dead load pattern plus a fraction of a live load
pattern. This approach requires an iterative solution to determine the P-Delta effect
upon the structure.
• Non-iterative - Based on Mass: As a story-by-story load upon the structure computed
automatically from the mass at each level. This approach is approximate, but does not

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require an iterative solution.

L3- Nonlinear Static Analysis (Master Level)

Nonlinear static analysis can be used for a wide variety of purposes, including: to analyze a
building for material and geometric nonlinearity; to form the P-delta stiffness for
subsequent linear analyses; to perform static pushover analysis; to investigate staged
construction; and more. Multiple nonlinear static analysis cases can be defined.
• P-Delta:
• Large Displacements:
• Static Pushover:
• Staged Construction:
M) Basic Process
The following provides a broad overview of the basic modeling, analysis, design, and
detailing processes:
1. Select the Base Units and Design Codes
2. Set up Grid Lines
3. Define Story Levels
4. Define Section Properties
5. Draw Structural Objects
6. Select Objects
7. Assign Properties
8. Define Load Patterns
9. Assign Loads
10. Define Load Cases
11. Edit the Model Geometry
12. View the Model
13. Analyze the Model
14. Display Results for Checking
15. Design the Model
16. Generate Detail Documents
17. Output Results and Reports
18. Save the Model

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Example 1
Using ETABS software, analyze and design the five-story reinforced concrete building shown below:
Beam sizes 400 × 600 mm
Storey Height 3.2m
Columns sizes 400 x 400mm
Live Load 3.0kN/m2
Slab thickness 200mm
Floor Finish Load 2kN/m2
Concrete strength fc` 25 MPa
Steel Gr. 60
EARTH QUICK PARAMETETS Ss=0.6
S1=0.2
R=5
Cd=4.5
Soil Type =Sc
Importance factor=1.0

Elevation

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Below is the ETABS graphical user interface

Step by step procedure to learn ETABS:

Step 1: Modeling using ETABS
Step 2: Comparison of total DL and LL
Step 3: Time period and mode participation factor of building in X and Y direction
Step 4: Analysis result ( Forces/Stresses)
Step 5: Design under gravity and seismic load

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Step 1: Modeling using ETABS

1) Open the ETABS Program

2) File Menu → Click on New Model and in the Model Initilazation windeow→Select use Build-in
Setting with:
a. Display units ---- Metric SI
b. Region for Default Materails----User
c. Steel Section Database ----Euro
d. Steel Design Code ----- AISC 360-16
e. Concrete Design Code ---- ACI 318-19
f. Click OK

a.

b.

c.

d.

e.

f.

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3) The dialogue box of New Model Quick Templates will be displayed after you select OK button
a) Select Custom Grid Spacing → Edit Grid Data

a)

→ Where the following window will appear set the grid line and spacing between two grid lines
and the data should be given as shown → Then click Ok:

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b) At the same New Model Quick Templates → Set Number of Stories → Set the Typical and
Bottom story hight as shown below:

b)

c) Select Grid Only → Click Ok

c)

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4) ETABS will show use interface window below:

5) Set the material properties (Concrete and Steel)

a) Define (Concrete C 25 Mpa) → Click Define menu → Material Properties

b) Click Add New Material define material properties → Select Material Type “ Concrete”

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→ Click Ok

c) Then the following window will appear → Change the Material Name “C 25 Mpa” → Change
Modulus of Elasticity ( E = 2350 Mpa) → Click Modify/ Show Material Property Design Data
→ Change Specified Concrete Compressive Strength (fc`=25 Mpa)

d) Define Steel (A615Gr60) → Click Define menu → Material Properties → Select A615Gr60 →

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Modify/Show Material→ Change Modulus of Elasticity ( E = 200000 Mpa) → Click Modify/

Show Material Property Design Data → Change Minimum Yied Strength (fy = 420 Mpa)

6) Set the Section Dimension (Beams and Columns)

a. Define Beam (600 x 400) : Define Menu→ Section Properties → Frame sections

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b. Click Add new Property

c. Click on Rectangle within the concrete group

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d. Specify beam section {Property Name “Beam 0.6 x 0.4” , Select Material, Depth( 600 mm)
and Width (400 mm ), and Reinforcement} as marked below:

e. Specify column section {Property Name “Column 0.4 x 0.4” , Select Material, Depth( 400
mm) and Width (400 mm ), and Reinforcement} as marked below:

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f. Define Slab (200 mm) : Define Menu→ Section Properties → Slab Section

g. Click Add New Property

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h. Specify Slab section {Property Name “Slab 20 cm” , Select Material, Thickness ( 200 mm) as
marked below:

7) Draw the geometry, befor drawing any member, choose the section property from the left bottom
box and select all/ similar stories from the right bottom box.
a) Drawing Column: Draw Menu → Click Draw Beam/Column/ Brace Objects→ Select Quick
Draw Columns (Pan, 3D)

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b) Choose the section property from the left bottom box “ choose Column 0.4 x 0.4”

c) Select All Stories from the below right hand to draw similar columns in all four stories

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d) Use Snap Grid Intersections to draw colums on the Grid points

e) Drawing Beam: Draw Menu → Click Quick Draw Beam/Column/ Brace Objects→ Select
Quick Draw Beams/ Columns (Pan, elev, 3D) → Choose the section property from the left
bottom box “ choose Beam 0.6 x 0.4” → Select All Stories from the below right hand → Click
Grids between columns

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f) Draw Slab: Draw Menu→ Click Draw Floor / Wall Objects → Choose Draw Floor/ Wall
(Plan, Elv, 3D) →Select Slab property “Slab20cm → Select All Stories → draw four corner grids

8) Assign Fixed Supports: Select all Base joints → Assign Menu → Select Joints→ Click
Restraints→ Choose Fixed → Click Apply → Click Ok (as shown below)

Base joint
Selection

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9) Create Diaphragm action: Assign Menu → Select Shell → Click Diaghrams → Click Modify/
Show Definitions → Select Modify/ Show Diaphragm → Dighram Name “D1” → Select Rigid

D1

Then, Diaphram D1 will appear on active window

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