DESIMONE

ETABS MODELING PROCEDURE

DESIMONE
ETABS MODELING PROCEDURE
I.

MODEL SET UP
A.

Start ETABS Session

1.

Select File from pull-down menu

2. Select New Model
3. Select Choose .edb

4.

Browse and select seed file

5. Select ETABS SEED FILE-ASCE-710.EDB seed file
if building will be designed according ASCE Wind
Code loads
6. Select ETABS SEED FILE-WT-RWDI.EDB seed file
if building will be designed according RWDI Wind
Tunnel loads
The seed files are templates that include the following
typical items used in most our ETABS model in the Miami
office:
i.

Concrete material properties for typical

concrete strengths modified for local South
Florida aggregates.

ii.

Typical frame sections for each concrete

strength

iii.

Typical area sections for each concrete

strength

iv.

Load combinations for either ASCE load

combos or wind tunnel combos

For buildings that are going to have the wind tunnel test
performed by CPP, the RWDI seed file can be used but the
load combinations will have to redone according to the
combinations presented in CPPs wind tunnel report.

II.

7.

Define number of stories

8.

Change number of grids in X & Y direction to 1, then

click OK.

9.

Save Model using the DeSimone file naming convention.

IMPORTING GEOMETRY FROM AUTOCAD DRAWING

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ETABS Modeling Procedures

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May 2007

DESIMONE
A.

Create following layers in source drawing (Arch./ Struct.)

1.

ETABS_wall

2.

ETABS_slab

3.

ETABS_open

B.

Turn off print button in layer dialogue box for these layers.

C.

Identify slab edges, draw closed polyline around slab in

ETABS_slab layer

D.

Draw closed polyline or rectangle around openings in

ETABS_open layer

E.

Draw lines for shearwalls in ETABS_wall layer

F.

Save or WBLOCK file as *.dxf

G.

In ETABS go to the File menu

1.

Import
2. DXF floor plan

H.

Assign slab properties, draw walls & beams, identify and assign
diaphragms and apply additional masses.

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ETABS Modeling Procedures

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DESIMONE
I.
III.

IV.

Change wind load cases, WX, WY, etc to user defined and apply
wind loads.

ETABS MODELS TO HAVE FOR EVERY PROJECT

1.

Service model for drift analysis (cracked for drift).

2.

Service model cracked for wall design.

3.

Strength model for wall design.

CRACKING FOR DRIFT ANALYSIS

Before running model:
A.

Start with all property modifiers (fs and ms) as 1.0.

B.

Use following load combinations:

C.

1.

DL + 0.5LL +0.7WT

2.

0.6DL + 0.7WT

Points to be analyzed for drift should be on 4 corners of building.

If points are not similar at all floors, replicate in order to have the
same point at every floor.
1.

Run model

2.

Check drifts-all drift combos

3.

Identify worst drift combos in X and Y directions.

4.

Perform crack analysis for these 2 drift combos. The

options are:
5. Complete iterative analysis (crack panel by panel,
accurate and time consuming).
6. Partial iterative analysis (crack entire floor at a
time).

V.

7.

Apply cracked factors to wall panel or panels (fs and ms)

per floor to avoid force redistribution.

8.

Run 2 or 3 more times until crack factors converge.

CRACKING FOR WALL DESIGN

(Procedure to do prior to sending the model to wind tunnel)
A.

Start with all property modifiers (fs and ms) as 1.0.

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ETABS Modeling Procedures

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May 2007

DESIMONE
B.

Use following load combinations:

1.

C.

DL + 0.5 SDL + WT or 0.75DL + WT

Points to be analyzed for drift should be on 4 corners of building.

If points are not similar at all floors, replicate in order to have the
same point at every floor.
1.

Run model

2.

Check drifts-all drift combos (combos with combination of

0.7WX, 0.7WY, 0.7MZ).

3.

Identify worst drift combos in X and Y directions.

4.

Perform crack analysis for these 2 drift combos. The

options are:
5. Complete iterative analysis (crack panel by panel,
accurate and time consuming).
6. Partial iterative analysis (crack entire floor at a
time).

VI.

7.

Apply cracked factor to wall panel or panels at the same

floor, depending on the iterative analysis (fs and ms).

8.

Run 2 or 3 more times until crack factors converge.

9.

For shear wall design, multiply all cracked factors by 0.7

10.

Beams (links)

11.

Shear walls

12. Frames
ALTERNATE CRACK ANALYSIS USING ULTIMATE LOADS
A.

Use following load combinations:

1.

0.9D + 1.6WT
2. Cracked factors obtained are crack factors for wall
design.
3. Only beams and frame members need to be
multiplied by the obtained cracked factor by 0.7 for
beams and frames.

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ETABS Modeling Procedures

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May 2007