ETABS is an engineering software product that caters to multi-story building Analysis and design. Modeling tools and templates, code-based load prescriptions, analysis methods, and solution techniques, all coordinate with the grid-like geometry unique to this class of structure. Basic or advanced systems under static or dynamic conditions may be evaluated using ETABS. For a sophisticated assessment of seismic performance, modal and direct-integration time-history analyses may couple with P-Delta and Large Displacement effects. Interoperability with a sequence of sites for architecture and paperwork allows ETABS a timely and efficient development instrument that ranges from easy 2D images to contemporary high-rises elaboration.

Features and Benefits of ETABS

• The input, output and numerical solutions technique of ETABS is specifically designed to take advantage of the unique physical and numerical characteristics associated with building type structures.
• The need for the special purpose program has never been more evident as structural engineers put nonlinear dynamic analysis into practice and use the greater computer power available today to create a larger analytical model.
• Over the past decades, ETABS as numerous mega projects to its credit and as established itself as the standard of the industry. ETABS software is clearly recognized as the most practical efficient tool for the static and dynamic analysis of multi-story frame and shear wall buildings.

Modeling Procedure:

It is not necessary, or expected, that you exactly follow the general process for creating a model described in this chapter. Rather, the intent is to guide you in creating a model and running an analysis.

To create a typical model:

• The current units to those that you will want to use most often in your model.
• Start your model by clicking the File menu > New Model command or button and choosing one of the file initialization methods.
• Set up your grid lines. See the subsection entitled “Grid Dimensions (Plan) – Define a Grid System”.
• Define your story levels. See the subsection entitled “Story Dimensions – Define Story Data”.
• If desired, add structural objects from one of the built-in templates. In general, we recommend that you start your model by adding objects from a template whenever possible.
• Use the Options menu > Preferences command to modify any of the default preferences if desired.
• Use the Define menu to define frame section properties, wall, slab and deck section properties, and link properties as required.
• Use the Define menu > Static Load Cases command to define your static load cases.
• If you are using mass in your model, use the Define menu > Mass Source command or the button to specify the source of mass in your model.
• Use the commands available on the Draw menu to draw additional area, line and point objects as needed. Draw Menu for documentation of the drawing features. As you draw, we recommend that you assign structural properties using the pop-up Properties of Object box. The objects you draw may be assigned structural properties, loads or masses. Also, the line objects might be used as guidelines with the Snap to command, the Trim Lines at or Extend Lines to options for extending or trimming other lines, or mesh lines for manual meshing. Note that mass is required if you are doing a modal analysis to determine mode shapes.
• Use the Edit menu commands to modify, and in some cases, tweak the geometry of your model as needed. Edit Menu for documentation of the various Edit menu features.
• Use the Assign menu commands to revise properties in your template model, if necessary and to make additional assignments to template members as well as to any other members you might have drawn. Assign Menu for documentation of the various Assign menu features. The types of assignments you make include section properties, Loads, masses, moment releases, partial fixity, and so forth. To make an assignment to an object, first, select the object and then click the appropriate Assign menu command.
• Use the Display menu > Show Loads command and the Display menu > Set Input Table Mode command or button to review input. Another way to review your input is to right-click on any object. This brings up a form where you can review all assignments to the object. You can also use the View menu > Set Building View Options command, or the Set Building View Options button to toggle on the display of various input items. Some examples are section properties, member end releases, nonlinear hinges, diaphragm extent and the like.
• If desired, use the File menu > Print Tables > Input command to print input data to a file or to the printer. Alternatively, you can use the File menu > Export > Save Input/output as Access Database File command to save the input data in a database file that can be reviewed, modified and printed using Microsoft Access.
• Use the Analyze menu > Set Analysis Options to specify various analysis parameters such as the building degrees of freedom.
• If your model has floors, walls or ramps that require manual meshing, use the manual meshing options available through the Edit menu > Mesh Areas command. Note that the program can automatically mesh floors that have membrane properties only. All other floors and all walls and ramps must be manually meshed by you. We recommend that you wait until just before you are ready to run the analysis to perform this manual meshing.
• Use the Analyze menu > Run Analysis command or the button to run your analysis. When the analysis is complete, scroll through the text in the Analysis Window to check for any warnings or errors that might invalidate your analysis. Use the display features available on the Display menu to display analysis results on your model or on the screen in a tabular format as Access Database File command to save the analysis output data in a database file that can be reviewed modified and printed using Microsoft Access.

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