AOA:

Dear Mr.
Re: Etabs
Thank you for your e-mail, I am new to Etabs and need help for assigning Sdead load on
structure. I am familiar with Osays GSA and Staad pro to analyse and design of building
structure. In these software, I am calculating design load by hand coming on each beams of
whole structure in KN/m as per one way and two way slab loading distribution rules. These
loads automatically distributed by software on each columns of structure.
But, In Etabs, I understand from introductory tutorials that, you do not require calculating and
assigning loads coming in each beam due to slab. Instead you have to assign shell area load
which will distribute automatically to each beams and columns of the structure.
In following shot taken from Etabs introductory tutorial dead Load is 35 Lb/sq ft which they
have converted Lb-ft into Kip-in as unit mentioned in the tutorial was in Kip-in. But in my
opinion it should be in Lb/sq ft instead of Lb-ft. Please advice.

Example: Thickness of slab=200 mm

Dead Loads:
1. Slab: 200x 24=48 KN/Sqm
2. Partitions: 1.00 KN / Sq.m
3. Finishes: 0.5 KN /sq m
Total Load load= 6.3 KN/Sqm
Total ultimate Design dead Load=1.4 x 6.3=8.82 KN/sq m
Please advise me
1. this is correct that, in this example shell area load will be 8.82 KN/Sq-m
2. What is procedure to assign shell area load in Staad pro, as currently I am calculating
design load by hand on each beams coming due to slab which is more complicated
procedure.
I will appreciate, if you can send me a any learning tutorials/model of building structure other
than available at CSI web site.
With Best Regards,
Fiaz