TS ETABS Link PDF

Manual
Tekla Structures
Tekla Structures to ETABS® Link
User Documentation
Description
Authors Asif Habibullah; Bob Morris and Clive Robinson

Date April 1, 2014
Reviewed by
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Approved by
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Change history
Date Changed by Issue
Table of Contents ii (17)
Table of Contents
1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 3
2. Tekla Structures A&D model creation ........................................................................................... 3
3. Installation of the link .................................................................................................................... 3
4. Development and copyright .......................................................................................................... 4
5. Transfer of the Tekla Structures A&D model ................................................................................. 4
6. Transfer of the ETABS A&D model ............................................................................................. 12
7. Technical information and setup ................................................................................................. 16
7.1 Installation location .............................................................................................................. 16
7.2 ETABS Storey information ................................................................................................... 16
7.3 Profile and material mapping ............................................................................................... 16
7.4 Decks................................................................................................................................... 17
7.5 Trouble shooting .................................................................................................................. 17
7.6 Using the link with a beta copy of ETABS ............................................................................ 17
7.7 Videos of the link ................................................................................................................. 17
DIAGRAMS
Figure 1 – Installation screen 1 ..........................................................................................................................3
Figure 2 – Installation screen 2 ..........................................................................................................................4
Figure 3 – Installation screen 3 .......................................................................................................................................... 4
Figure 4 – Typical Tekla Structures model..........................................................................................................5
Figure 5 – Filter selection ...................................................................................................................................5
Figure 6 – Selected model .................................................................................................................................5
Figure 7 – Selecting the A&D model function......................................................................................................6
Figure 8 – A&D model creation ..........................................................................................................................6
Figure 9 – Selected A&D model creation ............................................................................................................6
Figure 10 – Model View properties .....................................................................................................................7
Figure 11 – Tekla Structures A&D model............................................................................................................7
Figure 12 – Full model selection option ..............................................................................................................8
Figure 13 – Partial model creation – as used in this example..............................................................................8
Figure 14 – Advanced A&D settings ...................................................................................................................8
Figure 15 – Completed A&D model ....................................................................................................................9
Figure 16 – Load combination creation...............................................................................................................9
Figure 17 – Load combination selection .............................................................................................................9
Figure 18 – Completed load combinations........................................................................................................ 10
Figure 19 – A&D model Export ......................................................................................................................... 10
Figure 20 – Engineer warning .......................................................................................................................... 10
Figure 21 – Start of the model transfer ............................................................................................................. 10
Figure 22 – ETABS model run option ............................................................................................................... 11
Figure 23 – A&D model creation in ETABS ...................................................................................................... 11
Figure 24 – Model transfer is complete and ready for display ........................................................................... 11
Figure 25 – Transfer into ETABS...................................................................................................................... 11
Figure 26 – ETABS model................................................................................................................................ 12
Figure 27 – Selecting the A&D model function.................................................................................................. 12
Figure 28 – Create a new model ...................................................................................................................... 12
Figure 29 – Name model .................................................................................................................................. 13
Figure 30 – Start the import function ................................................................................................................ 13
Figure 31 – Specify the import file name........................................................................................................... 13
Figure 32 – Export from ETABS ....................................................................................................................... 14
Figure 33 – Import into Tekla Structures ........................................................................................................... 14
Figure 34 – The LogView summary .................................................................................................................. 14
Figure 35 – Imported model in Tekla Structures ............................................................................................... 15
Figure 36 – Physical model in Tekla Structures ................................................................................................ 15
Figure 37 – Native Tekla Structures objects ..................................................................................................... 15
User Documentation Tekla Structures

© Tekla Corporation April 1, 2014 Tekla Structures to ETABS® Link
1 Introduction 3 (17)
1. Introduction
The Tekla Structures/ETABS plugin allows the user to easily transfer the
structural model data from Tekla Structures & ETABS, and to insert a ETABS
model into a blank Tekla Structures model.
This application is designed to exchange the structural objects between Tekla

Structures and the Computer & Structures Inc. ETABS Analysis and Design
(A&D) application. The link allows the structure to be created in Tekla
Structures and then exported into ETABS or an ETABS model to be inserted
into an empty Tekla Structures model. The imported elements will create native
Tekla Structures steel and concrete beams, columns, slabs, shear walls etc.
The A&D model transfer from Tekla Structures is based upon the same
techniques as the other A&D links, for example the current SAP2000 transfer,
etc. Both Tekla Structures and ETABS 2013 need to be loaded on to the same
machine where the transfer is performed.
If the loads are modelled in Tekla Structures then these will be transferred to
ETABS. However, no loads can be returned from ETABS. Also the normal
results update procedure (maximum end reactions and member size revisions
in ETABS) and the model merge function are also available within this plugin.
Kindly note that the Get Results function can be slow due to the .Net
technologies used. Also the load transfer from Tekla Structures will be available
from ETABS 13.1.4 or beta build 1078 .
2. Tekla Structures A&D model creation
This is the same as all the other A&D links and is therefore out of the scope of
this specific link document.
3. Installation of the link
Select either the 32 or 64 bit installation for your installed Tekla Structures
version. Right-click on the link and select the ‘Run as administrator’ option. The
shortcut is not required. The installations/link should be all be consistently so
all either 32 or 64-bit.
Figure 1 – Installation screen 1

4 Development and copyright 4 (17)
Ensure that the installation path is correct as this needs to be below your
Tekla Structures installation path. This should be automatically setup.
Click on the Show detail buttons if there are any installation issues.
4. Development and copyright
This link has been jointly developed by Tekla and Computer & Structures, Inc.,
and copyright of all products and technologies mentioned in this document is
acknowledged. ETABS is a registered trademark of Computers and Structures,
Inc. For further information of related productions see www.csiamerica.com
and www.tekla.com.
5. Transfer of the Tekla Structures A&D model
Either the full model can be transferred or just part of the model, as sometimes
the secondary members etc. are not required to be included in the member
design. The following is just a sample model and not indicative of the type of
models normally transferred with the Tekla Structures to ETABS link.

5 Transfer of the Tekla Structures A&D model 5 (17)
Figure 4 – Typical Tekla Structures model
Figure 5 – Filter selection
In this example only the main members have been selected
Figure 6 – Selected model

Then select the Analysis & Design model creation function
Figure 7 – Selecting the A&D model function
Figure 8 – A&D model creation
Figure 9 – Selected A&D model creation

If the user just wants to display the A&D model in Tekla Structures then the
Parts can be de-selected from the View properties
Figure 10 – Model View properties
Figure 11 – Tekla Structures A&D model

Figure 12 – Full model selection option
Figure 13 – Partial model creation – as used in this example
Figure 14 – Advanced A&D settings

Figure 15 – Completed A&D model
Note if a yellow exclamation mark is next to the Display warnings these

should be manually resolved/considered before transferring the model to
ETABS.
Figure 16 – Load combination creation
Providing the correct design code has been selected and the loads created
accordingly, then the load combinations can be automatically created. The user
can amend these as required.
Figure 17 – Load combination selection

Figure 18 – Completed load combinations
Figure 19 – A&D model Export
Figure 20 – Engineer warning
Figure 21 – Start of the model transfer

Figure 22 – ETABS model run option
If selected, ETABS will then automatically be launched and the user has an
option to start the analysis run automatically or to examine the transfer before
the analysis is run.
Figure 23 – A&D model creation in ETABS
Figure 24 – Model transfer is complete and ready for display
Figure 25 – Transfer into ETABS
The analysis and design can then be completed and the member reaction and
any changes can be brought back to Tekla Structures using the Get Results
function.

6 Transfer of the ETABS A&D model 12 (17)
6. Transfer of the ETABS A&D model
Figure 26 – ETABS model
Figure 27 – Selecting the A&D model function
Figure 28 – Create a new model

Figure 29 – Name model
Figure 30 – Start the import function
Figure 31 – Specify the import file name

Figure 32 – Export from ETABS
Figure 33 – Import into Tekla Structures
Figure 34 – The LogView summary
Any creation or mapping issues will be highlighted in this form.

Figure 35 – Imported model in Tekla Structures
The physical and analytical model will then be both displayed until the Analysis
& Design form in closed and then only the physical model will be displayed.
Figure 36 – Physical model in Tekla Structures
Figure 37 – Native Tekla Structures objects

7 Technical information and setup 16 (17)
7. Technical information and setup
7.1 Installation location
In a defaults Tekla Structures installation, the link system files are located in -
C:\Program Files\Tekla Structures\20.0\nt\bin\plugins\TS_ETABS2013 as an
example and the data files in C:\TeklaStructures\TS_ETABS2013. The data
files include all the environment profile and material mapping files together with
the language and setup files.
7.2 ETABS Storey information
In the export from Tekla Structures a separate ETABS Storey is created for
each distinct Z-coordinate defined in the Tekla Structures grid.
7.3 Profile and material mapping
The material mapping file used in the import process is

ETABS2013MaterialMapping.cnv. The actual material name, for each region,
used for the import process: ETABS2013MaterialMappingEUROPE.cnv,
ETABS2013MaterialMappingUK.cnv, ETABS2013MaterialMappingUSIMP.cnv
and so on. The files start with "ETABS2013MaterialMapping" and end with the
environment string as adopted by the user.
The profile mapping file, for each region, and used for both for the export and
import process is for example: ETABS2013SectionMappingEUROPE.cnv,
ETABS2013SectionMappingUK.cnv, ETABS2013SectionMappingUSIMP.cnv
etc. The files start with "ETABS2013SectionMapping" and end with the
environment string as adopted by the user.
If the profile is not known when imported from ETABS, then a parametric profile
is adopted. If the profile is not mapped in the section mapping file and it is a
known section (rectangular, angle, and so on) then a Tekla Structures
parametric section is used. The prefix of the section varies in each environment,
so the prefix mapping files contain the list of prefixes for each section type;
ETABS2013SectionPrefixEUROPE.cnv, ETABS2013SectionPrefixUK.cnv,
ETABS2013SectionPrefixUSIMP.cnv etc. For example:

7 Technical information and setup 17 (17)
7.4 Decks
Deck recognition - To establish when a contour plate from Tekla Structures

should be exported as an ETABS Deck, the following algorithm is applied to
every selected plate element:
 the current working plane is set accordingly to the part

local coordinate system
 in the new working plane a selection of objects near the

current plate bounding box is performed
 if any of the selected objects is set as composite beam

(by its analysis property value) then the plate should be
considered as deck.
7.5 Trouble shooting
If there are any issues with the model transfer guidance can be found in the
following log files:
 The log file in the Analysis model folder, for example

Model 1.LOG
 Tekla Structures link log file (TS_ETABS2013.log) which

is located is in the model folder
 See the Tekla Structures log files file for all other issues
7.6 Using the link with a beta copy of ETABS
If you are wanting to use the link with a beta copy of ETABS you will need to
change the EtabsFolder setting in the Registry to point to the correct location.
For example in the 64bit installation this can be found under the
Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Tekla\Structures\Plugins\A
nalysisDotNet\TS20_ETABS2013_PLUGIN registry key.
7.7 Videos of the link
Example videos of the link can be found on the Tekla Extranet on the
Extensions Pages and are called – ETABSImportIntoTS and
ETABSExportFromTS.


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Manual

Authors Asif Habibullah; Bob Morris and Clive Robinson

User Documentation Tekla Structures

This application is designed to exchange the structural objects between Tekla

2. Tekla Structures A&D model creation

3. Installation of the link

Figure 1 – Installation screen 1

User Documentation Tekla Structures

Figure 2 – Installation screen 2

Figure 3 – Installation screen 3

4. Development and copyright

5. Transfer of the Tekla Structures A&D model

User Documentation Tekla Structures

Figure 4 – Typical Tekla Structures model

Figure 5 – Filter selection

In this example only the main members have been selected

Figure 6 – Selected model

User Documentation Tekla Structures

Then select the Analysis & Design model creation function

Figure 7 – Selecting the A&D model function

Figure 8 – A&D model creation

Figure 9 – Selected A&D model creation

User Documentation Tekla Structures

Figure 10 – Model View properties

Figure 11 – Tekla Structures A&D model

User Documentation Tekla Structures

Figure 12 – Full model selection option

Figure 13 – Partial model creation – as used in this example

Figure 14 – Advanced A&D settings

User Documentation Tekla Structures

Figure 15 – Completed A&D model

Note if a yellow exclamation mark is next to the Display warnings these

Figure 16 – Load combination creation

Figure 17 – Load combination selection

User Documentation Tekla Structures

Figure 18 – Completed load combinations

Figure 19 – A&D model Export

Figure 20 – Engineer warning

Figure 21 – Start of the model transfer

User Documentation Tekla Structures

Figure 22 – ETABS model run option

Figure 23 – A&D model creation in ETABS

Figure 24 – Model transfer is complete and ready for display

Figure 25 – Transfer into ETABS

User Documentation Tekla Structures

6. Transfer of the ETABS A&D model

Figure 26 – ETABS model

Figure 27 – Selecting the A&D model function

Figure 28 – Create a new model

User Documentation Tekla Structures

Figure 29 – Name model

Figure 30 – Start the import function

Figure 31 – Specify the import file name

User Documentation Tekla Structures

Figure 32 – Export from ETABS

Figure 33 – Import into Tekla Structures

Figure 34 – The LogView summary

Any creation or mapping issues will be highlighted in this form.

User Documentation Tekla Structures

Figure 35 – Imported model in Tekla Structures

Figure 36 – Physical model in Tekla Structures

Figure 37 – Native Tekla Structures objects

User Documentation Tekla Structures