Lecture #06

ETABS - 2nd TUTORIAL

Setting up the Model.

Starting ETABS.

You will be prompted with a dialog box asking whether you want to import existing
definitions. This tutorial starts from scratch, so click the “No” button.
Define the Grid. Next, you will be asked to
define the grid layout and
story information for your
model.

- Change the units to

Kip-ft;
- Select “Uniform Grid
Spacing”
- Type “9” for the
number of lines in the x
direction and “9” for
the number of lines in
the y direction.
- Type “12.5” for the
spacing in the x
direction and “12.5” for
the spacing in the y
direction.
- Select “Simple Story
Data”
- Type “8” for the
Number of Stories.
- Type “9.5” for the
Typical Story Height.
- Type “14” for the
Bottom Story
Plan View / 3D View.

Your screen should

show one window with
a grid plan view of your
model and one window
with a grid 3D view of
your model.

Make sure the Kip-in is

selected as your units in
the lower right hand
side of the window.

Now is a good time to

save your model, so
click on the File/Save
and find a suitable
location for your file.
Define the Materials.

Next, we will define the

materials used in the model. 4
ksi, 6 ksi, and 8 ksi concrete will
be used.

The three materials will be

defined in successive steps.

Click Material Properties…

from the Define pull down
menu.

Click Add New Material…

 Type CONC4 for the
Define the 4 ksi concrete. Material Name.

Select Isotropic for the

Type of Material.

Type 2.246E-7 for the

Mass per unit Volume.

Type 8.680E-5 for the

Weight per unit Volume.

Type 3640 for the Modulus

of Elasticity.

Type 0.2 for Poisson’s

Ratio.

Type 5.5E-6 for the Coeff

of Thermal Expansion.

Select Concrete for the

Type of Design.
Type 4 for f’c.
Type 60 for fy
Type 60 for fys.
Click OK
Define the 6 ksi concrete. Click Add New Material…

Type CONC6 for the Material

Name.

Select Isotropic for the Type of

Material.

Type 2.246E-7 for the Mass per unit

Volume.

Type 8.680E-7 for the Weight per

unit Volume.

Type 4226 for the Modulus of

Elasticity.

Type 0.2 for Poisson’s Ratio.

Type 5.5E-6 for the Coeff of

Thermal Expansion.
Select Concrete for the Type of
Design.
Type 6 for f’c.
Type 60 for fy
Type 60 for fys.
Define the 8 ksi concrete. Type CONC8 for the Material
Name.

Select Isotropic for the Type of

Material.

Type 2.246E-7 for the Mass per

unit Volume.

Type 8.680E-5 for the Weight per

unit Volume.

Type 4720 for the Modulus of

Elasticity.

Type 0.2 for Poisson’s Ratio.

Type 5.5E-6 for the Coeff of

Thermal Expansion.

Select Concrete for the Type of

Design.

Type 8 for f’c.

Type 60 for fy
Type 60 for fys.
Define the columns.

Next, we will define the concrete

columns used in the model.
14x22 4 ksi, 18x22 6 ksi, and
18x32 8 ksi columns will be used.

The three concrete materials

defined in the previous step will
be used to define the columns.

Click Define/Frame Sections…

from the pull down menu.

Select A-GravCol from the

Properties.

Select Add Rectangular.

Define the 14x22 4 ksi column.

Type 14x22C4 as the

Section Name.

Select CONC4 as the

Material.

Type 14 for the Depth.

Type 22 for Width.

Let ETABS select the type

of reinforcement for this
model.

Click OK.
Define the 18x22 6 ksi column.
The Define Frame
Properties should still be
visible.

If it is not visible, simply

click Frame Sections…
from the Define pull
down menu.

Select A-GravCol from

the Properties.

Select Add Rectangular.

Continue defining the 18x22 6 ksi column.

Type 18x22C6 as the

Section Name.

Select CONC6 as the

Material.

Type 18 for the Depth.

Type 22 for Width.

Let ETABS select the

type of reinforcement
for this model.

Click OK
Define the 18x32 8 ksi column.

The Define Frame

Properties should still be
visible.

If it is not visible, simply

click Frame Sections…
from the Define pull
down menu.

Select A-GravCol from

the Properties.

Select Add Rectangular.

Continue defining the 18x32 8 ksi column.

Type 18x32C8 as the

Section Name.

Select CONC8 as the

Material.

Type 18 for the Depth.

Type 32 for Width.

Let ETABS select the

type of reinforcement
for this model.

Click OK
Define the Shearwalls.

Next, define the concrete

shearwalls used in the model.

4ksi, 6ksi, 8ksi shearwalls will be

used.

The three concrete materials

defined earlier in the tutorial will
be used to define the shearwalls.

Click Wall/Slab/Deck Sections…

from the Define pull down menu.

Select Add New Wall from the

Click to: menu.
Define the 4 ksi shearwall.

Type WallC4 as the Section Name.

Select CONC4 as the Material.

Type 12 for the Membrane Thickness.

Type 12 for the Bending Thickness.

Select Shell as the Type.

Click OK.
Define the 6 ksi shearwall.

The Define Frame Properties

should still be visible. If it is not
visible, simply click
Wall/Slab/Deck Sections… from
the Define pull down menu.

Select Add New Wall from the

Click to: menu.
Continue to define the 6 ksi shearwall.

Type WallC6 as the Section Name.

Select CONC6 as the Material.

Type 12 for the Membrane Thickness.

Type 12 for the Bending Thickness.

Select Shell as the Type.

Click OK.
Define the 8 ksi shearwall.

The Define Frame Properties

should still be visible. If it is
not visible, simply click
Wall/Slab/Deck Sections…
from the Define pull down
menu.

Select Add New Wall from the

Click to: menu.
Continue to define the 8 ksi shearwall.

Type WallC8 as the Section Name.

Select CONC8 as the Material.

Type 12 for the Membrane Thickness.

Type 12 for the Bending Thickness.

Select Shell as the Type.

Click OK.
Edit the story data and relationships.

Now, set up the story

relationship to aid us in the
development of the model.

Relationships between stories

are used to efficiently draw
elements on similar stories.

Select Edit Story Data from

the Edit pull down menu.
Continue to edit the story data and relationships.
Set STORY8,
STORY6, and
STORY3 as a Master
Story by selection Yes
from the Master Story
Column.

Set STORY7 as
similar to STORY8.

Set STORY5 and

STORY4 as Similar to
STORY6.

Set STORY2 and

STORY1 as Similar to
STORY3.

Click OK
Adjust the grid.

Now adjust the grid lines to remove the letter

I to avoid confusing it with the number 1 and
set additional gridlines.

Select Edit Grid from the Edit pull down

menu.

Click the Modify/Show System button on

the Coordinate Systems dialog box.
Adjust the X-grid.
Select X Grid from
the Display menu.

Select Kip-ft from

the Units menu.

Replace the letter I

with the letter J.

Add a new gridline

in the X Grid by
typing A.1 as the
Grid ID and 6.5 as
the Coordinate.
Adjust the YGrid.

Select Y Grid from the Display menu.

Select Kip-ft from the Units menu.

Add a new gridline in the Y Grid by typing 1.1 as the

Grid ID and 6.5 as the Coordinate.

Click OK.

Now is a good time to save your model, so click on

the File/Save.
Activate the Similar Stories Command.

Now activate the Similar Stories Command so that elements

drawn on the master stories will be automatically drawn on
similar stories .

Select Similar Stories from the pull down menu located near
the bottom right hand corner of the ETABS screen.
Master the 3rd Story Plan View.

Click the Plan View button. .

Select Story 3 . Remember that we will place our

elements on the master stories and ETABS will
automatically replicate the elements on the similar
stories.

Click OK.
Select the 18x32C8 columns.

Click the Create Column button .

Select 18x32C8 from the

Properties of Object dialog box.
 Place the columns as shown in the Plan View
Place the 18x32C8 columns. Window grid by left clicking the mouse.

Notice that columns are automatically drawn on

stories 1 and 2 as shown by the 3D View Window.
Master the 6th story Plan View.

Click the Plan View button.

Select Story 6 . Remember that we will place our

elements on the master stories and ETABS will
automatically replicate the elements on the similar
stories.

Click OK
Select the 18x22C6 columns.

Click the Create Column button .

Select 18x22C6 from the Properties of Object dialog

box.
 Place the columns as shown in the Plan View
Place the 18x22C6 columns. Window grid by left clicking the mouse.
Notice that columns are automatically drawn on
stories 4 and 5 as shown by the 3D View Window.
Master the 8th story Plan View.

Click the Plan View button.

Select Story 8 . Remember that we will place our elements on

the master stories and ETABS will automatically replicate the
elements on the similar stories.

Click OK.
Select the 14x22C4 columns.

Click the Create Column button.

Select the 14x22C4 from the Properties of Object

dialog box.
 Place the columns as shown in the Plan View Window
Place the 14x22C4 columns. grid by left clicking the mouse.

Notice that columns are automatically drawn on story 7

as shown by the 3D View Window.
Master the 3rd story Plan View.

We will now place the shearwalls for our model by

using a procedure similar to the procedure used to
place the columns.

Click the Plan View button.

Select Story 3 . Remember that we will place our

elements on the master stories and ETABS will
automatically replicate the elements on the similar
stories.

Click OK
Select the WALLC8 shearwall.

Click the Create Walls in Region button .

Select WALLC8 from the Properties of Object dialog box.

Click the Snap to Node button to turn of the snap feature. This is
done to allow you to click between nodes.

Place the 8 ksi shearwalls.
Place the shearwalls as shown in the Plan View
Window grid by left clicking the mouse between
intersecting points. For example, click the point that
is along line 6 between line A.1 and B to draw one
portion of the wall. Use this procedure to draw all
portions of the shearwalls. Notice that shearwalls are
automatically drawn on stories 1 and 2 as shown by
the 3D View Window.
Master the 6th story Plan View.

Click the Plan View button.

Select Story 6 . Remember that we will place our

elements on the master stories and ETABS will
automatically replicate the elements on the similar
stories.

Click OK
Select the WALLC6 shearwall.

Click the Create Walls in Region button .

Select WALLC6 from the Properties of Object dialog box.


Place the 6 ksi shearwalls.
Place the shearwalls as shown in the Plan View
Window grid by left clicking the mouse between
intersecting points. For example, click the point that
is along line 6 between line A.1 and B to draw one
portion of the wall. Use this procedure to draw all
portions of the shearwalls. Notice that shearwalls are
automatically drawn on stories 4 and 5 as shown by
the 3D View Window.
Master the 8th story Plan View.

Click the Plan View button.

Select Story 8 . Remember that we will place our

elements on the master stories and ETABS will
automatically replicate the elements on the similar
stories.

Click OK.
Select the WALLC4 shearwall.

Click the Create Walls in Region button .

Select WALLC6 from the Properties of Object dialog box.


Place the 4 ksi shearwalls.
Place the shearwalls as shown in the Plan View
Window grid by left clicking the mouse between
intersecting points. For example, click the point that
is along line 6 between line A.1 and B to draw one
portion of the wall. Use this procedure to draw all
portions of the shearwalls. Notice that shearwalls are
automatically drawn on story 7 as shown by the 3D
View Window.
 Now is a good time to save your model, so click on the
Set the Building View Options. File/Save.

Now adjust the model to view options.

Select the Set Building View Options… from the View

pull down menu.

Click the Object Fill and Extrusion check boxes.

Click OK.
3D Model View
The 3D view of your model should have
extruded filled-in elements.
Sometimes view changes are not updated
automatically. You may have to save the
file and exit ETABS. Then restart
ETABS to get the updated view.

Now is a good time to save your model,

so click on the File/Save.
Next,

Tutorial 2 - Place floor slabs and apply Dead, Live, Wind and Seismic loads.

Tutorial 3 - Analyze load results.