SECTION 1: SETTING UP THE MODEL

For guidance, please find the following notes below. These are only general considerations; as for the little
details, we can discuss them later once you progress with the exercise.

1. Raft/Foundation level not to be modelled. Supports to be pinned for all.

2. Story height is typical at 3.5m for all levels
3. There are only 4 types of occupancy:
a. Ground Level (retail + landscape)
b. Level 01 (retail)
c. Typical (residential)
d. Roof (maintenance and light MEP)
4. Make sure global axis orientation in CAD is consistent with ETABS (i.e. Z-up)
5. Clean the CAD file. Make sure that any unnecessary layers or objects are deleted/purged
(e.g. hatches, text, etc.). In this instance, the reference files are structural drawings so it is easy to
filter them out but there will be times where we will need to use architectural drawings so take note.
6. There should be no blocks in the file as ETABS cannot import objects that are in blocks. You
should make sure that the objects that you will be importing are exploded to simplify the process (if
you require area elements in ETABS, you can draw polylines in CAD as they will automatically be
converted to area elements when imported into ETABS)
7. Assign Grid into one layer (ensure to remove the block assignment)
8. Slab edges and opening extents can be made into one layer
9. Draw line with AutoCAD at center points of elements in particular columns, beams and walls.
This will be useful when you draw your elements in ETABS. See samples below for reference. Keep
these lines all under one layer.
10. Columns that are not on center with respect to beams can be adjusted (or vice versa) to
simply the ETABS modelling. This applies if the offsets are minimal and would have little impact on
the overall global behavior of the structure. See sample below. In this case, shifting the columns is
better as it provides longer spans in the horizontally oriented beams.
11. Make sure scales are correct from the import

12. For ease, you need to only do one DXF file for typical floors. Once you import it and model
the geometry, you can simply replicate to other applicable stories afterwards.
13. Try to develop the habit of creating slab assignments with respect to loading (see sample
below). This takes longer at the start but this will be useful when assigning loads later on, especially if
the architects keep on changing occupancy extents.
14. Tips for using line end releases:
a. Think rebar detailing (can bars be really developed into the support given the
configuration?)
b. If beam size restricts rebar from being developed to resist negative moments, then it
is valid to use a release (e.g. band beam on a narrow-dimensioned column)
c. Beams attached perpendicularly to walls can be release (see item 1; applies to
normal beams and link beams)
d. Bottom ends of planted columns can be released. Conversely, top ends of final span
of columns (roof) can also be release if high design moments are experienced. By default we
can do without and apply if preliminary runs show that we need to. Do this for all the top
columns for consistency.
15. For load patterns and combinations, refer to ETABS PDS
SECTION 2: ANALYSIS PARAMETERS AND LATERAL LOAD INPUTS

1. WIND

For this exercise, please adopt the ff. inputs for now. I suggest you read the code on how these parameters
are determined, notably the exposure type, gust and directionality factor.

Signs should be
negative for 180 and
270 deg. directions
Angle per Load
Pattern:
X (+) = 0 o
X (-) = 180 o
X (+) = 90 o
Y (-) = 270o
2. SEISMIC

For this exercise, please adopt the ff. inputs for now. I suggest you read the code on how these parameters
are determined, notably the seismic coefficients and R value (see tables in UBC), eccentricity ratio and the
period.

EXP EYP

EXN EYN
Mass Source

Modal Case Data

a. Use Ritz vectors (more appropriate for building analysis)
b. Ensure number of modes is sufficient (use starting number of 30 and adjust later after
preliminary analysis -> refer to document 2 for interpreting results)