By

T.Rangarajan, B.E,M.Sc(struct.engg),
Consulting Structural Engineer

When you start E tab the following screen appears. In the right bottom corner
choose the units to be used for the Project.

You can OPEN if you have already any previous project or NEW for the new project
through the File menu.

When you start NEW project the following Template appears after you choose NO
from the dialogue.

In the above you enter for x direction ----4 that is the number of construction line in
the x direction.(no. of bay+1)
for y direction ----4 that is the number of construction line in the x
direction.(no. of bay+1)
Spacing in x direction is the span of bay .
Spacing in x direction is the span of bay .
Storey height is in Z direction.
You can also Edit the grids if you need to change the spacing and number of bays in
x y directions.
It is possible to change the units in this dialogue box also.
At the end you can choose one of the templates as per your project work.
When you enter OK the grid lines will appear as shown in the next page.

You can make the grid to disappear by clicking the menu button as shown by arrow
which will display the Set Building View options.

You can click the Grid lines radio button to make either to appear or disappear by
entering the tick mark or removing tick mark.

Press the Define tool from which the drop down menu appears. In the drop down
menu you choose,
1. Material properties. Concrete and Steel. Density, Possion ratio, strength etc
should be entered.
(M20,M25 etc)
2. Next the FRAME SECTIONS is to be chosen to enter the column, beam sizes.
Always make more sizes for columns and beams which will be used while
designing the sections.
3. WALL/SLAB/DECK SECTIONS is to be selected to enter the slab thickness and
other particulars.

In the Analysis Property Modification Factors you enter as per the following
table:
Section
Column

Service /Gravity
loads
1.0

Ultimate/Lateral
loads
0.7

Beam

1.0

0.35

Slab

1.0

0.25

Wall

1.0

0.25

Next step is to choose the codes for the design of members which is shown
above.
Next step is model the building by using Draw Point object, Draw Line objects,
Draw Area object for columns,Beams and slab. The Menu tool is shown below.

The above tools can also be reached on the

left side of the screen.
You can use the Snap tool while selecting either perpendicular etc which is
also seen on the left side bar or can be reached from the Selection tool in the
main tool bar.
Next step is to define the Loads to be applied on the members. SW-Dead load
with Self Modifier as 1.0
Other DL is specified as SDL or any name you wish with modifier as 0.
(Zero).Modifier 0(Zero) is for all other loads except Self weight.
In the table below you can see the Wind load, Earthquake and others. You can
add, delete or Modify the loads.

Next step is for the load combination which is shown below. In the table
please note for EQ for which there are many options available as:
1. Code,
2. User Coefficient.
3. User load.
All these will be explained with the example demonstration.

Next is to Check the model which list many items to be checked by ticking
the radio buttons. When you press OK then it will either display NO ERROR
MESSAGE or list the errors. You should make sure that you do not get any
error message.

When you get NO ERROR MESSGE then go for the ANALYSIS.

After the analysis the Display menu will display the deformed shape, frame
sections forces etc.
This is shown below.

The above statements illustrates the moeling, analyzing and displaying the
results.
The P-Delta and Dyanamic analysis will be another important feature of the
Etab as well as
SAP 2000.
With the above the basic functions and features are explained.
Thank you.