GUIDELINE FOR USING ETABS

ENGINEERING CONSULTANCY GROUP Prepared By: Dr. Mohamad Fathy

 ECG Guideline for Using ETABS

1. Introduction

The main purpose of this guideline is to provide step by step procedure for defining the seismic
input parameters in ETABS for both the Equivalent Static Force method and the Response Spectrum
method ensuring that ECG structural engineers are using ETABS in a consistent manner.

2. 1997 UBC Equivalent Static Force Method (Sec. 1630.2)

The use of the equivalent static force method is limited for structures described in section 1629.8.3
in the UBC97, however for practical purposes, this procedure is mainly used for scaling the base
shear obtained from the Response Spectrum analysis. Figure (1) explains the main input parameters
that are needed for the Equivalent Static Force Method:

a) Direction and Eccentricity:

UBC97 section 1630.6 requires that an accidental eccentricity of 5% based on the maximum
building dimension perpendicular to the direction of the seismic load has to be considered to account
for the effect of the increased shear due the accidental torsion. Since the main purpose of the
equivalent static force method is for base shear scaling; only eccentricity X-Dir + Eccen Y and
Y-Dir + Eccen X need only to be considered.

b) Time Period:
By default the Ct coefficient has to be in Imperial units and is equal to:
i- 0.035 for steel moment resisting frames.
ii- 0.030 for reinforced concrete moment resisting frames and eccentrically braced frames.
iii- 0.02 for all other buildings (shear walls and cores).

c) Story Range:
The top story is the uppermost level of the building and the bottom story is the base of the building.

d) Response Modification Factor, R:

Refer to table 16-N for the different values of R. The R value depends on the structural system.
Refer to section 1629.6 for the definition of different structural systems.

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 e) Seismic Coefficients (Soil Profile & Seismic Zone Factor):
Soil Profile
Refer to Table 16-J for the different soil profiles in the UBC97. The soil type profile shall be taken
from the soil investigation report and then matched with Table 16-J.
Seismic Zone Factor
Refer to Table 16-I for the different seismic zones. Table 16-I should be read in conjunction with
Appendix for chapter 16 on page 2-401 for the seismic zones for different cities and countries.

Note:
1) If the User Defined option is used, the values for Ca and Cv has to be entered by the user.
Table 16-Q and Table 16-R has the values for the Ca and Cv which depend on soil profile
type and the seismic zone factor.
2) The Near Source Factor will only come into consideration in seismic zone 4.
a- If the Per Code Option is used, refer to table 16-U to determine the seismic
source type. The distance to the seismic source has to be entered.
b- If the User Defined Option is used, refer to table 16-S and Table 16-T for
the Na and Nv values which will be determined according the seismic source type
and the closest distance to the seismic source.

f) Importance Factor:
Refer to table 16-K for the importance factor which depends mainly on the occupancy category.

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 (e)

(a)

Note(1)

(b)

(c)
Note(2)

(d) (f)

Fig.1: 1997 UBC Equivalent Static force Method seismic loading

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 3. 1997 UBC Response Spectrum Method

3.1 Define Response Spectrum Function

UBC97 response spectrum function RSP is added from the drop down list as shown in figure 2.
Only one response spectrum function is defined for both directions.

The main parameters that have to be defined are shown in figure 3:

a) Function Damping Ratio

Section 1631.2 specifies that the response spectrum function shall be developed for a specified
damping ratio. A damping ratio of 0.05 shall be used for R.C. structures.

b) Ca and Cv values
Ca and Cv values are obtained from Table 16-Q and Table 16-R these values depend on soil
profile type and the seismic zone factor. Refer to Appendix A for Ca and Cv values.

3.2 Response Spectrum Data

a) Function Damping Ratio

This item specifies the modal damping for the response spectrum analysis

b) Modal Combination
The modal combination shall be carried out using the CQC method as it provides the most accurate
results

c) Directional Combination
Section 1633.4 in the UBC97 requires that orthogonal effects have to be taken into consideration in
the response spectrum analysis. The effect of the two orthogonal directions has to be combined in
the load combinations using the ADD option.

d) Input Response Spectra

The response spectrum function defined earlier in figure 2 shall be entered here.

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 e) Scale Factor
Section 1631.5.4 in the UBC97 specifies that the response spectrum function shall be reduced for
design purposes by the value of R, however, the base shear obtained from the response spectrum
analysis shall not be lower than 90% of the base shear obtained from the equivalent static force
method for regular structures, 100% for irregular structures and 80% for specific site response
spectrum. If this case reveals, then the base shear of the response spectrum has to be scaled up to the
base shear of the equivalent static force method. It is worth mentioning that scaling the base shear
should be carried out for both the x-direction and y-direction (the scale factor will be different in
both directions).

0.90Vstatic
Scale factor regular structures: Eq. 1
Vdynamic

Vstatic
Scale factor irregular structures: Eq. 2
Vdynamic

Two response spectrum functions have to be defined for both x-direction (SPECX) and y-direction
(SPECY) as shown in figure 3. A first run has to be carried out in order to determine the scale factor
form either Eq.1 or Eq. 2. In the first run, for SPECX the scale factor will be (g/R) for U1 (x direction)
and for SPECY the scale factor will be (g/R) for U2 (y direction).
After evaluating the scale factor from either Eq.1 or Eq.2, a second run has to be carried out with the
following scale factors as shown in figure 4:
For SPECX For SPECY

Scale Factor for U1 = (Eq. 1 or Eq.2) * (g/R) Scale Factor for U2 = (Eq.1 or Eq.2)* (g/R)

Section 1633.1 in the UBC97 specifies that orthogonal effects have to be taken into consideration in the
design process. Structural elements have to be designed for 100% the seismic force in a certain
prescribed direction and 30% of the seismic force in the orthogonal direction.
The load combinations shall include two load cases for the seismic forces in both x direction and y
direction as follows:
For x direction: RSPX = SPECX + 0.30 SPECY
For y direction: RSPY = SPECY + 0.30 SPECX

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The load cases RSPX and RSPY will be the seismic load cases that will be included with dead loads,
live loads and the other load cases.

f) Excitation Angle
In most cases the excitation angle will be taken as zero unless it is specifically required to obtain the
response of the structure in certain predefined direction of interest.

g) Eccentricity Ratio
Section 1630.6 in the UBC97 specifies that an accidental eccentricity has to be taken into
consideration in addition to the actual eccentricity (difference between center of mass and center of
rigidity). Section 1630.7 in UBC97 specifies that where torsion irregularities exist the accidental
eccentricity shall be amplified by the amplification factor (A) as follows:

max
2

A 3.0
1.2ave
Where:
max is the maximum deflection of the diaphragm for the direction under consideration (X or
Y)
ave is the average deflection at the diaphragm corners for the direction under consideration
(X or Y)
The maximum deflection and the average deflection shall be calculated for the top story
The amplification factor shall not exceed 3.0
Refer to figure 4 for the amplification factor. The amplification of the eccentricity has to be carried
out once as it is not an iterative process.

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 (a)
(b)

Fig. 2: Response spectrum definition for both x-direction and y-direction

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 (a) (a)

(b) (b)

(c) (c)

(d)
(e)

(e)
(d)
(g/R)

(g/R)

(f) (f)

0.05 0.05

(g) (g)

Fig. 3: Response spectrum data for the first run.

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 (a) (a)

(b) (b)

(c) (c)

(d)
(e)

(e)
(Eq.1 or Eq.2)*(g/R) (d)

(Eq.1 or Eq.2)*(g/R)

(f) (f)

0.05*Ax 0.05*Ax

(g) (g)

Fig. 4: Response spectrum data for the second run.

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 4. Over Strength Factor ( o ) and Vertical Component of Seismic Loads

o is the seismic force amplification factor that accounts for structure over strength and is used only
in the design of transfer beams and transfer slabs supporting planted columns resisting lateral loads.
Also it is used when shear walls are supported on columns, large span beams and large span
cantilevers. Refer to figure 5 for o factor.

Em (x-direction) = o x RSPX Eq.3-1

Em (Y-direction) = o x RSPY Eq.3-2

Vertical component of the seismic load shall be considered for structures having the same above
mentioned conditions as for the over strength factor in addition to structures that are located above
the seismic source. UBC97 implements the effect of the vertical component of earthquakes as an
increase in the base shear by the following value:

Ev = 0.5 Ca I D Eq.4

Where:
Ca from table 16-Q
I importance factor from table 16-K
D dead load of the structure

The seismic load will be:

E = * Eh + Ev Eq.5 Where is equal to 1 for seismic zones 1, 2A and 2B.

It has to be noted that the vertical component of the seismic load has to be added to the horizontal
component (base shear) before the scaling process and after the scaling process the seismic load
will be as mentioned earlier:

E (x direction) = RSPX Eq.6-1

E (y direction) = RSPY Eq.6-2

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Important Note:
1- Whichever is greater from (Eq.3-1, Eq.3-2) or (Eq.6-1, Eq.6-2) is used in the appropriate load
combinations.
If (Eq.6-1, Eq.6-2) is to be used, it shall be used with the following load combinations:

If (Eq.3-1, Eq.3-2) is to be used, it shall be used with the special load combinations:

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 Important Notes
1. Mass Source

Fig. 6: Mass Source Definition

Section 1630.1.1 in UBC97 specifies the following:

1- Mass source
100% of self weight
100% dead load
100 % of the permanent equipment (UBC97 section 1630.1.1 item 4)
50% for live load greater than 5.0 kN/m2
25% for storage areas (UBC97 section 1630.1.1 item 1)

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2. Diaphragm Definition

Diaphragms have to be defined as rigid. Semi rigid diaphragms shall be used only in temperature
analysis.

Fig. 7: Diaphragm Data

3. Number of Modes
Section 1631.5.2 in UBC97 specifies that at least 90% of the precipitating mass of the structure has to be
considered when calculating the response of the structure.
4. P-Delta Effect

(a)

(b)

(c)
(d)

Fig. 8: P-Delta Parameters

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a. Use Iterative- Based on load combination
b. Use Maximum Iterations from 3 to 5 iterations (reasonable for most cases)
c. Choose relative tolerance of 0.001
d. The load cases chosen here are dead loads and live loads only.

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 APPENDIX A

TABLE 16-N R Value for Different Structural Systems

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Typical Framing Systems

1- Building Frame System

2- Moment Resisting Frame System

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3- Dual System

3- Wall Bearing System

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TABLE 16-P R Value for Non Building Structures

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Types of Non Building Structures

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TABLE 16-J UBC97 Soil Profiles

TABLE 16-I UBC97 Seismic Zones

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TABLES 16-Q and 16-R UBC97 Ca and Cv Values

TABLE 16-U Seismic Source Types

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TABLES 16-S and 18-T Na and Nv Values

Measurement of Shortest Distance to Seismic Source

TABLE 16-K Importance Factor

(Please be noted that this table also includes the occupancy category in the UBC97,however, it is not
shown here)

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Table 16-L Vertical Irregularities

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Table 16-M Plan Irregularities

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