ETABS Latest Version: V22.2.0

OVERVIEW

ETABS is a sophisticated, yet easy to use, special purpose analysis and design program developed specifically for building systems.

The innovative and revolutionary new ETABS is the ultimate integrated software package for the structural analysis and design of buildings. Incorporating 40 years of continuous research and development, this latest ETABS offers unmatched 3D object based modelling and visualization tools, blazingly fast linear and nonlinear analytical power, sophisticated and comprehensive design capabilities for a wide-range of materials, and insightful graphic displays, reports, and schematic drawings that allow users to quickly and easily decipher and understand analysis and design results.

USER INTERFACE

REDESIGNED USER INTERFACE

ETABS offers a single user interface to perform: Modeling, Analysis, Design, and Reporting. A new model explorer is available for quick access to objects, properties, and forms.

SELECTED FEATURES & ADVANCED ANALYSIS

ELASTIC SHORTENING

Elastic shortening is accurately computed in ETABS. Based on the shear/core walls and columns modelled, ETABS will compute their respective displacements based on their actual stiffness. Engineers will be able to strategize the locations of these walls and columns to obtain a more efficient building in terms of vertical resistance. The figure on the right shows a building with poorly positioned walls and columns making the building lean to one side under dead load alone! Accurate elastic shortening results indicate proper reaction loads for the columns as would be experienced by the real structure.

MODIFIED WALL PANELS AND MESHING

ETABS has long been the industry leader for shear wall analysis and design. It ensures the precision in its analysis by using modified wall panels which have similar performance regardless of the mesh size specified by the user. Advanced meshing options such as the auto line constraint which is unique to CSI software also ensures the quality of the result by enforcing displacement compatibility at mismatched mesh locations.

SECTION DESIGNER

The section designer in ETABS allows the user to specify a section of any geometry using concrete, steel sections or rebar. The section designer will then generate the P-M-M interaction surface as well as the moment curvature relationship for that section to be used as a frame element in the analysis.

MODAL ANALYSIS

Modal analysis is critical to building analysis and it is a default option in ETABS.

TIME DEPENDENT

Incremental construction sequence modelling and loadings can be modelled in ETABS. Nonlinear effects can be considered such as large deflections, yielding, and gap opening and closing. Time-dependent creep, shrinkage, and strength-change effects will all so be taken into account.

Construction Sequencing

Creep and Shrinkage

DYNAMIC ANALYSIS

ETABS dynamic analysis capabilities include the calculation of vibration modes using Ritz or Eigen vectors, response-spectrum analysis, and time-history analysis for both linear and nonlinear behaviour.

Response-Spectrum Analysis

Response-spectrum analysis determines the statistically likely response of a structure to seismic loading. This linear type of analysis uses response-spectrum ground-acceleration records based on the seismic load and site conditions, rather than time-history ground motion records. This method is extremely efficient and takes into account the dynamical behavior of the structure.

Time History Analysis

Time-history analysis captures the step-by-step response of structures to seismic ground motion and other types of loading such as blast, machinery, wind, waves, etc. Analysis can use modal superposition or direct-integration methods, and both can be linear or nonlinear. The nonlinear modal method, also called FNA for Fast Nonlinear Analysis, is extremely efficient and accurate for a wide class of problems. The direct-integration method is even more general, and can handle large deformations and other highly nonlinear behaviour. Nonlinear time-history analyses can be chained together with other nonlinear cases (including staged construction) addressing a wide range of applications.

P-DELTA ANALYSIS

P-delta analysis captures the softening effect of compression and the stiffening effect of tension. A single P-delta analysis under gravity and sustained loads can be used to modify the stiffness for linear load cases, which can later be superposed. Alternatively, each combination of loads can be analysed for full nonlinear P-delta effects. P-delta effects are included for all elements and are seamlessly integrated into analysis and design.

BUCKLING

Linear (bifurcation) buckling modes of a structure can be found under any set of loads. Buckling can be calculated from a nonlinear or staged-construction state. Full nonlinear buckling analysis is also available considering P-delta or large deflections effects. Snap-through buckling behaviour can be captured using static analysis with displacement control. Dynamic analysis can be used for modelling more complex buckling, such as follower-load problems.

PUSHOVER

Pushover analysis features in ETABS include the implementation of FEMA 356 and the hinge and fiber hinge option based on stress-strain. The nonlinear layered shell element enables users to consider plastic behaviour of concrete shear walls, slabs, steel plates, and other area finite elements in the pushover analysis. Force-Deformation relations are defined for steel and concrete hinges.

LOAD CASES AND COMBINATIONS

ETABS allows for an unlimited number of load cases and combinations. Load combination types include linear additive, envelope (min/max), absolute add, SRSS, and range combinations. Combination components can include other combinations.

ANALYSIS OPTIONS

Below is a quick summary of the various types of advanced analysis options that is available to ETABS.
Analysis OptionsFeatures
Static AnalysisIncludes elastic shortening effects
Modal AnalysisEigen & Ritz
Construction Sequence AnalysisModal Effects of Construction
Dynamic AnalysisResponse Spectrum , Time History
P-Delta AnalysisLarge Displacements
Push Over AnalysisPlastic Hinge Formation

OUTPUT AND DISPLAY

MIXED UNITS

ETABS gives users full control of the units used with all model data and displays results in the units desired. Whether architectural units or analysis results units, you can have any combination of units throughout your model.

DEFORMED GEOMETRY

Users can display deformed geometry based on any load or combination of loads, as well as animations of modes.

SHELL FORCE AND STRESS CONTOURS

Display of shell forces and stress contours can be based on load case, load combination, or modal case. Users can show resultant forces and shell stresses on any component in any direction. Control the stress contour appearance by showing undeformed, deformed, or extruded shapes, with or without loading values.

REACTION DIAGRAMS

Support reactions can be displayed graphically on the model either as vectors or as tabular plots for selected reaction components.

TABULAR OUTPUT

ETABS has the ability to display and dock tables for all input data, analysis results, and design results. Organize the tables in any way you like by dragging and dropping them to any location of the ETABS environment. Tables support sort, cut, copy, and paste for use in other programs. Print or save tabular data to Access, Excel, Word, HTML, or TXT.

SECTION CUTS

Use graphical section cut definitions to see the resultant forces and moments across any location in the structure. A section cut can have any shape and can be used to compute story shears, connecting forces, design forces in shear walls, and for many other purposes. Section cut results can be obtained for all types of load cases and combinations.

VIDEO ANIMATIONS

ETABS has the ability to generate video (.avi) files to visually display a set of analysis results that vary over a particular time period, such as in a time history analysis.

RENDERED VIEWS

Rendered views can used to create images to include in client reports. ETABS has multiple lighting options, shadows, and texture options to create life-like images of your structures.

REPORT

REPORT GENERATION

The report generator features include an indexed table of contents, model definition information, and analysis and design results in tabulated format. Reports are viewable within ETABS with live document navigation connected to the Model Explorer and directly exportable to Microsoft Word.

BIM COMPATIBILITY

AUTODESK REVIT STRUCTURE

CSiXRevit, a CSI developed plugin for Autodesk Revit Structure, provides a bi-directional link between SAP2000, ETABS, and/or SAFE and Autodesk Revit® Structure.
Four options are available to interchange data:

  • from Revit Structure to create a new CSI model
  • from Revit Structure to update an existing CSI model
  • from CSI software to create a new Revit Structure project
  • from CSI software to update an existing Revit Structure project

These options provide for true round-tripping of data between CSI software and Autodesk Revit® Structure.

TEKLA STRUCTURES

The link between Tekla Structures and SAP2000 or ETABS allows models to be started in either product, then transferred to the other. Round-tripping of models is possible, including accepting of changes when transferring from SAP2000 or ETABS to Tekla Structures. It is also possible to merge changes to a Tekla Structures model to an existing SAP2000 or ETABS model.

INDUSTRY FOUNDATION CLASSES (IFC)

Support of Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) data models provides compatibility with other BIM enabled applications. SAP2000, CSiBridge, and ETABS all support import and export of IFC 2×3 and IFC 4 formats.

DESIGN STANDARDS

CODES

STATIC LATERAL SEISMIC LOAD CODES
ASCE 7-10
ASINZS 1170 2002
GB50011-2010
Eurocode 8 2004
IS 1893 2002
Italian NTC 2008
NBCC2010
Turkish EDP 2007
NZS 1170 2004
BOCA96
ASCE 7-02
ASCE7-05
NBCC95
NBCC 2005
NEHRP 97
UBC 94
UBC 97
UBC 97 Isolated
STATIC LATERAL WIND LOADS CODES
ASCE7-10
AS/NZS 1170.2:2002
Eurocode 1 2005
Indian IS875:1987
Italian NTC 2008
NBCC2010
Turkish TS 498-97
ASCE7-88
ASCE7-95
ASCE7-02
ASCE7-05
BOCA96
BS 6399-95
NBCC95
NBCC 2005
Mexican
UBC94
RESPONSE SPECTRUM FUNCTIONS CODES
AS1170-2007
ASCE7-02
ASCE7-05
ASCE7-10
BOCA96
GB50011-2010
Eurocode 8-2004
IS 1893:2002
Italian NTC 2008
Italian 3274
NBCC 2005
NBCC2010
NBCC95
NEHRP97
NZS1170-2004
NZS4203
Turkish EDP 2007
UBC94
UBC97
LIVE LOAD REDUCTION FACTORS CODES
ASCE7-95
ASCE7-05
ASCE 7-10
ASINZ 1170.1-2002
Chinese GB 50009-2012
Eurocode 1991:2002
Hong Kong COP 2011
Indian IS 875-1987
NBCC95
NBCC2005
NBCC2010
UBC97
User Parameters (per Section 1607.5,UBC 1997)
User Defined Curves {By Tributary Area)
User Defined (By Stories Supported)
CONCRETE FRAME DESIGN CODES
ACI 318-14
ACI 318-11
ACI 318-08
AS 3600-2018
AS 3600-09
BS 8110-97
Chinese 2010
CSA A23.3-14
Eurocode 2-2004
IS456:2000
KBC 2016
KBC 2009
NTC 2008
Mexican RCDF 2017
Mexican RCDF 2004
NZS 3101:2006
Singapore CoP 65:99
SP 63.13330.2012
TS500-2000(R2018)
TS 500-2000
TCVN 5574:2012
COMPOSITE BEAM DESIGN CODES
AISC 360-16
AISC360-10
AISC360-05
BS 5950-1990
Chinese 2010
CSA S16-09
Eurocode 4-2004
CONCRETE SLAB DESIGN CODES
ACI 318-14
ACI 318-11
ACI 318-08
AS 3600-09
AS 3600-01
BS 8110-97
Chinese 2010
CSA A23.3-14
CSA A23.3-04
Eurocode 2-2004
Hong Kong CoP 2013
Hong Kong CoP 2004
IS 456:2000
NTC 2008
NZS 3101:06
Singapore CoP 65:99
TS 500-2000
SHEARWALL DESIGN CODES
ACI 318-14
ACI 318-11
ACI 318-08
AS 3600-2018
AS 3600-09
BS 8110-97
Chinese 2010
CSA A23.3-04
Eurocode 2-2004
Hong Kong CoP 2013
IS 456:2000
KBC 2016
KBC 2009
Mexican RCDF 2017
Mexican RCDF 2004
NZS 3101:2006
Singapore CoP 65:99
SP 63.13330.2012
TS500-2000(R2018)
TS 500-2000
COMPOSITE COLUMN DESIGN
AISC360-10
Chinese 2010
STEELFRAME DESIGN CODES
AISC 360-16
AISC360-10
AISC360-05
AJSC lRFD93
AJSC ASD89
AS4100-1998
BS 5950-2000
Chinese 2018
Chinese 2010
CSA S16-14
Eurocode 3-2005
IS800:2007
KBC 2016
KBC 2009
NTC 2018
NTC 2008
NZS 3404:1997
SP 16.13330.2011

AWARDS

Part of the CSi Family of Software is ETABS which has been awarded the Top Seismic Product of the 20th Century by the Applied Technology Council (ATC) and the Engineering News Record (ENR), again re-iterating its position as the leading building software on the market.
Computers and Structures, Inc. is also the proud recipient of the Charles S. Whitney Medal from the American Concrete Institute (ACI) in 2011. Ashraf Habibullah, the President and CEO also received a H.J. Brunnier Life Time Achievement Award for Excellence in Structural Engineering in the same year, a feat not achieved by any other structural software company.
Otte is the Sole Singapore ETABS distributor as well as the Sole Malaysia ETABS distributor. Other Computers and Structures Products such as SAP2000, CSiBridge, and SAFE are also distributed by Otte.