National Conference on Recent Trends in Engineering & Technology
NONLINEAR STATIC ANALYSIS OF
R.C.C. FRAMES
(Software Implementation ETABS 9.7)
Mrugesh D. Shah
M.E Structure student, B.V.M Engineering
College
Abstract:- Nonlinear static analysis is an iterative
procedure so it is difficult to solve by hand calculation and
that’s why software is required to do nonlinear static
analysis. ETABS 9.7 have features to perform nonlinear
static analysis. This paper is an approach to do nonlinear
static analysis in simplify and effective manner.
Keyword:- ETABS 9.7, modeling, static analysis,
Designing, Pushover analysis
I. Introduction
The nonlinear analysis of a structure is an
iterative procedure. It depends on the final
displacement, as the effective damping depends on
the hysteretic energy loss due to inelastic
deformations, which in turn depends on the final
displacement. This makes the analysis procedure
iterative. Difficulty in the solution is faced near the
ultimate load, as the stiffness matrix at this point
becomes negative definite due to instability of the
structure becoming a mechanism.
Software available to perform nonlinear
static (pushover) analysis are ETABS, SAP,
ADINA, SC-Push3D Extended Three Dimensional
Buildings Systems (ETABS) and Structural
Analysis Program finite element program that
works with complex geometry and monitors
deformation at all hinges to determine ultimate
deformation. It has built-in defaults for ACI 318
material properties and ATC-40 and FEMA 273
hinge properties. Also it has capability for
inputting any material or hinge property. ETABS
9.7 deals with the buildings only.
The analysis in ETABS 9.7 involves the
following four step.1)Modeling,2)Static analysis,
Designing 4)Pushover analysis
Steps used in performing a pushover analysis
of a simple three-dimensional building.
1. Creating the basic computer model (without the
pushover data) in the usual manner.
2. Define properties and acceptance criteria for the
pushover hinges. The program includes several
built-in default hinge properties that are based on
average values from ATC-40 for concrete members
13-14 May 2011 B.V.M. Engineering College, V.V.Nagar,Gujarat,India
Sumant B. Patel
Associate prof. B.V.M Engineering College
and average values from FEMA-273 for steel
members. These built in properties can be useful
for preliminary analyses, but user defined
properties are recommended for final analyses.
3. Locate the pushover hinges on the model by
selecting one or more frame members and
assigning them one or more hinge properties and
hinge locations.
4. Define the pushover load cases. In ETABS 9.7
more than one pushover load case can be run in the
same analysis. Also a pushover load case can start
from the final conditions of another pushover load
case that was previously run in the same analysis.
Typically a gravity load pushover is force
controlled and lateral pushovers are displacement
controlled.
5. Run the basic static analysis and, if desired,
dynamic analysis. Then run the static nonlinear
pushover analysis.
6. Display the pushover curve and the table.
7. Review the pushover displaced shape and
sequence of hinge formation on a step-by-step
basis.
II. BASIC STEPS
A) Create the model
1) Create the basic grid system
This step shows how to create the basic
grid system. The structural objects are set relative
to the grid system.
Begin creating the grid system by clicking
the File menu > New model button, the form
shown in fig.1 will be displayed.
Fig.1 New Model Initialization form
Select the Default.edb button on the form
shown in fig..1, form shown in fig.2 will be
 National Conference on Recent Trends in Engineering & Technology

displayed and in this form define Grid dimension, Fig.5 Material Property Data Form
Story dimension and Units.
4) Define section properties
Begin defining various section properties
used in the model by clicking the Define menu >
Frame Section command, the form shown in fig.6
will be displayed.

Fig.2 Building Plan Grid System and Story Data Definition

form

2)RC frame code selection

Select the Option menu >
Preferences > Concrete frame design command.
Select the appropriate Design code.
Define the material properties
3) Begin defining various material
properties used in the model by clicking the Define
menu > Material properties command, the form
shown in fig.4 Will be displayed.
Fig.6 Define Frame Properties form
Select the Add Rectangular button on the
form shown in fig.6, form shown in fig.7 will be
displayed and in the form add Section Name,
Dimensions, and Material.

Fig.7 Rectangular Section form

Fig.4 Define Materials form 5) By clicking the Define menu >

Wall/Slab/Deck Sections command, the form
Select Add new Material or Modify/Show
shown in fig.8 will be displayed.
Material button on the form shown in fig.4, form
shown in fig.5 will be displayed, Define material
property data.

Fig.8Define Wall/Slab/Deck Section form

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Select the Modify/show section or Add

new Deck button on the form shown in fig.8, form
shown in fig.9 will be displayed and in the form
add Deck type, Geometry.

Fig.11 Define Static load cases Names form

In case of Earth Quake Load, Changes the

Direction and Eccentricity, Seismic Coefficients
select Modified Load form shown in fig.12 will be
displayed.

Fig.9 Deck Section form

6). Draw Beam, Column, Slab

Begin Draw various elements are used in
the model by clicking the Draw menu > Draw Line
Objects > Create Lines in Region or at click
command, the form shown in fig.10 Will be
displayed.

Fig.12 IS 1893:2002 Seismic loading form

8. Assign Structural Loads

Fig.10 Create Lines in Region or at click form The load cases define are
required in order to be able to assign loads to
Similarly slabs and columns are draw. points/joints, lines/frames, and areas/shells. The
7. Define the Static load cases user must first select the object before a load can
Add a static load case, click the Define assigned to the object. After the object has been
menu > Static Load Cases command button, to selected, Click the Assign menu > Shell/Area load
access the Define Static Load Case Names the > Uniform command. Form shown in fig.13 will be
form Shown in fig.11 Complete the following displayed.
action using that form:
1. Type the name of the load case in the
Load edit box. The program does not allow use of
duplicate names.
2. Select a load type from the Type drop-
down names.
3. Type a self-weight multiplier in the
Self-weight Multiplier edit box.
4. If the load type specified in Quake or
wind, Select an option from the Auto Lateral Load
drop-down list.
5. Click the Add New Load button. Fig.13 Uniform Surface loads form

Select the Load Case Name, Magnitude of

load and Direction.
9. Define Analysis option
To Define analysis option select Analysis
menu > Set Analysis Option command .
III Run static analysis

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To run analysis select the Analysis menu

> Run Analysis command.
Once the analysis is performed
successfully, the results like deformations, shear
forces, bending moments of each element can be
displayed or listed for each load cases and load
combinations cases defined in the Display menu.

III Design the structure

The ETABS 9.7 design include the following

Steel Frame Design Fig.14 Define Frame Hinge Properties form
Concrete Frame Design
Composite Beam Design Assign hinge properties:
Steel Joist Design To assign hinge properties, after selection
Shear Wall Design the frame elements, click the Assign menu >
To perform the design, first run the Frame/Line > Frame Nonlinear hinges. For beam
analysis, then click on the Option menu > Preface default M3 and Default V2 hinges and for column
to select the Design code and then click the Design default P-M-M hinges are assign.
menu and select the appropriate design from the 2) Define static push over cases:
drop down menu. Pushover analysis is a powerful feature
For an example, Let us take design of available with the software. To add a static
concrete frame. Firstly select frame members then pushover cases, click the Define menu > Static
select Design menu > Concrete Frame Design > Nonlinear/Pushover cases command, the Define
Start design/Check. static Nonlinear Cases form as shown in fig.15 will
be displayed.
IV Pushover analysis

1) Define hinge properties

Frame nonlinear properties are used to
define nonlinear force-displacement and/or moment
rotation behavior that can be assigned to discrete
locations along the length of frame elements. These
nonlinear hinges are only used during static
nonlinear analysis. For all other types of analysis,
these hinges are rigid and have no effect on the
linear behavior of element.
Types of hinge properties: Fig.15 Define Static Nonlinear Cases form
There are three types of hinge properties
in the software: Default hinge property, User Select the Add new case button on the
defined hinge property and generated hinge form shown in fig.15, form shown in fig.16 will be
property. Only default hinge property and user displayed.
defined hinge property can be assigned to the As shown in Fig.16 and Fig.17 for
frame elements. When a default or user defined defining the Static Nonlinear Cases (Pushover
hinge property is assigned to any frame element, it Cases) requires the understanding of following
will automatically creates a new generated hinge points:
property for each hinge.
Fig.14 shows the default hinge properties
available with the software. Default hinge
properties are as per ATC-40 and FEMA 273.

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 National Conference on Recent Trends in Engineering & Technology

GF 600x600 230×500 2
1st floor 600x600 230x500 2
2nd floor 500x500 230x450 1.5
3rd floor 500x500 230x450 1.5
4th floor 450x450 230x450 1.5
The storey height was 3m and the support
condition at base was assumed to be fixed.

VI RESULTS

The ultimate base shear is around 2794 kN and the

Fig.16 Static Nonlinear Case Data –PUSH1
corresponding roof displacement is 243mm. The
capacity spectrum curve of the same model is
shown in Fig.16. Red curve in the Fig. 16 shows
the response spectrum curve for various damping
values. The base shear at performance point is
1269 kN and corresponding displacement is 64
mm.

Fig 18. Capacity spectrum curve for EQ-X dir

Fig.17 Static Nonlinear Case Data –PUSH2

V Example

In the model, the support condition was

assumed to be fixed and soil condition was
assumed as medium soil.
Building was a symmetric structure with
respect to both the horizontal directions. It was X- The pushover analysis was including ten steps. It
direction and Y-direction, each of 4m in length. All
has been observed that, on subsequent push to
the slabs were considered as shell element of
building, hinges started forming in beams first.
150mm thickness. Initially hinges were in B-IO stage and
The model was the bare frame having beams, subsequently proceeding to IO-LS and LS-CP
columns and slabs. The geometric properties are stage. At performance point, where the capacity
listed in Table. M25 grade concrete and Fe415 and demand meets, out of 330 assigned hinges 261
steel..
were in A-B stage, 31, 38, and 0 hinges are in B-
Floor Column Beam size Live
IO, IO-LS and LS-CP stages respectively. As at
Size mm×mm Load
mm×mm KN/ m2 performance point, hinges were in IO-LS range,

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overall performance of building is said to be

Immediate occupancy to Life Safety.

VII Conclusion

Software used for nonlinear static analysis

ETABS 9.7 having features of performing
performance based analysis by going through some
simple steps.

Refrances:-1. ATC-40 - “Seismic Evaluation and Retrofit of

Concrete Buildings”, Applied
Technology Council, November 1996.
2.FEMA-273 - “NEHRP Guidelines for the Seismic
Rehabilitation of Buildings”, Federal Emergency Management
Agency, October 1997.
3. ETABS User’s Manual, “Integrated Building Design
Software”, Computer and Structure Inc. Berkeley, USA
4. Code and Commentary on IS:1893-2002 (Part1) IITK-
GSDMA-EQ05-V2

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