Lecture Notes:
SSBD413417E: Structural Software for Building Analysis and Design
Phong T. T. Nguyen, PhD
Department of Structural Engineering
Faculty of Civil Engineering
HCMC University of Technology and Education
OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE
OBJECTIVES:
❑ Provide basic knowledge and skills in using specialized software such as ETABS, SAFE … for
modeling and analyzing different kinds of structural systems.
❑ Able to use results (stress resultants, e.g., bending moments, shear forces, displacements,…)
obtained from the software for structural design.
COURSE OUTCOMES:
❑ Explaining concepts, terminology and rules used in ETABS, SAFE software
❑ Analyzing and determining the values of internal forces, displacements and other parameters
for structural design
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Outline:
❖ W1: Introduction
❖ W2-W3 : Modeling of 2D frame systems
❖ W4-7: Modeling of 3D frame systems
❖ W8: Using SAFE to model and design slabs
❖ W9: Using SAFE to model and design foundations
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ASSESSMENTS
ASSESSMENTS:
❑ Attendance: required
❑ Formative assessments: 50%
❖ 2D frame (15%)
❖ 3D frame (20%)
❖ Safe (15%)
❑ Final exam: 50%
Ref.: Course syllabus
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LEARNING AND TEACHING METHODS
LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM:
❑ UTEXLMS: fhqx.hcmute.edu.vn
❖ Syllabus, video of lecture, lecture notes,
❖ Textbook and references
LEARNING METHOD:
❑ Hard working on worked exercises
❑ Following video of lectures
❑ Engaging in Q & A
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LEARNING AND TEACHING METHODS
TEXTBOOKS
REFERENCES:
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Week 1: Introduction
Outline:
1. Overview of ETABS and SAFE software
2. Introduction to the interface of ETABS software
3. Introduction to the steps to model, calculate and design
structures.
4. Some example about simply structures. Compare results of
from ETABS software with direct solutions.
1. Sap2000, ETABS and SAFE
➢ SAP2000, ETABS and SAFE are software packages from Computers and Structures,
Inc. for structural analysis and design. Each package is a fully integrated system for
modeling, analyzing, designing, and optimizing structures of a particular type:
▪ SAP2000 for general structures, including bridges, stadiums, towers, industrial plants,
offshore structures, piping systems, buildings, dams, soils, machine parts and many
others.
▪ ETABS for building structures
▪ SAFE for floor slabs and base mats
➢ ETABS can be able to model structural systems similar to real structures
➢ The ETABS building is idealized as an assemblage of area, line and point objects.
Those objects are used to represent wall, floor, column, beam, brace and link/spring
physical members.
Joints
Column
Elements
Fig. 1. Idealized structural model
Element
Joint
Joint
Element
Fig. 2. Idealized Structural Model Fig 3. Idealized Structural Model
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3.General Procedure
▪ Grid lines and story related information
▪ Define material properties
▪ Line elements and their section properties
▪ Area elements and their section properties
▪ Assign loads for point, line and area elements
▪ Assign supports
3.General Procedure
What ETABS Can Do
