Section Designer PDF
Section Designer PDF
Section Designer PDF
Manual
Computers and Structures, Inc.
Berkeley, California, USA
First Edition
February 2000
ETABS
A
n
g
l
e
=
1
2
0
6
0
6
0
X
Y
R
o
t
a
t
i
o
n
=
1
2
0
A
n
g
l
e
=
1
2
0
6
0
6
0
A
n
g
l
e
=
1
2
0
6
0
6
0
X
Y
R
o
t
a
t
i
o
n
=
1
2
0
A
n
g
l
e
=
1
2
0
6
0
6
0
=
Eqn. 9-1
where,
A
section
= Area reported for the section, length
2
.
A
shape
= Area of a geometric shape (not reinforcing shape)
included in the section, length
2
.
E
base
= Modulus of elasticity of the base material,
force/length
2
.
E
shape
= Modulus of elasticity of the material specified for
the shape, force/length
2
.
n = Number of geometric shapes included in the sec-
tion, unitless.
Important note: The reinforcing steel is not considered when
calculating the section properties. This includes the reinforcing
steel defined as a reinforcing shape and the reinforcing steel that
is associated with a geometric shape. The section properties are
based on the gross area of all geometric shapes transformed to an
equivalent area of the base material.
Section Designer X
S
e
c
t
i
o
n
D
e
s
i
g
n
e
r
Y
L
o
c
a
l
2
Positive
angle
Chapter 9 - The Section Designer Display Menu
Show Section Properties 9 - 3
9
The following section properties are reported:
A: Area of the section, length
2
.
J: Torsional constant, length
4
.
I33: Moment of inertia about the 3-axis, length
4
.
I22: Moment of inertia about the 2-axis, length
4
.
I23: Moment of inertia, length
4
. Figure 9-1 illustrates the
derivation of I23, I22, and I33.
The I23 moment of inertia is equal to zero when the lo-
cal 2 and 3 axes are the principal axes of the section. If
the local 2 and 3 axes are not the principal axes of the
section then I23 is nonzero.
Important note: The analysis algorithm in ETABS as-
sumes that the local axes of frame sections are principal
axes of the section. In other words it assumes that I23 is
zero. Thus the I23 value reported in Section Designer is
not used in the ETABS analysis. If the I23 value for a
section is not close to zero then you may not be analyz-
ing the section correctly in ETABS.
As2: Shear area for shear parallel to the 2-axis, length
2
.
As3: Shear area for shear parallel to the 3-axis, length
2
.
Note:
The section
properties are
based on the
gross area of
all geometric
shapes trans-
formed to an
equivalent area
of the base
material. Re-
inforcing steel
is not consid-
ered when cal-
culating the
section proper-
ties.
dx
2
d
y
3
x
y
= dxdy x I
2
22
= dxdy y I
2
33
= dxdy xy I
23
Figure 9-1:
Derivation of I
23
Section Designer Manual
9 - 4 Show Interaction Surface
9
S33(+face): Section modulus about the 3-axis at extreme
fiber of the section in the positive 2-axis direction,
length
3
.
S22(+face): Section modulus about the 2-axis at extreme
fiber of the section in the positive 3-axis direction,
length
3
.
S33(-face): Section modulus about the 3-axis at extreme
fiber of the section in the negative 2-axis direction,
length
3
.
S22(-face): Section modulus about the 2-axis at extreme
fiber of the section in the negative 3-axis direction,
length
3
.
r33: Radius of gyration about the 3-axis, length.
r22: Radius of gyration about the 2-axis, length.
Xcg: The Section Designer X-axis coordinate of the
center of gravity of the section, length.
Ycg: The Section Designer Y-axis coordinate of the
center of gravity of the section, length.
Show Interaction Surface
The Display menu > Show Interaction Surface command is
only available for concrete sections that have reinforcing speci-
fied. Clicking the Display menu > Show Interaction Surface
command brings up the Interaction Surface dialog box.
In Section Designer the interaction surface is defined by a series
of PM curves that are equally spaced around a 360 degree circle.
For example, if 24 curves are specified (the default) then there is
one curve every 360/24 curves = 15.
If you are specifying a frame section then the number of curves
is taken from the ETABS Concrete Frame Design preferences.
These are accessed in ETABS using the Options menu > Pref-
erences > Concrete Frame Design command.
Note:
The Display
menu >Show
I nteraction
Surfacecom-
mand is only
available for
concrete sec-
tions that have
reinforcing
specified.
Chapter 9 - The Section Designer Display Menu
Show Interaction Surface 9 - 5
9
If you are specifying a wall pier section then the number of
curves is taken from the ETABS Shear Wall Design preferences.
These are accessed in ETABS using the Options menu > Pref-
erences > Shear Wall Design command.
See Chapter 11 for discussion of how Section Designer com-
putes the interaction surface. The following subsections discuss
the various areas of the Interaction Surface dialog box including
the table, charts, Options area, 3D View area and Edit menu.
Table
Important note: Recall that in ETABS axial compression is
negative and axial tension is positive. This holds true in the in-
teraction surface tables.
If you are specifying a frame section then the number of points
that are used to define an interaction curve is taken from the
ETABS Concrete Frame Design preferences. These are accessed
in ETABS using the Options menu > Preferences > Concrete
Frame Design command.
If you are specifying a wall pier section then the number of
points that are used to define an interaction curve is taken from
the ETABS Shear Wall Design preferences. These are accessed
in ETABS using the Options menu > Preferences > Shear
Wall Design command.
Any point on one of the interaction curves is identified by a P,
M2 and M3 coordinate. P is the axial load, M2 is the moment
about the local 2-axis and M3 is the moment about the local 3-
axis. The Interaction Surface dialog box displays the P, M2 and
M3 coordinates of each of the curves that make up the interac-
tion surface in a tabular format, one curve at a time.
You can use the arrow buttons below the table to scroll through
the various PM curves. These arrow buttons are reproduced in
the sketch to the left and labeled 1 through 4 for reference. Ar-
row button 1 jumps you up to the first PM curve (0). Arrow
button 2 takes you up one PM curve. Note that there is an arrow
to the left of the table indicating the current line. Arrow button 3
takes you down one PM curve. Arrow button 4 jumps you down
to the last PM curve. Note that the current curve number and its
1 2 3 4
Section Designer Manual
9 - 6 Show Interaction Surface
9
angle in degrees are reported below the table to the left of the ar-
rows.
See the discussion of the Edit menu later for information on
copying the data in the table to the Windows clipboard.
Charts
Important note: Recall that in ETABS and Section Designer
axial compression is negative and axial tension is positive. This
holds true in the interaction surface charts. However, in the in-
teraction surface charts the positive axial load (tension) axis
points downward and the negative axial load (compression) axis
points upward. This is consistent with the way PM curves and
PMM surfaces are usually plotted, with compression at the top of
the chart and tension at the bottom.
Two charts are plotted in the Interaction Surface dialog box. The
first is a 2D chart. This 2D chart is a cut through the interaction
surface at the specified angle. The angle is shown below the ta-
ble and can be changed using the arrow keys below the table.
The origin of the 2D chart occurs at the intersection of the two
red axes.
The other chart plotted is a 3D view of the interaction surface.
You can use the controls in the 3D View area of the dialog box
to rotate this view into any orientation. See the subsection below
titled "3D View Area" for more information.
Options Area
The Options area provides three options for how the interaction
surface is created. Those options are:
Phi: The code specified strength reduction factors are
considered when creating the interaction surface.
No phi: The code specified strength reduction factors
are not considered (i.e., set to 1.0) when creating the in-
teraction surface.
No phi with fy increase: The code specified strength
reduction factors are not considered (i.e., set to 1.0) and
Note:
In ETABS and
Section De-
signer tension
is positive.
Chapter 9 - The Section Designer Display Menu
Show Interaction Surface 9 - 7
9
the reinforcing steel yield stress is increased by a code-
specified amount (1.25 for ACI and UBC) to estimate
probable strength when creating the interaction surface.
3D View Area
The 3D View area provides controls for viewing the 3D chart of
the interaction surface. You can define the view direction by
specifying a plan angle and an elevation angle. All angles are
specified in degrees. The view direction defines the location
where you are standing as you view the interaction surface from
the outside.
Figure 9-2a shows a three dimensional view of an interaction
surface using the default view direction of plan angle = 315 de-
grees and elevation angle = 35 degrees. Figures 9-2b and c illus-
trate how the plan and elevation angles are defined. Following
are explanations of the terms used in Figure 9-2.
Eye point: This is the location from which you are
viewing the interaction surface.
Target point: This is the origin of the interaction sur-
face.
View direction: This is defined by a line drawn from the
eye point to the target point.
Plan angle: This is the angle (in degrees) from the posi-
tive M3-axis to the line defining the view direction
measured in a horizontal plane. A positive angle appears
counterclockwise as you look down on the interaction
surface. Any value between -360 degrees and +360 de-
grees, inclusive, is allowed for the plan angle.
Elevation angle: This is the angle (in degrees) from the
M2-M3 plane to the line defining the view direction. A
positive angle starts from the M2-M3 plane and proceeds
toward the negative P-axis. A negative angle starts from
the M2-M3 plane and proceeds toward the positive P-
axis. (Recall that the negative P-axis points upward and
the positive P-axis points downward). Any value be-
Note:
The plan and
elevation an-
gles together
control the di-
rection from the
eye point to the
target point.
Section Designer Manual
9 - 8 Show Interaction Surface
9
tween -360 degrees and +360 degrees, inclusive, is al-
lowed for the elevation angle.
The 3D View dialog box has four fast view buttons labeled 3d,
MM, PM3 and PM2. The fast view buttons automatically set the
plan and elevation angle to give you the specified 3D view. The
fast view 3d view is as shown in Figure 9-2. The other fast views
give you 3D perspective views of the specified planes.
M3
M2
Eye
point
Target
point
Plan
angle,
315
View
direction
Plan view
of interaction
surface
b) Plan Angle a) Default 3D View
Plan angle = 315
Elevation angle = 35
Interaction
surface
M2, M3
-P Eye
point
Target
point
Elevation
angle, 35
View
direction
Elevation
view of
Interaction
surface
c) Elevation Angle
M2
-M2
-M3
P (tension)
M3
-P (compression) Figure 9-2:
Illustration of plan
and elevation angle
for 3D view of inter-
action surface
Chapter 9 - The Section Designer Display Menu
Show Moment Curvature Curve 9 - 9
9
Edit Menu
The Edit menu in the Interaction Surface dialog box has a Copy
All command. This command copies the P, M2 and M3 values at
each point for each interaction curve in the interaction surface to
the Windows clipboard.
Show Moment Curvature Curve
The Display menu > Show Moment Curvature Curve com-
mand is only available for concrete sections that have reinforcing
specified. Clicking the Show Moment Curvature Curve com-
mand brings up the Moment Curvature Curve dialog box.
See Chapter 12 for discussion of how Section Designer com-
putes the moment curvature curve. The following subsections
discuss the various areas of the Moment Curvature Curve dialog
box including the table, charts, edit boxes and Edit menu.
Table
The table lists the moment and curvature values at each of the
considered points of the moment curvature curve. Note that the
chart plots the values shown in the table connected by straight
line segments.
If the section is capable of carrying the axial load specified in the
Axial Load edit box up to the curvature specified in the Max
Curvature edit box then the number of points shown in the table
will equal the number specified in the No. of Points edit box.
Otherwise there will be less points shown in the table than speci-
fied in the No. of Points edit box.
See the discussion of the Edit menu later for information on
copying the data in the table to the Windows clipboard.
Chart
The chart plots the moment curvature curve with moment on the
vertical axis and curvature on the horizontal axis. The chart is
Note:
The Display
menu >Show
Moment Cur-
vature Curve
command is
only available
for concrete
sections that
have reinforc-
ing specified.
Section Designer Manual
9 - 10 Show Moment Curvature Curve
9
created by plotting the points shown in the table and connecting
them with straight line segments.
You can run your mouse pointer over the chart and read the as-
sociated value of the moment curvature curve just below the
chart. The curvature is listed first followed by the moment.
Edit Boxes
There are four edit boxes in the Moment Curvature Curve dialog
box. They are discussed in the bullet items below.
P (Tension Pos): The axial load for which the moment
curvature curve is plotted. Tension values are positive
and compression values are negative in this edit box.
Max Curvature: The maximum curvature that Section
Designer considers when plotting the moment curvature
curve.
Note that the section may not be capable of reaching the
maximum curvature that you specify. In other words, the
section may fail prior to reaching the curvature specified
in the Max Curvature edit box. If this happens, the
maximum curvature shown in the moment curvature
chart or in the maximum curvature table may be less
than the maximum curvature specified in the Max Cur-
vature edit box.
When the maximum curvature reported in the chart or
table is less than the curvature you specified then you
can conclude that the section is not capable of carrying
the axial load specified in the Axial Load edit box at a
curvature equal to that specified in the Max Curvature
edit box.
Angle: This angle defines the orientation (direction) of
the neutral axis, but not its exact location. The angle is
measured from the negative local 3-axis of the section.
Positive angles appear counterclockwise as you look
down on the section. The angle can vary from -360 to
+360.
Note:
The axial load
input in the P
(Tension Pos)
edit box should
be positive for
tension and
negative for
compression.
Chapter 9 - The Section Designer Display Menu
Show Moment Curvature Curve 9 - 11
9
Figure 9-3 illustrates how the angle controls the orienta-
tion of the neutral axis. Figure 9-3a shows the angle at 0
and Figure 9-3b shows the angle at 45.
The angle also dictates the direction of the moment con-
sidered. When the angle is 0 degrees the direction of
moment is in the positive direction of the local 3-axis.
You can use the right hand rule to get a sense of the di-
rection of this moment. When the angle is 180 degrees
the direction of moment is in the negative direction of
the local 3-axis. Figure 9-3 illustrates the sense of the
moment when the angle is 0 and 45 degrees.
As an example, if the angle specified were 225 degrees,
then the neutral axis would have the same orientation as
that shown in Figure 9-3b but the direction of the mo-
ment would be reversed as shown in the sketch to the
left.
No. of Points: The number of points used to construct
the moment curvature curve.
Edit Menu
The Edit menu in the Moment Curvature Curve dialog box has a
Copy All command. This command copies the data in the table
to the Windows clipboard.
Interaction
curve is for a
neutral axis
parallel to this
axis
3
2
a) Angle is 0 degrees
3
2
b) Angle is 45 degrees
Interaction
curve is for a
neutral axis
parallel to this
axis
45
Section
Direction
of moment
Section
Direction
of moment
Figure 9-3:
Illustration of angle
specified in Angle
edit box
3
2
Angle is 225 degrees
Neutral axis parallel
to this line
225
Section
Direction
of moment
10 - 1
10
Chapter 10
The Section Designer Options Menu
This chapter describes the commands that are available on the
Section Designer Options menu.
Preferences
The Options menu > Preference command allows you to set
various dimensional control items. Clicking this command brings
up the Preferences dialog box. The following bullet items discuss
the preference items included in this dialog box.
Background Guideline Spacing: The spacing of the
background guidelines in length units.
Fine Grids between Guidelines: The number of equally
spaced invisible grid lines between guidelines. As an ex-
ample, specifying 3 means that there is a fine grid line at
the one-quarter point, half-point and three-quarter point
between guidelines.
Section Designer Manual
10 - 2 Preferences
10
Nudge value: This is the distance that a nudged shape
moves after you have pressed the appropriate key on the
keyboard. This item is entered in length units. The
ETABS default for this item is 48 inches in English units
or 1 meter in metric units. See the section titled "The
Section Designer Nudge Feature" in Chapter 5 for more
information.
Screen selection tolerance: When clicking on a shape
to select it your mouse pointer must be within this dis-
tance of the shape to select it. This item is entered in
pixels. The screen selection tolerance has no affect on
selection by windowing. The Section Designer default
for this item is 3 pixels.
Screen snap to tolerance: When using the snap features
in ETABS your mouse pointer must be within this dis-
tance of a snap location to snap to it. This item is entered
in pixels. The Section Designer default for this item is
12 pixels.
Screen line thickness: This parameter controls the
thickness of all lines on the screen. The thickness is en-
tered in pixels. It also does not affect the aerial view.
The Section Designer default for this item is 1 pixel.
Printer line thickness: This parameter controls the
thickness of lines and fonts that are output to the printer.
The thickness is entered in pixels. The Section Designer
default for this item is 4 pixels.
Pan margin: This is the distance beyond the edge of a
view that you can pan. It is entered as a percent of the
window size. The Section Designer default for this item
is 50%. This is a recommended value.
Note:
A pixel is the
smallest
graphic unit
(dot) that can
be displayed on
the screen. A
typical screen
resolution is
1024 pixels by
768 pixels.
Chapter 10 - The Section Designer Options Menu
Preferences 10 - 3
10
See Figure 10-1 showing an example of the pan margin.
In the figure the window is shown shaded. Figure 10-1a
shows an example of 100% pan margin. Note that the
dimension x2 is equal to 100% of x1 and similarly y2 is
equal to 100% of y1. Figure 10-1b illustrates that setting
the pan margin to 100% allows you to potentially cover
nine times more screen area than when the pan margin is
set to 0%. If the pan margin is set to 0% you can not pan.
Note that setting the pan margin to 100% also requires
nine times more memory than when the pan margin is
set to 0% because nine times more screen area must be
saved in memory! Thus you need to be very careful with
this control or you may use up all of your available
memory and have a difficult time getting your ETABS
model to run.
See the section titled "Pan Command" in Chapter 6 for
additional information on panning.
Auto zoom step: This is the size of the step used for the
View menu > Zoom In One Step command and the
View menu > Zoom Out One Step command as well as
their associated toolbar buttons on the main (top) Section
Designer toolbar. This parameter is entered in percent.
The magnification of all objects in a view are increased
or decreased by this percent. The ETABS default for this
item is 10%.
b) Illustration showing that a 100%
pan margin covers nine times the
area of the window
a) Illustration showing a 100% pan
margin
x
1
x
2
y
1
y
2
Edge of
window
Edge of pan
margin
Figure 10-1:
Example of pan
margin
Note:
Do not set your
pan margin too
high. It could
use up all of
your computer's
memory. The
default value of
50% is typically
sufficient.
Section Designer Manual
10 - 4 Colors
10
See the section titled "Zoom Commands" in Chapter 6
for additional information.
Colors
The Options menu > Colors command allows you to set the
colors of various items both for display on the screen and for
output to a printer. Clicking this command brings up the Assign
Display Colors dialog box. The following bullet items discuss
the areas in this dialog box.
Click to Change Color: In this area you can left click
on any of the color boxes to change the display color for
the associated item. Following is a list of items for
which you can change the display color.
Reinforcing: This controls the color of the rebar. It
applies to the rebar in reinforcing shapes and to the
rebar associated with geometric shapes.
XY Axes: This controls the color of the Section De-
signer X and Y axes.
Guide Lines: This controls the color of the back-
ground guidelines. Note that you can also toggle
these guidelines on and off using the View menu >
Show Guide Lines command.
Local Axes: This controls the color of the section
local 2 and 3 axes.
Reference Lines: This controls the color of refer-
ence lines and circles. It also controls the color of
the line associated with line pattern reinforcing
shapes and the color of the bounding line associated
with rectangular and circular reinforcing shapes.
Background: This is the background color of the
Section Designer window. The outline of geometric
shapes (I-sections, rectangles, etc.,) is always dis-
played in the color that is opposite of the back-
ground color.
Note:
The colors used
for the screen
and for the
printer are
controlled
separately.
Chapter 10 - The Section Designer Options Menu
Colors 10 - 5
10
The background item does not control the back-
ground color of the display windows for the interac-
tion surface and the moment curvature curve. These
background colors can not be changed.
Device Type: Here you indicate whether the colors you
are specifying are for screen display, output to a non-
color printer or output to a color printer. Note that you
can specify different display colors for each of these
three device types.
Reset Defaults button: This button resets the colors to
the built-in ETABS default colors. The Reset Defaults
button not only resets the colors for the currently chosen
device type, it resets the colors for all three device types,
regardless of which one is currently chosen.
The fill color for geometric shapes (I-sections, rectangles, etc.,)
is set in the shape properties and is not controlled in any way by
these options.
11 - 1
11
Chapter 11
Interaction Surface
General
This chapter provides a general description of how Section De-
signer computes the interaction surface for a section. The exact
details of how the interaction surface is calculated vary depend-
ing on the building code considered. However the general meth-
odology is the same for all building codes.
For frame sections the interaction surface is based on the build-
ing code specified in the ETABS Concrete Frame Design prefer-
ences. These can be accessed in ETABS using the Options
menu > Preferences > Concrete Frame Design command.
For wall pier sections the interaction surface is based on the
building code specified in the ETABS Shear Wall Design prefer-
ences. These can be accessed in ETABS using the Options
menu > Preferences > Shear Wall Design command.
Section Designer Manual
11 - 2 Interaction Surface
11
Interaction Surface
In Section Designer a three-dimensional interaction surface is
defined referenced to the P, M2 and M3 axes by a series of PMM
interaction curves that are created by rotating the direction of the
pier neutral axis in equally spaced increments around a 360 de-
gree circle. For example, if 24 PMM curves are specified (the
default) then there is one curve every 360/24 curves = 15.
Figure 11-1 illustrates the assumed orientation of the pier neutral
axis and the associated sides of the neutral axis where the section
is in tension (designated T in the figure) or compression (desig-
nated C in the figure) for 0 and 45 degree angles. Note that for a
curve at 180 degrees the neutral axis is parallel to the curve at 0
degrees. Similarly, the neutral axis for a curve at 225 degrees is
parallel to the curve at 45 degrees.
The following section describes how a typical interaction curve
is created.
Interaction Curve
This section describes in general terms how an interaction curve
is created in Section Designer. The exact details of how the
curve is created depend on the building code considered.
Once the geometry and the vertical reinforcing distribution for a
section is specified Section Designer can generate a strength in-
Figure 11-1:
Orientation of neu-
tral axis and direc-
tion of moment con-
sidered for various
interaction curves
Interaction
curve is for a
neutral axis
parallel to this
axis
3
2
a) Angle is 0 degrees
3
2
b) Angle is 45 degrees
Interaction
curve is for a
neutral axis
parallel to this
axis
45
Section Section
C
T
C
T
Chapter 11 - Interaction Surface
Interaction Curve 11 - 3
11
teraction curve by plotting the design axial load strength, P
n
,
against the corresponding design moment strengths, M2
n
and
M3
n
, assuming the neutral axis of the section to be oriented at
any arbitrary angle in the Section Designer XY plane. Note that
is a strength reduction factor or factor of safety depending on
the building code considered.
Section Designer uses the requirements of force equilibrium and
strain compatibility to determine the axial load and moment
strength of the section. The axial force and moment coordinates
of these points are determined by rotating a plane of linear strain
on the section as described below in the section titled "Details of
the Strain Compatibility Analysis."
The axial load at the balanced strain condition where the tension
reinforcing reaches the strain corresponding to its specified yield
strength, f
y
, just as the concrete reaches its assumed ultimate
strain is designated P
b
.
The theoretical maximum compressive force the section can
carry is designated P
oc
. The theoretical maximum tension force
the section can carry is designated P
ot
. If the centroid of the con-
crete and the centroid of the reinforcing coincide then there are
no wall moments associated with both P
oc
and P
ot
. Otherwise
there are moments associated with both P
oc
and P
ot
.
By default 11 points are used to define an interaction curve, that
is, to define an interaction curve from P
oc
to P
ot
. This number of
points is specified, and can be modified, in the ETABS design
preferences for the type of section you are defining. For frame
sections, modify the Concrete Frame Design preferences. For
wall piers, modify the Shear Wall Design preferences. If you in-
put an even number for the number of points in the preferences it
is incremented up to the next odd number by ETABS.
Section Designer includes the points at P
b
, P
oc
and P
ot
on the in-
teraction curve. Half of the remaining number of specified points
on the interaction curve occur between P
b
and P
oc
at approxi-
mately equal spacing along the P axis. The other half of the re-
maining number of specified points on the interaction curve oc-
cur between P
b
and P
ot
at approximately equal spacing along the
P axis.
Section Designer Manual
11 - 4 Details of the Strain Compatibility Analysis
11
Figure 11-2 shows a typical interaction curve for a section. The
points P
b
, P
oc
and P
ot
are labeled. Note that since P
oc
and P
ot
do
not fall on the P axis you can surmise that the centroid of the re-
inforcing does not coincide with the centroid of the concrete for
the section considered.
Details of the Strain Compatibility Analysis
Figure 11-3 illustrates varying planes of linear strain that Section
Designer considers on a wall pier section when the angle be-
tween the 3-axis and the neutral axis is taken as 0 degrees. In
these planes, the maximum concrete strain is always taken as
-
c max
and the maximum steel strain is varied from -
c max
to plus
infinity. Note that the value of
c max
is code-dependent.
When the steel strain is -
c max
the maximum compressive force
in the wall pier, P
oc
, is obtained from the strain compatibility
analysis. When the steel strain is plus infinity the maximum ten-
sile force in the wall pier, P
ot
, is obtained. When the maximum
steel strain is equal to the yield strain for the reinforcing (e.g.,
0.00207 for f
y
= 60 ksi) then P
b
is obtained.
Figure 11-4 illustrates the concrete wall pier stress-strain rela-
tionship that is obtained from a strain compatibility analysis of a
typical plane of linear strain shown in Figure 11-3.
-7000
-6000
-5000
-4000
-3000
-2000
-1000
0
1000
-2000 0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000
P
M
P
oc
P
ot
P
b
Figure 11-2:
Typical interaction
curve
Chapter 11 - Interaction Surface
Details of the Strain Compatibility Analysis 11 - 5
11
In Figure 11-4 the compressive stress in the concrete, C
c
, is cal-
culated using Equation 11-1.
C
c
= Factor (f'
c
* A
c
* b
1
) Eqn. 11-1
In Equation 11-1 the term "Factor" is a code-dependent term.
The term A
c
is the area of concrete that is effective in compres-
sion. For the example shown in Figure 11-4, A
c
= a * t
p
where
"a" is the length of the rectangular stress block assumed for the
concrete.
In Figure 11-4 a value for maximum strain in the reinforcing
steel is assumed. Then the strain in all other reinforcing steel is
determined based on the assumed plane of linear strain. Next the
stress in the reinforcing steel is calculated using Equation 11-2
where
s
is the strain, E
s
is the modulus of elasticity,
s
is the
stress and f
y
is the yield stress of the reinforcing steel.
s
=
s
E
s
f
y
Eqn. 11-2
The force in the reinforcing steel (T
s
for tension or C
s
for com-
pression) is calculated using Equation 11-3.
Figure 11-3:
Varying planes of
linear strain
Varying
neutral axis
locations
Varying Linear Strain Diagram
Plan View of Section
-
c max
0.000
+
-
3
2
Section Designer Manual
11 - 6 Details of the Strain Compatibility Analysis
11
T
s
or C
s
=
s
A
s
Eqn. 11-3
For the given distribution of strain the value of P is calculated
using Equation 11-4.
P = (T
s
- C
c
- C
s
) P
max
Eqn. 11-4
In Equation 11-4 the tensile force T
s
and the compressive forces
C
c
and C
s
are all positive. If P is positive it is tension and if it is
Figure 11-4:
Wall pier stress-
strain relationship
Linear Strain Diagram
Plan View of Section
c
c
m
a
x
s
1
s
2
s
3
s
4
s
5
s
6
s
7
s
8
s
9
s
10
s
11
s
12
s
13
a
C
c
b
1
Stress Diagram
C
s
1
T
s
5
C
s
2
C
s
3
C
s
4
T
s
6
T
s
7
T
s
8
T
s
9
T
s
10
T
s
11
T
s
12
T
s
13
t
p
Chapter 11 - Interaction Surface
Details of the Strain Compatibility Analysis 11 - 7
11
negative it is compression. The term P
max
is a limiting value that
is code dependent. The term is a strength reduction factor
(factor of safety).
The value of M2
n
is calculated by summing the moments due to
all of the forces about the pier local 2-axis. Similarly, the value
of M3
n
is calculated by summing the moments due to all of the
forces about the pier local 3-axis. The forces whose moments are
summed to determine M2
n
and M3
n
are P
n
, C
c
, all of the T
s
forces and all of the C
s
forces.
The P
n
, M2
n
and M3
n
values calculated as described above
make up one point on the wall pier interaction diagram. Addi-
tional points on the diagram are obtained by making different as-
sumptions for the maximum steel stress, that is, considering a
different plane of linear strain, and repeating the process.
When one interaction curve is complete the next orientation of
the neutral axis is assumed and the points for the associated new
interaction curve are calculated. This process continues until the
points for all of the specified curves have been calculated.
12 - 1
12
Chapter 12
Moment Curvature Curve
General
This chapter provides a general description of how Section De-
signer computes the moment curvature curve for a section. The
exact details of how the moment curvature curve is calculated
vary depending on the building code considered. However the
general methodology is the same for all building codes.
Three items are required for Section Designer to construct the
moment curvature curve. They are a stress-strain diagram for
concrete, a stress-strain diagram for reinforcing steel and an as-
sumed building code. The stress-strain diagrams are built into
Section Designer and are discussed in the section titled "Stress-
Strain Diagrams" later in this chapter.
For frame sections the moment curvature curve is based on the
building code specified in the ETABS Concrete Frame Design
preferences. These can be accessed in ETABS using the Options
menu > Preferences > Concrete Frame Design command.
Section Designer Manual
12 - 2 Stress-Strain Diagrams
12
For wall pier sections the moment curvature curve is based on
the building code specified in the ETABS Shear Wall Design
preferences. These can be accessed in ETABS using the Options
menu > Preferences > Shear Wall Design command.
Stress-Strain Diagrams
Figure 12-1 illustrates the stress-strain diagrams used by Section
Designer. These stress-strain diagrams are built directly into the
program. Currently you can not modify them and you can not de-
fine your own stress-strain diagrams.
Note the following about the Section Designer stress-strain dia-
gram for concrete shown in Figure 12-1a:
For strains greater than
0
each segment of the stress-
strain diagram is linear. For strains less than
0
the
variation of the stress-strain diagram is parabolic.
The value of
0
is given by Equation 12-1.
c
'
c
0
E
f
2 ! = Eqn. 12-1
For strains less than
0
the concrete stress is given by
Equation 12-2.
'
c
2
0 0
f
!
!
!
!
2 "
|
|
.
|
|
|
.
|
= Eqn. 12-2
Internally in the program the curve where
0
is ide-
alized as a series of straight line segments by using
Equation 12-2 to calculate for the following discrete
values of : 0, 0.2
0
, 0.4
0
, 0.6
0
, 0.8
0
, 0.9
0
and
0
.
Concrete rupture occurs at a strain equal to 10
0
.
When there is tensile strain the stress is zero.
Chapter 12 - Moment Curvature Curve
Stress-Strain Diagrams 12 - 3
12
Figure 12-1:
Stress-strain dia-
grams used by Sec-
tion Designer for
concrete and steel
Strain,
S
t
r
e
s
s
,
f
y
y
f
u
0.02 0.05 0.08 0.10
Steel fracture
Compressive Strain,
C
o
m
p
r
e
s
s
i
v
e
S
t
r
e
s
s
,
f '
c
0.2 f '
c
0
4
0
10
0
For
0
:
'
c
2
0 0
f
!
!
!
!
2 "
(
(
|
|
.
|
'
|
|
.
|
'
=
a) Stress-Strain Relationship used for Concrete
b) Stress-Strain Relationship used for Steel Shapes and Reinforcing
Note:
For steel shapes f
u
is taken
from the material properties.
For reinforcing steel f
u
is
calculated as f
u
= 1.25 f
y
.
c
'
c
0
E
f
2 ! =
Note:
Concrete rupture
Section Designer Manual
12 - 4 Background Information
12
Note the following about the Section Designer stress-strain dia-
gram for steel shown in Figure 12-1b:
The diagram applies to both steel shapes and steel rein-
forcing.
The diagram applies for both tension and compression.
The stress f
u
is determined from the associated material
property for steel shapes. For reinforcing steel f
u
is cal-
culated as f
u
= 1.25 f
y
.
The yield strain,
y
, is calculated given by Equation 12-
3.
s
y
y
E
f
! = Eqn. 12-3
Steel fracture occurs at a strain equal to 0.10.
Background Information
Refer to Figure 12-2a that shows a rectangular section. Moments
are considered about an axis rotated 30 degrees from the local 3-
axis. A given axial load and a given moment cause the strain and
force/stress diagrams shown. Note that the stresses are deter-
Figure 12-2:
Stress and strain
diagrams
a)
Section
Area of concrete
that is effective in
compression is
shown in a darker
shade, typical
Strain
c
s
Force/Stress
Section
Strain
c
-
s
+
Force/Stress
d
'
d
'
Curvature is equal
to slope of this line
b)
N
e
u
t
r
a
l
A
x
is
N
e
u
t
r
a
l
A
x
is
2
3
2
3
30
30
Curvature is equal
to slope of this line
c
c
Chapter 12 - Moment Curvature Curve
Background Information 12 - 5
12
mined from stress-strain diagrams that are built into Section De-
signer. See the previous section titled Stress-Strain Diagrams
for more information. For the given axial load and moment there
is a unique location of the neutral axis. This location is desig-
nated by the distance c in the figure.
The maximum concrete strain in Figure 12-2a is denoted -
c
and
the maximum reinforcing steel strain is denoted
s
. The distance
from the extreme compression fiber to the center of the extreme
rebar in tension is labeled d'.
The curvature of the section for the given axial load and moment
is equal to the slope of the strain diagram, that is, the curvature,
a
, is given by Equation 12-4.
'
c s
a
d
! !
#
+
= Eqn. 12-4
The axial force associated with Figure 12-2a is equal to the sum
of all the forces, considering signs, in the force diagram. The
moment associated with Figure 12-2a is equal to the sum of all
the forces in the force diagram times their respective distances to
the section centroid, considering signs.
Now consider the section shown in Figure 12-2b. This section
has the same geometry and reinforcing as that in Figure 12-2a.
Moments are considered about an axis rotated 30 degrees from
the local 3-axis, just like in Figure 12-2a. However, the axial
load and moment on the section are different from that in Figure
12-2a. The axial load and moment in Figure 12-2b are specially
chosen such that they give the section the same curvature as the
axial load and moment in Figure 12-2a.
The curvature of the section in Figure 12-2b,
b
, is given by
Equation 12-5.
a
'
c s
'
c s
b
#
d
! !
d
! ! ! !
# =
+
=
+ +
= Eqn. 12-5
In Figure 12-2b if you are given the curvature (slope of the strain
diagram) as
b
=
a
, and you are given the axial load, then you
can determine the location of the neutral axis such that the sum
of the forces in the force diagram is equal to the specified axial
Note:
For moment
curvature cal-
culations the
concrete stress
is based on a
concrete stress-
strain diagram
rather than a
simplified rec-
tangular stress
block.
Section Designer Manual
12 - 6 Procedure to Create Moment Curvature Curve
12
load. This requires an iterative (trial and error) process where
you assume a neutral axis location and check to see if the sum of
the forces is equal to the axial load. Once the neutral axis is lo-
cated you can calculate the associated moment.
The previous paragraph describes the basic process used by Sec-
tion Designer to calculate a point on the moment curvature dia-
gram. The axial load is given by the user. Section Designer se-
lects a curvature value and for that curvature value it iteratively
determines the neutral axis location. Then it calculates the asso-
ciated moment. The curvature value and the moment value make
up a point on the moment curvature curve.
Procedure to Create Moment Curvature Curve
Overview
The following five items are given when Section Designer be-
gins to create the moment curvature curve.
1. The section geometry and properties.
2. An axial load to consider. The default value for this is zero.
3. The orientation (angle) of the neutral axis with respect to the
section negative local 3-axis. Note that although the orienta-
tion of the neutral axis is given, its exact location is an un-
known that must be determined by the program. The default
value for this angle is 0 degrees.
4. The maximum number of points desired on the moment cur-
vature curve. The default value for this item is 11.
5. The maximum curvature to consider. See the subsection be-
low titled "Initial Default Value for the Maximum Curva-
ture" for additional information.
Items 2 through 5 above are defined in the Moment Curvature
Curve dialog box.
Chapter 12 - Moment Curvature Curve
Procedure to Create Moment Curvature Curve 12 - 7
12
Based on the given items listed above, Section Designer calcu-
lates the following three items:
1. The specific curvature values to be considered at each of the
points identified in item 4 above. See the subsection below
titled "Specific Curvature Values Considered" for more in-
formation.
2. The exact location of the neutral axis at each of the curvature
values considered. See the previous section titled "Back-
ground Information" for more information. Also see the sub-
section titled "Number of Points on the Moment Curvature
Curve" later in this chapter.
3. The moment associated with each of the curvature values
considered. See the previous section titled "Background In-
formation" for more information. Also see the subsection ti-
tled "Number of Points on the Moment Curvature Curve"
later in this chapter.
Initial Default Value for the Maximum Curvature
This subsection describes how the initial default value for the
maximum curvature is determined by Section Designer when
you first open the Moment Curvature Curve dialog box. Note
that this default value is only calculated once when the dialog
box is opened. The default value is not updated as you make
changes in the dialog box.
To calculate the initial default value for the maximum curvature
the following items are given:
1. The section geometry and properties.
2. The orientation (angle) of the neutral axis with respect to the
section negative local 3-axis. In this example it is specified
as 30 degrees.
Section Designer uses the following process to determine the
initial default value for the maximum curvature:
To determine the value to use for the initial default value for the
maximum curvature Section Designer considers each steel ele-
ment in the section separately and calculates a very approximate
Section Designer Manual
12 - 8 Procedure to Create Moment Curvature Curve
12
value of the curvature required to fracture the bar using Equation
12-6. Note that Equation 12-6 is a gross approximation of the
curvature required to fracture the bar!
y
!
#
fracture s
fracture
= Eqn. 12-6
where
y = The perpendicular distance from the center of the
steel element to an axis through the centroid of
the concrete in the direction specified. Figure 12-
3 illustrates the dimension y for the rebar labeled
R1.
fracture
= The fracture strain associated with the steel ele-
ment considered.
fracture
= The fracture curvature associated with the steel
element considered.
Section Designer checks Equation 12-6 for each steel element in
the section and then uses the smallest
fracture
value calculated for
any steel element in the section as the initial default value of
max
. Again, the intent of this process is simply to get a ballpark
estimate of the curvature at first rebar fracture based on the as-
sumption that first rebar fracture is where you will want to stop
the moment curvature curve.
Figure 12-3:
Illustration of how
the initial default
maximum curvature
is calculated
A
x
i
s
t
h
r
o
u
g
h
c
e
n
t
r
o
i
d
o
f
c
o
n
c
r
e
t
e
a
t
t
h
e
s
p
e
c
i
f
i
e
d
a
n
g
l
e
2
3
30
R1
y
Chapter 12 - Moment Curvature Curve
Procedure to Create Moment Curvature Curve 12 - 9
12
Note that the example in this section refers to rebar. If the con-
crete section is reinforced with a steel shape instead of rebar
(e.g., reinforced with a steel I-shaped section) then Section De-
signer automatically and internally meshes the steel shape into a
series of small steel elements and treats each discrete steel ele-
ment similar to a rebar.
Number of Points on the Moment Curvature Curve
The moment curvature curve is created by computing exact val-
ues at various points along the moment curvature curve and then
connecting those points with straight line segments. The maxi-
mum number of points considered, n, is input in the Moment
Curvature Curve dialog box. Each of the points is located at a
predetermined curvature value. The following section describes
how those curvature values are determined.
Section Designer cuts off the moment curvature curve at the first
(smallest) curvature value where one of the following two things
happens.
1. The curvature considered has reached the specified maxi-
mum curvature,
max
.
2. The section is not capable of carrying the specified axial
load at some curvature less than the specified maximum cur-
vature.
If the moment curvature curve is cut off because it reached the
specified
max
value then the curve will have the specified maxi-
mum number of points. If the moment curvature curve is cut off
because it is not capable of carrying the axial load then it will
have less than the specified number of points.
Specific Curvature Values Considered
Figure 12-4 shows the arithmetic progression of spacing as-
sumed between the n specified points that occur between the
curvature values of 0 and
max
. The number of points, n, and the
maximum curvature considered,
max
, are both specified in the
Moment Curvature Curve dialog box. Note that there are n-1
spaces between the n points.
Note:
The moment
curvature curve
is created by
computing ex-
act values at
various points
along the mo-
ment curvature
curve and then
connecting
those points
with straight
line segments.
Section Designer Manual
12 - 10 Procedure to Create Moment Curvature Curve
12
The required distance a in Figure 12-4 can be determined using
Equation 12-7.
( )
]
|
.
|
+
=
a
b
2
2 n
1 1 - n
#
a
max
Eqn. 12-7
Note that you need the ratio b/a in Equation 12-7. Section De-
signer assumes that this ratio is equal to 0.5.
Again note that the output for the moment curvature curve may
have less than the specified number of points because the section
is not capable of carrying the specified axial load at some cur-
vature less than the specified maximum curvature. In this case
the spacing of the points is still based on the specified
max
value.
The spacing is not based on the curvature that the section
reached before it could no longer carry the axial load.
Figure 12-4:
Arithmetic progres-
sion used by Section
Designer to locate
the specified points
on the moment cur-
vature curve
Pt. 1 Pt. 2 Pt. 3 Pt. 4 Pt. (n-1) Pt. n
a a + b a + 2b a + (n - 2)b
Curvature,
M
o
m
e
n
t
max
13 - 1
13
Chapter 13
Frame Section Example
This chapter presents a Section Designer example for a concrete
frame section. Although there are many ways to create the ex-
ample section, only one method is illustrated in this chapter.
Problem Statement
The frame section is the concrete beam shown in Figure 13-1.
The beam is 12" wide and 16" deep. There are two rows of three
#6 bars (six bars total) at the bottom of the beam and 2 #8 bars at
the top of the beam.
The clear cover is 1.5 inches on the sides and bottom of the beam
and 1" on the top of the beam.
Relevant material properties assumed for the beam are f'
c
= 4.2
ksi, f
y
= 65 ksi and E
c
= 3700 ksi. Also for this example assume
that the building code specified for Concrete Frame Design is the
ACI 318-99 for which Section Designer assumes that E
s
= 29000
ksi.
Section Designer Manual
13 - 2 Start ETABS and Set Preferences
13
The remainder of this chapter steps through the process of de-
fining this section.
Start ETABS and Set Preferences
Use the following process to start ETABS and set the design
code preference for this example.
1. Start the ETABS program by clicking on the appropriate
desktop shortcut or by selecting ETABS from your Windows
Start menu.
2. Set the units to kips and inches.
3. Click the File menu > New Model command.
4. Click the No button in the New Model Initialization form.
5. Click the OK button in the Building Plan Grid System and
Story Data Definition dialog box.
6. Click the Options menu > Preferences > Concrete Frame
Design command and confirm that the Design Code item is
set to ACI 318-99.
Figure 13-1:
Frame section ex-
ample problem
1
-
1
/
2
"
c
l
e
a
r
c
o
v
e
r
2-#8
3-#6
3-#6
1
"
c
l
e
a
r
c
o
v
e
r
12"
1-1/2" clear
cover
1
-
1
/
2
"
1
6
"
Material Properties
f'
c
= 4.2 ksi
f
y
= 65 ksi
E
c
= 3700 ksi
Chapter 13 - Frame Section Example
Define Material Properties 13 - 3
13
Define Material Properties
The material properties used in Section Designer are defined in
ETABS. Thus we will define those properties before entering
Section Designer.
1. Click the Define menu > Material Properties command to
bring up the Define Materials dialog box.
2. Click the Add New Material button to bring up the Material
Property Data dialog box. In this dialog box:
a. Set the Material Name to EXCONC1.
b. Leave the Type of Material as Isotropic.
c. Fill in the Analysis Property Data as shown in the dialog
box in Figure 13-2. You can not edit the Shear Modulus
item. It will change automatically when you after you
click the OK button to close the dialog box.
d. Change the Type of Design to Concrete.
(Above)
Figure 13-2:
Material properties
defined for frame
section example
problem
Section Designer Manual
13 - 4 Start Section Designer
13
e. Fill in the Design Property Data as shown in the dialog
box in Figure 13-2.
f. Click the OK button twice to exit all dialog boxes.
Start Section Designer
To define frame sections start Section Designer from the Define
menu.
1. Click the Define menu > Frame Sections command to bring
up the Define Frame Properties dialog box.
2. Click on the drop-down box that says Add I/Wide Flange,
scroll down to the bottom of the list and click the Add SD
Section item in the drop-down box. The SD Section Data
dialog box appears.
3. Do the following in the SD Section Data dialog box:
a. Set the Section Name to BEAM1.
b. Set the Base Material to EXCONC1.
c. In the Design Type area leave the No Check/Design op-
tion selected.
Note: If this were a column section, rather than a beam
section, and we wanted the ETABS Concrete Frame De-
sign postprocessor to check the reinforcing in the col-
umn then we would select the Concrete Column option
here.
d. Click the Section Designer button to start Section De-
signer.
Draw Section Geometry
This section describes two different methods to create the initial
rectangular shape. Note that the dimensions of the rectangle are
initially default dimensions that we will modify to the desired
dimensions in the next section.
Chapter 13 - Frame Section Example
Define Section Location and Dimensions 13 - 5
13
Method 1: Click the Draw menu > Draw Solid Shape > Rec-
tangle command. Left click once anywhere on the Section De-
signer grid to draw the initial shape. We will resize and relocate
it in the next section.
Method 2: Click the Draw Solid Shape button, , on the side
tool bar and then click the Rectangle flyout button, . Left
click once anywhere on the Section Designer grid to draw the
initial shape. We will resize and relocate it in the next section.
Note that when you click to draw the rectangle the center of the
rectangle is located at the point that you click on.
Define Section Location and Dimensions
In this section we will define the beam section location (in Sec-
tion Designer) and dimensions. We will center the beam about
the Section Designer origin. Note that the beam can be located
anywhere in the Section Designer XY coordinate system. The
location of the beam in the Section Designer XY coordinate
system has no effect on the section properties. The relocation of
the section is done here for the purpose of demonstrating how to
do it.
4. Click the Draw menu > Select Mode command or click the
Select Pointer button, , on the side toolbar to exit draw
mode and enter select mode.
5. Right click on the section to bring up the Shape Properties
dialog box. Fill in this dialog box as shown in the sketch to
the left and described below.
a. Set the Material to EXCONC1.
b. Set both the X Center and Y Center to 0.
c. Set the Height to 16 and the Width to 12.
d. Leave the Rotation at 0.
e. Set the Reinforcing to Yes.
Section Designer Manual
13 - 6 Define Section Location and Dimensions
13
f. Click the OK button. The beam should now be centered
about the Section Designer X and Y axes, it should have
the correct dimensions (12" wide by 16" deep) and there
should be default rebar in the section. We will modify
this rebar in the next few sections.
6. Click the View menu > Restore Full View command, or the
associated Restore Full View button, , on the top tool-
bar to resize the section to fill the full Section Designer win-
dow. The beam section should now appear as shown in Fig-
ure 13-3.
(Above)
Figure 13-3:
Beam after step 3 in
the Define Section
Location and Di-
mensions section
Bar A
Bar B
Right click
here
Bar C
Bar D
Chapter 13 - Frame Section Example
Define Section Edge Bars 13 - 7
13
Define Section Edge Bars
For edge bars you can specify a bar size, spacing and cover. The
corner bars are located based on the specified cover for edge bars
on edges adjacent to the corner.
1. Right click anywhere around the edge of the beam along a
line that connects the center of each rebar, except do not
right click on a corner bar. For example click where it says
"Right click here" or where it says "Bar A" in Figure 13-3.
The Edge Reinforcing dialog box appears. In this dialog box:
a. Set the Bar Cover to 1.5 inches.
b. Check the Apply to All Edges check boxes. We will ad-
just the cover for the top edge later.
c. At this particular point the Bar Size and Bar Spacing are
irrelevant so we will not change them.
d. Click the OK button.
2. Right click on the bar labeled "Bar B" in Figure 13-3 to
bring up the Edge Reinforcing dialog box. In this dialog box:
a. Set the Bar Size to NONE.
b. In this instance the Bar Spacing is irrelevant so do not
change it.
c. Set the Bar Cover to 1 inch.
d. Do not check the Apply to All Edges check box since
the changes we are specifying here only apply to the top
edge.
e. Click the OK button.
3. Right click on the bar labeled "Bar A" in Figure 13-3 to
bring up the Edge Reinforcing dialog box. In this dialog box:
a. Set the Bar Size to NONE.
b. Click the OK button.
Section Designer Manual
13 - 8 Define Section Edge Bars
13
4. Repeat step 3 for the bar labeled "Bar C" in Figure 13-3.
5. Right click on the bar labeled "Bar D" in Figure 13-3 to
bring up the Edge Reinforcing dialog box. In this dialog box:
a. Set the Bar Size to #6.
b. Set the Bar Spacing to 4.2 inches.
c. Click the OK button.
The section now appears as shown in Figure 13-4.
(Above)
Figure 13-4:
Beam after step 5 in
the Define Section
Edge Bars section
Chapter 13 - Frame Section Example
Define Section Corner Bars 13 - 9
13
Define Section Corner Bars
For corner bars you can specify a bar size. The corner bars are
located based on the specified cover for edge bars on edges adja-
cent to the corner.
1. Right click on one of the corner bars to bring up the Corner
Point Reinforcing dialog box. In this dialog box:
a. Set the Bar Size to #8.
b. Check the Apply to All Corners check box. We will fix
the bottom corner bar size later.
c. Click the OK button.
2. Right click on the bottom left corner bar to bring up the Cor-
ner Point Reinforcing dialog box. In this dialog box:
a. Set the Bar Size to #6.
b. Do not check the Apply to All Corners check box. We
will fix the bottom corner bar size later.
c. Click the OK button.
3. Repeat step 2 for the bottom right corner bar.
The section now appears as shown in Figure 13-5.
Draw Line Pattern Reinforcing
We will use additional line pattern reinforcing to draw the sec-
ond layer of rebar at the bottom of the beam.
1. Click the Draw menu > Draw Reinforcing Shape > Line
Pattern command or click the associated Draw Reinforcing
Shape button, , on the side toolbar and then click the
Line Pattern flyout button, .
Section Designer Manual
13 - 10 Define Line Pattern Reinforcing Properties
13
2. Left click once near the point labeled "Point A" in Figure
13.5 to start the line pattern reinforcing. Left click again near
the point labeled "Point B" in Figure 13.5 to complete the
line pattern reinforcing. We will locate the rebar exactly in
the next section.
Define Line Pattern Reinforcing Properties
In this section we locate the line pattern reinforcing exactly and
define its properties.
1. Click the Draw menu > Select Mode command or click the
Select Pointer button, , on the side toolbar to exit draw
mode and enter select mode.
Point B Point A
(Above)
Figure 13-5:
Beam after step 3 in
the Define Section
Corner Bars section
Chapter 13 - Frame Section Example
Display Section Properties 13 - 11
13
2. Right click on the just drawn line pattern reinforcing to bring
up the Shape Properties dialog box for the line reinforcing.
The exact title of the dialog box is Shape Properties - Rein-
forcing and the Type item in the dialog box is Line. If this is
not the dialog box that appeared you may have not clicked
directly on the line pattern reinforcing and instead brought
up the Shape Properties dialog box for the solid rectangular
section.
3. In the Shape Properties - Reinforcing dialog box:
a. Set the Material to EXCONC1.
b. Set the X1 dimension to -4.125 inches.
c. Set the Y1 dimension to -4.625 inches.
d. Set the X2 dimension to 4.125 inches.
e. Set the Y2 dimension to -4.625 inches.
f. Set the Bar Spacing to 4.2 inches.
g. Set the Bar Size to #6.
h. Set the End Bars item to Yes.
i. Click the OK button.
The section is now complete and it appears as shown in Figure
13-6.
Display Section Properties
Now that the section is complete you can display the section
properties if desired. To do this click the Display menu > Show
Section Properties command or click the Show Section Prop-
erties button, , on the top toolbar. The Properties form is
displayed. See the section titled "Show Section Properties" in
Chapter 9 for information on this form.
All of the properties shown except for I
23
, X
cg
and Y
cg
are used
by ETABS for analysis and design when you use this section in a
model.
Section Designer Manual
13 - 12 Display Interaction Surface
13
The properties obtained for this example section are displayed in
Figure 13-7. Note that the section properties are based on the
gross concrete section. The reinforcing is not considered when
computing these section properties. The reinforcing is considered
when creating the interaction surface and the moment curvature
curve.
Display Interaction Surface
In Section Designer you can display the interaction surface for
concrete sections that have reinforcing steel defined. The beam
created in this example meets this criteria.
To display the interaction surface click the Display menu >
Show Interaction Surface command or click the Show Interac-
tion Surface button, , on the top toolbar. The Interaction
Surface dialog box is displayed. See the section titled "Show In-
(Above)
Figure 13-6:
Completed section
Chapter 13 - Frame Section Example
Display Moment Curvature Curve 13 - 13
13
teraction Surface" in Chapter 9 for information on this dialog
box. See Chapter 11 for background information on how the in-
teraction surface is created by Section Designer.
Display Moment Curvature Curve
In Section Designer you can display a moment curvature curve
for a concrete section that has reinforcing steel defined. The
beam created in this example meets this criteria.
To display the moment curvature curve click the Display menu
> Show Moment Curvature Curve command or click the
Show Moment Curvature Curve button, , on the top tool-
bar. The Moment Curvature Curve dialog box is displayed. See
the section titled "Show Moment Curvature Curve" in Chapter 9
for information on this dialog box. See Chapter 12 for back-
ground information on how the moment curvature curve is cre-
ated by Section Designer.
Figure 13-7:
Section properties
Section Designer Manual
13 - 14 Close Section Designer
13
Close Section Designer
To close Section Designer do the following:
1. Click the File menu > Return to ETABS command. This
closes the Section Designer window and returns you to the
SD Section Data dialog box.
2. Click the OK button to close the SD Section Data dialog
box.
Important note: If you instead click the Cancel button to
close the SD Section Data dialog box then the new section
just defined in Section Designer is lost. Similarly, if you
were modifying an existing section in Section Designer
rather than creating a new one, then the changes to the sec-
tion are lost if you click the Cancel button.
3. At this point you can define another frame section, or if you
are through defining frame sections you can click the OK
button to close the Define Frame Properties dialog box.
Important note: If you instead click the Cancel button to
close the Define Frame Properties dialog box then the sec-
tion just defined in Section Designer and any other sections
just defined are lost. Similarly, if you were modifying an
existing section in Section Designer or any other existing
section, then the changes to the section are lost if you click
the Cancel button.
In summary, to successfully close Section Designer and save
your changes you should Click the File menu > Return to
ETABS command in Section Designer and then click the
OK button twice to close all dialog boxes.
14 - 1
14
Chapter 14
Wall Pier Section Example
This chapter presents a Section Designer example for a concrete
wall pier section. Although there are many ways to create the ex-
ample section, only one method is illustrated in this chapter.
Problem Statement
The wall pier section is a two-dimensional wall pier that is
19'-4" long and 12" wide. It is typically reinforced with #6 bars
at 12" on center on each face. There are 2-#8 edge bars at each
end of the wall pier.
The clear cover at the ends of the wall pier is 2 inches. The clear
cover along one side of the wall pier is 1 inch and it is 3/4" along
the other side.
Relevant material properties assumed for the wall are f'
c
= 4.2
ksi, f
y
= 65 ksi and E
c
= 3700 ksi. Also for this example assume
that the building code specified for Shear Wall Design is the
UBC97 for which Section Designer assumes that E
s
= 29000 ksi.
Section Designer Manual
14 - 2 Start ETABS and Set Preferences
14
The remainder of this chapter steps through the process of de-
fining this section.
Start ETABS and Set Preferences
Use the following process to start ETABS and set the design
code preference for this example.
1. Start the ETABS program by clicking on the appropriate
desktop shortcut or by selecting ETABS from your Windows
Start menu.
2. Set the units to kips and inches.
3. Click the File menu > New Model command.
4. Click the No button in the New Model Initialization form.
5. Click the OK button in the Building Plan Grid System and
Story Data Definition dialog box.
6. Click the Options menu > Preferences > Shear Wall De-
sign command and confirm that the Design Code item is set
to UBC97.
Figure 14-1:
Wall pier section
example problem
2" clear cover 2" clear cover
19'-4" = 232"
2
-
#
8
2
-
#
8
1
"
c
l
e
a
r
c
o
v
e
r
1
2
"
3
/
4
"
c
l
e
a
r
c
o
v
e
r
#6 @ 12" on
center, each face
Material Properties
f'
c
= 4.2 ksi
f
y
= 65 ksi
E
c
= 3700 ksi
Chapter 14 - Wall Pier Section Example
Define a Shear Wall and Label Some Wall Piers 14 - 3
14
Define a Shear Wall and Label Some Wall Piers
Use the following process to define a shear wall. Note that your
model must have shear walls defined and it must have one or
more wall pier labels assigned before you can use Section De-
signer to define wall pier sections. The Design menu > Shear
Wall Design > Define Pier Sections for Checking command,
which is used to start Section Designer is not available until you
have assigned at least one wall pier label in your model.
1. Click the Edit menu > Add to Model from Template >
Add 2D Frame command to bring up the 2D Frame dialog
box.
2. In the 2D Frame dialog box click the 2D Wall button to
bring up the Shear Wall dialog box.
3. Click the OK button in the Shear Wall dialog box to define a
shear wall.
4. Click the Select button, , on the side toolbar or click the
Draw menu > Select Object command to exit draw mode
and enter select mode.
5. Click the Select All button, , on the side toolbar, or click
the Select menu > Select All command. This selects all of
the wall objects.
6. Click the Assign menu > Shell/Area > Pier Label com-
mand to open the Pier Names dialog box. In this dialog box:
a. In the Wall Piers area left click once on the WP1 item to
highlight it.
b. Click the OK button to assign the WP1 label to all of the
selected wall objects (piers).
Section Designer Manual
14 - 4 Define Material Properties
14
Define Material Properties
The material properties used in Section Designer are defined in
ETABS. Thus we will define those properties before entering
Section Designer.
1. Click the Define menu > Material Properties command to
bring up the Define Materials dialog box.
2. Click the Add New Material button to bring up the Material
Property Data dialog box. In this dialog box:
a. Set the Material Name to EXCONC1.
b. Leave the Type of Material as Isotropic.
c. Fill in the Analysis Property Data as shown in the dialog
box in Figure 14-2.
d. Change the Type of Design to Concrete.
(Above)
Figure 14-2:
Material properties
defined for wall pier
section example
problem
Chapter 14 - Wall Pier Section Example
Start Section Designer 14 - 5
14
e. Fill in the Design Property Data as shown in the dialog
box in Figure 14-2.
f. Click the OK button twice to exit all dialog boxes.
Start Section Designer
For defining frame sections Section Designer is started from the
Design menu.
1. Click the Design menu > Shear Wall Design > Define Pier
Sections for Checking command to bring up the Pier Sec-
tions dialog box.
2. Click the Add Pier Section button to bring up the Pier Sec-
tion Data dialog box.
3. Do the following in the Pier Section Data dialog box:
a. Set the Section Name to PIER1.
b. Set the Base Material to EXCONC1.
c. In the Add Pier area select the Add New Pier Section
option.
d. In the Check/Design area select the Reinforcement to be
Checked option.
e. Click the Section Designer button to start Section De-
signer.
Draw Section Geometry
This section describes two different methods to create the initial
rectangular shape. Note that the dimensions of the rectangle are
initially default dimensions that we will modify to the desired
dimensions in the next section.
Method 1: Click the Draw menu > Draw Solid Shape > Rec-
tangle command. Left click once anywhere on the Section De-
signer grid to draw the initial shape. We will resize and relocate
it in the next section.
Section Designer Manual
14 - 6 Define Section Location and Dimensions
14
Method 2: Click the Draw Solid Shape button, , on the side
tool bar and then click the Rectangle flyout button, . Left
click once anywhere on the Section Designer grid to draw the
initial shape. We will resize and relocate it in the next section.
Note that when you click to draw the rectangle the center of the
rectangle is located at the point that you click on.
Define Section Location and Dimensions
In this section we will define the wall pier section location (in
Section Designer) and dimensions. We will center the wall pier
about the Section Designer origin. Note that the pier can be lo-
cated anywhere in the Section Designer XY coordinate system.
The location of the pier in the Section Designer XY coordinate
system has no effect on the section properties. The relocation of
the section is done here for the purpose of demonstrating how to
do it.
1. Click the Draw menu > Select Mode command or click the
Select Pointer button, , on the side toolbar to exit draw
mode and enter select mode.
2. Right click on the section to bring up the Shape Properties
dialog box. Fill in this dialog box as shown in the sketch to
the left and described below.
a. Set the Material to EXCONC1.
b. Set both the X Center and Y Center to 0.
c. Set the Height to 12 and the Width to 232.
d. Leave the Rotation at 0.
e. Set the Reinforcing to Yes.
Chapter 14 - Wall Pier Section Example
Define Section Edge Bars 14 - 7
14
f. Click the OK button. The wall pier should now be cen-
tered about the Section Designer X and Y axes, it should
have the correct dimensions (232" long by 12" thick) and
there should be default rebar in the section. We will
modify this rebar in the next few sections.
3. Click the View menu > Restore Full View command, or the
associated Restore Full View button, , on the top tool-
bar to resize the section to fill the full Section Designer win-
dow. The wall pier section should now appear as shown in
Figure 14-3.
Define Section Edge Bars
For edge bars you can specify a bar size, spacing and cover. The
corner bars are located based on the specified cover for edge bars
on edges adjacent to the corner.
(Above)
Figure 14-3:
Wall pier after step 3
in the Define Section
Location and Di-
mensions section
Section Designer Manual
14 - 8 Define Section Edge Bars
14
1. Click the View menu > Rubberband Zoom command or
click the Rubberband Zoom button, , on the top toolbar
and zoom in on the left end of the wall as shown in Figure
14-4.
2. Right click on the bar labeled "Bar A" in Figure 14-4. The
Edge Reinforcing dialog box appears. In this dialog box:
a. Set the Bar Size to #6.
b. Set the Bar Spacing to 12 inches
c. Set the Bar Cover to 2 inches.
d. Check the Apply to All Edges check boxes. We will ad-
just the cover for the top and bottom edges later.
Bar A
(Above)
Figure 14-4:
Wall pier after step 1
in the Define Section
Edge Bars section
Chapter 14 - Wall Pier Section Example
Define Section Edge Bars 14 - 9
14
e. Click the OK button. The section now appears as shown
in Figure 14-5.
3. Right click on the bar labeled "Bar B" in Figure 14-5 to
bring up the Edge Reinforcing dialog box. In this dialog box:
a. Set the Bar Cover to 0.75 inches.
b. Leave the bar Spacing at 12 inches.
c. Leave the bar size at #6.
d. Do not check the Apply to All Edges check box since
the changes we are specifying here only apply to the top
edge.
e. Click the OK button.
(Above)
Figure 14-5:
Beam after step 2e in
the Define Section
Edge Bars section
Bar B
Bar C
Bar D
Section Designer Manual
14 - 10 Define Section Corner Bars
14
4. Right click on the bar labeled "Bar C" in Figure 14-5 to
bring up the Edge Reinforcing dialog box. In this dialog box:
a. Set the Bar Cover to 1 inch.
b. Leave the bar Spacing at 12 inches.
c. Leave the bar size at #6.
d. Do not check the Apply to All Edges check box since
the changes we are specifying here only apply to the top
edge.
e. Click the OK button.
Define Section Corner Bars
For corner bars you can specify a bar size. The corner bars are
located based on the specified cover for edge bars on edges adja-
cent to the corner.
1. Right click on the corner bar labeled "Bar D" in Figure
14-5 to bring up the Corner Point Reinforcing dialog box. In
this dialog box:
a. Set the Bar Size to #8.
b. Check the Apply to All Corners check box.
c. Click the OK button.
The section is now complete and it appears as shown in Figure
14-6. Click the View menu > Restore Full View command, or
the associated Restore Full View button, , on the top toolbar
to resize the section to fill the full Section Designer window. The
wall pier section should now appear as shown in Figure 14-7.
Chapter 14 - Wall Pier Section Example
Display Section Properties 14 - 11
14
Display Section Properties
Now that the section is complete you can display the section
properties if desired. To do this click the Display menu > Show
Section Properties command or click the Show Section Prop-
erties button, , on the top toolbar. The Properties form is
displayed. See the section titled "Show Section Properties" in
Chapter 9 for information on this form.
The properties obtained for this example section are displayed in
Figure 14-8. Note that the section properties are based on the
gross concrete section. The reinforcing is not considered when
computing these section properties. The reinforcing is considered
when creating the interaction surface and the moment curvature
curve.
(Above)
Figure 14-6:
Beam after step 1c in
the Define Section
Corner Bars section
Section Designer Manual
14 - 12 Display Interaction Surface
14
Display Interaction Surface
In Section Designer you can display the interaction surface for
concrete sections that have reinforcing steel defined. The wall
created in this example meets this criteria.
To display the interaction surface click the Display menu >
Show Interaction Surface command or click the Show Interac-
tion Surface button, , on the top toolbar. The Interaction
Surface dialog box is displayed. See the section titled "Show In-
teraction Surface" in Chapter 9 for information on this dialog
box. See Chapter 11 for background information on how the in-
teraction surface is created by Section Designer.
(Above)
Figure 14-7:
Completed section
Chapter 14 - Wall Pier Section Example
Display Moment Curvature Curve 14 - 13
14
Display Moment Curvature Curve
In Section Designer you can display a moment curvature curve
for a concrete section that has reinforcing steel defined. The
beam created in this example meets this criteria.
To display the moment curvature curve click the Display menu
> Show Moment Curvature Curve command or click the
Show Moment Curvature Curve button, , on the top tool-
bar. The Moment Curvature Curve dialog box is displayed. See
the section titled "Show Moment Curvature Curve" in Chapter 9
for information on this dialog box. See Chapter 12 for back-
ground information on how the moment curvature curve is cre-
ated by Section Designer.
Figure 14-8:
Section properties
Section Designer Manual
14 - 14 Close Section Designer
14
Close Section Designer
To close Section Designer do the following:
1. Click the File menu > Return to ETABS command. This
closes the Section Designer window and returns you to the
Pier Section Data dialog box.
2. Click the OK button to close the Pier Section Data dialog
box.
Important note: If you instead click the Cancel button to
close the Pier Section Data dialog box then the new section
just defined in Section Designer is lost. Similarly, if you
were modifying an existing section in Section Designer
rather than creating a new one, then the changes to the sec-
tion are lost if you click the Cancel button.
3. At this point you can define another wall pier section, or if
you are through defining frame sections you can click the
OK button to close the Pier Sections dialog box.
Important note: If you instead click the Cancel button to
close the Pier Sections dialog box then the section just de-
fined in Section Designer and any other sections just defined
are lost. Similarly, if you were modifying an existing section
in Section Designer or any other existing section, then the
changes to the section are lost if you click the Cancel button.
In summary, to successfully close Section Designer and save
your changes you should Click the File menu > Return to
ETABS command in Section Designer and then click the
OK button twice to close all dialog boxes.
A1 - 1
A1
Appendix 1
The Section Designer Menu Structure
This appendix lays out the complete menu structure of Section
Designer. The eight menus available in Section Designer are:
File menu
Edit menu
View menu
Draw menu
Select menu
Display menu
Options menu
Help menu
All of the commands available in each of these menus are listed
in this appendix. Submenu items are indented in the list.
Section Designer Manual
A1 - 2
A1
File Menu Commands
Print Setup
Print Graphics
Return to ETABS
Edit Menu Commands
Undo
Redo
Delete
Align
Left
Center
Right
Top
Middle
Bottom
Change Shape to Poly
Change Bar Shape to Single Bars
View Menu Commands
Rubberband Zoom
Restore Full View
Previous Zoom
Zoom In One Step
Zoom Out One Step
Pan
Show Guide Lines
Show Axes
Appendix 1 - The Section Designer Menu Structure
A1 - 3
A1
Draw Menu Commands
Select Mode
Reshape Mode
Draw Structural Shape
I/Wide Flange
Channel
Tee
Angle
Double Angle
Box/Tube
Pipe
Plate
Draw Solid Shape
Rectangle
Circle
Segment
Sector
Draw Poly Shape
Draw Reinforcing Shape
Single Bar
Line Pattern
Rectangular Pattern
Circular Pattern
Draw Reference Lines
Draw Reference Line
Draw Reference Circle
Snap to
Guideline Intersections and Points
Line Ends and Midpoints
Line Intersections
Perpendicular Projections
Lines and Edges
Fine Grids
Constrain Drawn Line to
None
Constant X
Constant Y
Constant Angle
Section Designer Manual
A1 - 4
A1
Select Menu Commands
Select
Pointer/in Window
Intersecting Line
All
Deselect
Pointer/in Window
Intersecting Line
All
Get Previous Selection
Clear Selection
Display Menu Commands
Show Section Properties...
Show Interaction Surface...
Show Moment Curvature Curve...
Options Menu Commands
Preferences...
Colors...
Help Menu Commands
Search for Help on ...
About Section Designer...
A2 - 1
A2
Appendix 2
The Section Designer Toolbar Buttons
This appendix describes the toolbar buttons that are available in
Section Designer. Throughout the manual reference is made to
the top toolbar and the side toolbar. These are identified in Fig-
ure A2-1.
Top toolbar
Side toolbar
Figure A2-1:
Illustration of the
top toolbar and the
side toolbar
Section Designer Manual
A2 - 2
A2
There are five separate Drawing-related buttons on the side tool-
bar. They are the Draw Structural Shape, Draw Solid Shape,
Draw Polygon Shape, Draw Reinforcing Shape and Draw Refer-
ence Lines. Each of these drawing-related buttons has additional
flyout buttons associated with it except for the Draw Polygon
Shape button. The flyout buttons appear immediately after you
click on the drawing-related button. Figure A2-2 illustrates the
flyout buttons.
Table A2-1 lists the toolbar buttons available on each toolbar.
Typically the buttons shown in the first column of the table are
left justified. However, the flyout buttons on the side toolbar are
shown indented in the first column of the table.
Structural shape
flyout buttons
Solid shape
flyout buttons
Reinforcing shape
flyout buttons
Reference line
flyout buttons
Figure A2-2:
Flyout toolbar but-
tons on the side
toolbar
Appendix 2 - The Section Designer Toolbar Buttons
A2 - 3
A2
Top Toolbar Buttons
Print Graphics
Undo
Redo
Rubberband Zoom
Restore Full View
Restore Previous Zoom
Zoom In One Step
Zoom Out One Step
Pan
Show Section Properties
Show Interaction Surface
Show Moment Curvature Curve
Side Toolbar Buttons
Pointer (Select Mode)
Reshaper (Reshape Mode)
Draw Structural Shape (Displays Flyout Buttons)
I/Wide Flange
Channel
Tee
Angle
Double Angle
Box/Tube
Pipe
Plate
Table A2-1:
Toolbar buttons
Table A2-1:
Toolbar buttons
Section Designer Manual
A2 - 4
A2
Draw Solid Shape (Displays Flyout Buttons)
Rectangle
Circle
Segment
Sector
Draw Poly Shape (Polygon)
Draw Reinforcing Shape (Displays Flyout Buttons)
Single Bar
Line Pattern
Rectangular Pattern
Circular Pattern
Draw Reference Lines (Displays Flyout Buttons)
Reference Line
Reference Circle
Select All
Restore Previous Selection
Clear Selection
Set Intersecting Line Select Mode
Snap to Guide Intersections/Points
Snap to Middle and Ends
Snap to Intersections
Snap to Perpendicular
Snap to Lines and Edges
Snap to Fine Grid
Table A2-1, cont.:
Toolbar buttons
A3 - 1
A3
Appendix 3
Section Designer Keyboard Commands
This appendix describes the keyboard commands that are avail-
able in Section Designer. When referring to keyboard commands
in this appendix a "+" sign means to press two keys simultane-
ously. For example, "Ctrl + C" means to press the Ctrl key and
the C key on your keyboard at the same time.
The keyboard commands in Section Designer can be broken into
three main categories. They are selection commands, constraint
commands and editing commands.
The table starting on the next page lists the Section Designer
keyboard commands.
Section Designer Manual
A3 - 2
A3
Selection Commands
Key Description
Ctrl
When two shapes are drawn one on top of the other, holding down the
Ctrl key as you left click on the shapes brings up a dialog box where
you can choose the shape to select. Similarly, holding down the Ctrl key
as you right click on the shapes brings up a dialog box where you can
select the shape whose properties you want to see.
Ctrl + A Select all shapes.
Ctrl + C
Copies the entire table displayed in the Interaction Surface dialog box.
Also copies the entire table displayed in the Moment Curvature Curve
dialog box.
Constraint Commands
Key Description
X
Drawing constraint that locks the X component of the next point so that
it is the same as the previous point.
Y
Drawing constraint that locks the Y component of the next point so that
it is the same as the previous point.
A
Allows you to specify an angle in degrees in the status bar. Drawing is
then constrained along this angle
Spacebar Remove the current drawing constraint.
Editing Commands
Key Description
Del Deletes the currently selected shape(s).
Ctrl +
Ctrl +
Ctrl +
Ctrl +
Moves the selected shape in the direction specified by the arrow. You
can press and hold down the Ctrl key first and then press the arrow key.
Each time you press the arrow key the selected shape moves the amount
specified by the Nudge Value item in the Section Designer preferences.
A4 - 1
A4
Appendix 4
Interaction Surface Example Calculation
This appendix presents some example hand calculations for de-
veloping an interaction surface. Consider the section shown in
Figure A4-1. The section is 24 inches wide by 36 inches deep
with one #9 bar located at each corner. The cover to the center of
the #9 bars is 1.5 inches.
Rather than showing calculations for developing the entire inter-
action surface of this section we will show calculations for two
of the PMM interaction curves that make up the interaction sur-
face, one curve at 0 degrees and the other at 30 degrees. See
Chapter 11 for more information. The calculations in this exam-
ple are based on the 1997 UBC.
The following assumptions are made for this example:
f'
c
= 4 ksi
f
y
= 60 ksi
= 0.85
E
s
= 29000 ksi
Note:
See the section
titled "How to
Create this Ex-
ample Prob-
lem" at the end
of this appendix
for a descrip-
tion of how to
define this sec-
tion in Section
Designer.
Section Designer Manual
A4 - 2
A4
b
= 0.9
c
= 0.7
A further assumption is that we will use eleven points (the
ETABS default) to define an interaction curve.
Interaction Curve at 0 Degrees
The first step in developing the interaction curve is to determine
which eleven points will be used for the interaction curve. Recall
that ETABS always considers an odd number of points for an
interaction curve. In general, ETABS assumes constant compres-
sion for the first point, balanced conditions for the middle point
(6th point in this example) and constant tension for the last point
(11th point in this example).
Each of these three points has a depth of compression block, a,
associated with it. ETABS assumes that the a dimensions associ-
ated with points 2 through 5 are equally spaced between the a
dimensions obtained for points 1 and 6. Similarly, ETABS as-
sumes that the a dimensions associated with points 7 through 10
are equally spaced between the a dimensions obtained for points
6 and 11.
For the first point ETABS assumes constant compression on the
section. For this point, c equals and a equals the section depth,
36 inches.
(Above)
Figure A4-1:
Section for interac-
tion surface example
24"
1.5
Typ.
3
6
"
1
.
5
T
y
p
.
Section
Dimensions
Balanced Condition
Strain
3
4
.
5
"
c
= 0.003
s
= 0.002069
c
=
2
0
.
4
2
"
a
=
1
7
.
3
6
"
T
s
= 60 + 60 = 120k
C
s
= 60 + 60 = 120k
C
c deduction
= -3.4 - 3.4 = -6.8k
C
c
= 1416.2
2#9
2#9
a d
b c
1
8
"
3 3
2
2
Centroid
0.85f
c
= 4 ksi
Balanced Condition
Stress
2
3
Appendix 4 - Interaction Surface Example Calculation
A4 - 3
A4
For the middle (6th) point ETABS assumes balanced conditions
and calculates the a value for those conditions. This is shown in
Figure A4-1 where a
b
= 17.36 in. Recall that a = 0.85c. Also note
that the maximum steel strain at balanced conditions is equal to
the steel yield strain,
y
, where
y
= f
y
/E
s
.
For the last (11th) point ETABS assumes constant tension on the
section. For this point, c and a both equal zero.
Once ETABS knows the c and a dimensions for each point on
the interaction curve, and it assumes that
c
= 0.003 at each
point, it has the necessary information to construct the strain dia-
gram (using similar triangles) and thus derive the force diagram
and ultimately determine the section axial force and moment.
Table A4-1 summarizes the strain values and the c and a dimen-
sions for each of the eleven points.
Point
c
in/in
c
in
Max
s
in/in
a
in
1 -0.003 Infinity -0.00300 36.00
2 -0.003 37.97 -0.00027 32.27
3 -0.003 33.58 0.00008 28.54
4 -0.003 29.19 0.00055 24.81
5 -0.003 24.81 0.00117 21.08
6 -0.003 20.42 0.00207 17.36
7 -0.003 16.33 0.00334 13.88
8 -0.003 12.25 0.00545 10.41
9 -0.003 8.17 0.00967 6.94
10 -0.003 4.08 0.02234 3.47
11 -0.003 0.00 Infinity 0.00
Next we calculate the concrete compressive force, C
c
= 0.85f'
c
ab,
where b is the width of the section, 24 inches as shown in Table
A4-2. Note that we will later deduct a small portion of this force
to account for the area of concrete that does not exist at the rein-
forcing steel locations.
Table A4-1:
Concrete and steel
strain, and c and a
dimensions for each
point
Section Designer Manual
A4 - 4
A4
Point
f'
c
ksi
a
in
b
in/in
C
c
kips
1 4 36.00 24 -2937.6
2 4 32.27 24 -2633.3
3 4 28.54 24 -2329.0
4 4 24.81 24 -2024.8
5 4 21.08 24 -1720.5
6 4 17.36 24 -1416.2
7 4 13.88 24 -1133.0
8 4 10.41 24 -849.7
9 4 6.94 24 -566.5
10 4 3.47 24 -283.2
11 4 0.00 24 0.0
Now we turn our attention to the reinforcing steel. Note that in
Figure A4-1 the four corners of the section are labeled a, b, c and
d. Based on this we will refer to the bars in corners a, b, c and d
bar a, bar b, bar c and bar d respectively. Knowing the concrete
strain and the maximum steel strain for each of the 11 points, we
can use similar triangles to calculate the strain of each bar. These
strains are shown in Table A4-3.
Point
Bar a
in/in
Bar b
in/in
Bar c
in/in
Bar d
in/in
1 -0.00300 -0.00300 -0.00300 -0.00300
2 -0.00027 -0.00288 -0.00288 -0.00027
3 0.00008 -0.00287 -0.00287 0.00008
4 0.00055 -0.00285 -0.00285 0.00055
5 0.00117 -0.00282 -0.00282 0.00117
6 0.00207 -0.00278 -0.00278 0.00207
7 0.00334 -0.00272 -0.00272 0.00334
8 0.00545 -0.00263 -0.00263 0.00545
9 0.00967 -0.00245 -0.00245 0.00967
10 0.02234 -0.00190 -0.00190 0.02234
11 Infinity Infinity Infinity Infinity
Table A4-2:
Concrete compres-
sive force for each
point
Table A4-3:
Strain in each bar
Appendix 4 - Interaction Surface Example Calculation
A4 - 5
A4
Now the stress in each bar can be determined. If the strain in the
bar is less than the yield strain (
y
= f
y
E
s
) then the bar stress, , is
calculated as = E
s
. If the strain in the bar is greater than or
equal to the yield strain then the bar stress is equal to the yield
stress, f
y
. Table A4-4 lists the bar stress for each bar at each point
on the interaction surface.
Point
Bar a
ksi
Bar b
ksi
Bar c
ksi
Bar d
ksi
1 -60.00 -60.00 -60.00 -60.00
2 -7.94 -60.00 -60.00 -7.94
3 2.39 -60.00 -60.00 2.39
4 15.82 -60.00 -60.00 15.82
5 34.00 -60.00 -60.00 34.00
6 60.00 -60.00 -60.00 60.00
7 60.00 -60.00 -60.00 60.00
8 60.00 -60.00 -60.00 60.00
9 60.00 -60.00 -60.00 60.00
10 60.00 -55.04 -55.04 60.00
11 60.00 60.00 60.00 60.00
The force in each bar is obtained by multiplying the stress times
the bar area. The #9 bars in this example have an area of 1.00 in
2
.
Table A4-5 lists the bar force for each bar at each point on the
interaction surface.
Point
Bar a
kips
Bar b
kips
Bar c
kips
Bar d
kips
1 -60.00 -60.00 -60.00 -60.00
2 -7.94 -60.00 -60.00 -7.94
3 2.39 -60.00 -60.00 2.39
4 15.82 -60.00 -60.00 15.82
5 34.00 -60.00 -60.00 34.00
6 60.00 -60.00 -60.00 60.00
7 60.00 -60.00 -60.00 60.00
8 60.00 -60.00 -60.00 60.00
9 60.00 -60.00 -60.00 60.00
10 60.00 -55.04 -55.04 60.00
11 60.00 60.00 60.00 60.00
Table A4-4:
Stress in each bar
Table A4-5:
Force in each bar
Section Designer Manual
A4 - 6
A4
Next we determine the concrete compressive force that must be
deducted because the assumed concrete area is actually taken up
by reinforcing steel. The force is equal to 0.85f'
c
A
bar
for each re-
inforcing bar that falls in the a dimension of the section. Table
A4-6 lists the concrete compressive forces that must be deducted
at each of the eleven points on the interaction surface.
Point
Bar a
kips
Bar b
kips
Bar c
kips
Bar d
kips
1 3.4 3.4 3.4 3.4
2 0 3.4 3.4 0
3 0 3.4 3.4 0
4 0 3.4 3.4 0
5 0 3.4 3.4 0
6 0 3.4 3.4 0
7 0 3.4 3.4 0
8 0 3.4 3.4 0
9 0 3.4 3.4 0
10 0 3.4 3.4 0
11 0 0 0 0
Now we can sum up all of the forces, and all of the moments
about the section centroid for each point. The results of this are
shown in Table A4-7.
Point
Sum of Axial
Force
kips
Sum of Moments
kip-in
1 -3164.0 0
2 -2762.4 6515
3 -2437.5 10631
4 -2106.3 13715
5 -1765.7 15821
6 -1409.4 17050
7 -1126.2 16376
8 -842.9 14719
9 -559.7 12078
10 -266.5 8291
11 240.0 0
Table A4-6:
Concrete compres-
sive forces that must
be deducted
Table A4-7:
Axial forces and
moments
Appendix 4 - Interaction Surface Example Calculation
A4 - 7
A4
As an example of how the values in Table A4-7 are calculated
refer to Table A4-8 which shows the details of the calculation for
Point 6.
Item
Force
kips
Distance to
Centroid
in
Moment
kip-in
Concrete compression -1416.2 -9.32 13202
Bar a tension 60 16.5 990
Bar b compression -60 -16.5 990
Bar c compression -60 -16.5 990
Bar d tension 60 16.5 990
Bar a correction 0 16.5 0
Bar b correction 3.4 -16.5 -56
Bar c correction 3.4 -16.5 -56
Bar d correction 0 16.5 0
Sum -1409.4 17050
Next we calculate the maximum compression force, P
oc
, as:
P
oc
= 0.85f'
c
(A
g
- A
s
) + f
y
A
s
P
oc
= 0.85 * 4 * [(24 * 36) - (4 * 1.00)] + 60 * (4 * 1.00)
P
oc
= 3164.0 kips
The maximum compression force in the interaction surface can
not exceed 0.8P
oc
.
0.8P
oc
= 0.8 * 3164.0 = 2531.2 kips
Any compression force in Table A4-7 that is larger than 2531.2
kips must be reduced to 2531.2 kips. Thus points 1 and 2 in Ta-
ble A4-7 must have their axial force reduced. This reduction
does not affect the moment.
The new values of axial force and moment, accounting for the
required reduction in axial force at points 1 and 2, are shown in
Table A4-9. These values correspond to those obtained in Sec-
tion Designer with no phi.
Table A4-8:
Details of how val-
ues in Table A4-7
are calculated for
Point 6
Note:
See the section
titled "Sign
Convention for
Axial Load and
Moments" later
in this appendix
for information
on the sign of
the moment.
Section Designer Manual
A4 - 8
A4
Point
Sum of Axial
Force
kips
Sum of Moments
kip-in
1 -2531.2 0
2 -2531.2 6515
3 -2437.5 10631
4 -2106.3 13715
5 -1765.7 15821
6 -1409.4 17050
7 -1126.2 16376
8 -842.9 14719
9 -559.7 12078
10 -266.5 8291
11 240.0 0
Now we will consider the phi factors (strength reduction factors).
To consider the phi factors first find the smaller of 0.1A
g
f'
c
and
P
b
.
0.1A
g
f'
c
= 0.1 * (24 * 36) * 4 = 345.6 kips
P
b
= 0.7 * 1409.4 = 986.6 kips
The smaller value is 0.1A
g
f'
c
= 345.6 kips. Thus the phi factor is
increased linearly from 0.7 to 0.9 as the compression axial force
goes from -345.6 kips to 0.
Table A4-10 shows the phi factor assumed for each of the eleven
points. The phi factor at point 10 is calculated as follows:
phi
10
= 0.9 - [0.2P / minimum of (0.1A
g
f'
c
and P
b
)]
phi
10
= 0.9 - [0.2 * 266.5 / 345.6]
phi
10
= 0.9 - [0.2 * 266.5 / 345.6]
phi
10
= 0.75
Note that there may not necessarily be points on the interaction
curve where the transition of phi starts and ends. Thus the shape
of the curve obtained may be slightly different from the exact
theoretical solution. As you increase the number of points con-
Table A4-9:
Interaction curve
values with no phi
factor
Appendix 4 - Interaction Surface Example Calculation
A4 - 9
A4
sidered on the curve, the shape of the interaction curve will con-
verge to the exact solution.
Point
Sum of Axial
Force
kips
Sum of Moments
kip-in
Phi Factor
1 -2531.2 0 0.7
2 -2531.2 6515 0.7
3 -2437.5 10631 0.7
4 -2106.3 13715 0.7
5 -1765.7 15821 0.7
6 -1409.4 17050 0.7
7 -1126.2 16376 0.7
8 -842.9 14719 0.7
9 -559.7 12078 0.7
10 -266.5 8291 0.75
11 240.0 0 0.9
Finally, the axial force and moment are multiplied by the phi
factor to get the final force and moment for each of the 11 points.
This is demonstrated in Figure A4-11. These values correspond
to those obtained in Section Designer with a phi factor.
Point
Sum of Axial
Force
kips
Sum of Moments
kip-in
1 -1771.8 0
2 -1771.8 4561
3 -1706.2 7442
4 -1474.4 9600
5 -1236.0 11075
6 -986.6 11935
7 -788.3 11463
8 -590.1 10303
9 -391.8 8455
10 -198.8 6183
11 216.0 0
Table A4-10:
Phi factors
Table A4-11:
Interaction curve
values with a phi
factor
Section Designer Manual
A4 - 10
A4
Finally, if you wanted to calculate the values for the Section De-
signer "no phi with fy increase" option, then you would repeat
the process described here up through Table A4-9 with the f
y
value increased appropriately. For the 1997 UBC the fy value is
increased by a factor of 1.25. Thus you would repeat the process
described here up through Table A4-9 with f
y
equal to 1.25 * 60
= 75 ksi.
Interaction Curve at 30 Degrees
For the interaction curve at 30 degrees we will demonstrate the
calculation to provide the axial force and moment at one of the
eleven points of the interaction curve. We will do this for point
6, the point of balanced strain conditions.
Refer to Figure A4-2. We begin by determining the distances
from the section centroid to the extreme compression fiber and to
all of the reinforcing steel in the rotated (2'-3') coordinate sys-
tem. Note that the 2'-3' coordinate system is rotated 30 degrees
from the 2-3 coordinate system as shown in Figure A4-2a.
Given the 41.128" dimension from the extreme compression fi-
ber to the extreme tension rebar, and given the
c
= 0.003 and
s
= 0.002069 the c and a dimensions in Figure A4-2b are deter-
mined using similar triangles. The area of concrete shown
shaded in Figure A4-2a corresponds to the depth, a, from the ex-
treme compression fiber to the bottom of the rectangular con-
crete stress block.
The concrete compression force, Cc, illustrated in Figure A4-2c,
is equal to 0.85f'
c
A
c
, where A
c
is the area of concrete in Figure
A4-2a. The dimensions of this concrete area are shown in Figure
A4-2e. The dashed lines in Figure A4-2e also indicate how the
area can be broken up into a triangle and a rectangle for easier
calculation.
A
rectangle
= 24 * 10.034 = 240.82 in
2
A
triangle
= 0.5 * 24 * (23.891 - 10.034) = 166.28 in
2
C
c
= 0.85 * 4 * 240.82 + 0.85 * 4 * 166.28
C
c
= 818.79 + 565.35 = 1384.14 kips
Note:
A rectangular
concrete stress
block is used in
all calculations
of the interac-
tion surface.
Appendix 4 - Interaction Surface Example Calculation
A4 - 11
A4
Figure A4-2:
Section for interac-
tion curve at 30 de-
grees
a) Section Dimensions
along the 2-axis
2#9
2#9
a
d
b
c
3
'
2
'
Centroid
3
'
2
'
30
1
9
.
5
3
9
"
4
1
.
1
2
8
"
c
=
0
.
0
0
3
s
=
0
.
0
0
2
0
6
9
a
=
2
0
.
6
9
0
"
c
=
2
4
.
3
4
1
"
Cs
=
6
0
k
Cc
d
e
d
u
c
tio
n
=
-
3
.
4
k
Cs
=
4
2
.
1
4
k
Cc
d
e
d
u
c
tio
n
=
-
3
.
4
k Cc
=
1
3
8
4
.
1
4
k
Ts
=
2
2
.
4
7
k
Ts
=
6
0
k
b) Strain for
Balanced Condition
c) Stress for
Balanced Condition
2
1
.
5
8
9
"
1
9
.
5
3
9
"
9
.
0
3
9
"
9
.
0
3
9
"
d) Section Dimensions
along the 3-axis
a
d
b
c
3
'
2
'
Centroid
3
'
2
'
30
0
.
8
4
3
"
1
7
.
3
4
3
"
0
.
8
4
3
"
1
7
.
3
4
3
"
e) Dimensions of Concrete
Compression Areas
a
d
b
c
3
'
2
'
Centroid
3
'
2
'
30
1
0
.
0
3
4
"
1
2
.
9
8
3
"
24"
f) Dimensions from Centroid of
Concrete Compression Areas
to Section Centroid
a
d
b
c
Centroid
3 3
2
2
0
.
8
5
f
c
=
4
k
s
i
2
.
7
5
2
"
3
2
2
3
4"
3
.
3
4
7
"
2
3
.
8
9
1
"
Section Designer Manual
A4 - 12
A4
To determine the steel forces and the concrete deduction forces
shown in Figure A4-2c we must first calculate the strain at each
rebar location. These strains are calculated using similar trian-
gles. Table A4-11 summarizes these strains.
Rebar Bar Strain, in/in
a 0.002069 * [(9.039-2.752) / (19.539-2.752)] = 0.000775
b 0.003 * [(19.539 + 2.752) / 24.341] = 0.002747
c 0.003 * [(9.039 + 2.752) / 24.341] = 0.001453
d 0.002069
Now the stress in each bar can be determined. If the strain in the
bar is less than the yield strain (
y
= f
y
E
s
= 0.002069) then the bar
stress, , is calculated as = E
s
. If the strain in the bar is greater
than or equal to the yield strain then the bar stress is equal to the
yield stress, f
y
. Table A4-12 lists the bar stress for each bar. A
negative strain and stress in this table indicates the bar is in com-
pression.
Rebar Strain Bar Stress, ksi
a 0.000775 0.000775 * 29000 = 22.47 ksi
b -0.002747 -60 ksi
c -0.001453 -0.001453 * 29000 = -42.14 ksi
d 0.002069 60 ksi
The force in each bar is obtained by multiplying the stress times
the bar area. The #9 bars in this example have an area of 1.00 in
2
.
Table A4-13 lists the bar force for each bar.
Rebar Bar Force, kips
a 22.47 k
b -60 k
c -42.14 k
d 60 k
Next we determine the concrete compressive force that must be
deducted because the assumed concrete area is actually taken up
by reinforcing steel. The force is equal to 0.85f'
c
A
bar
for each re-
Table A4-11:
Strain at each rebar
location
Table A4-12:
Stress in each rebar
Table A4-12:
Force in each rebar
Appendix 4 - Interaction Surface Example Calculation
A4 - 13
A4
inforcing bar that falls in the a dimension of the section. In this
case a 3.4 kip force must be deducted at bar locations b and c.
Now we can sum up all of the forces, and all of the moments
about the centroid, around the 2 and 3 axis. Note that the mo-
ments are taken about the 2 and 3 axes, not the 2' and 3' axes.
The results of this are shown in Table A4-13.
The distances from the centroid of the concrete compression ar-
eas to the centroid of the section are shown in Figure A4-2f.
Note that the M2 moment is equal to the force times the 3-dir
distance to the centroid and the M3 moment is equal to the force
times the 2-dir distance to the centroid.
Item
Force
kips
2-Dir
Distance to
Centroid
in
3-Dir
Distance to
Centroid
in
M3
Moment
kip-in
M2
Moment
kip-in
Conc comp (rectangle) -818.79 -12.983 0 10630.4 0.0
Conc comp (triangle) -565.35 -3.347 -4 1892.2 2261.4
Bar a tension 22.47 16.5 -10.5 370.8 -235.9
Bar b compression -60 -16.5 -10.5 990.0 630.0
Bar c compression -42.14 -16.5 10.5 695.3 -442.5
Bar d tension 60 16.5 10.5 990.0 630.0
Bar b correction 3.4 -16.5 -10.5 -56.1 -35.7
Bar c correction 3.4 -16.5 10.5 -56.1 35.7
Sum -1397.0 15456 2843
Next we calculate the maximum compression force, P
oc
, exactly
as we did for the 0 degree case.
P
oc
= 0.85f'
c
(A
g
- A
s
) + f
y
A
s
P
oc
= 0.85 * 4 * [(24 * 36) - (4 * 1.00)] + 60 * (4 * 1.00)
P
oc
= 3164.0 kips
The maximum compression force in the interaction surface can
not exceed 0.8P
oc
.
0.8P
oc
= 0.8 * 3164.0 = 2531.2 kips
(Below)
Table A4-13:
Summing forces and
moments
Note:
See the section
titled "Sign
Convention for
Axial Load and
Moments" later
in this appendix
for information
on the sign of
the moments.
Section Designer Manual
A4 - 14
A4
Since 1397.0 kips is less than 2531.2 kips we do not need to re-
duce the axial force. Thus the final axial force and moments
when no phi factors are used are P = -1397.0 k, M3 = 15456 k-in
and M2 = 2843 k-in.
Now we will consider the phi factors (strength reduction factors).
To consider the phi factors first find the smaller of 0.1A
g
f'
c
and
P
b
.
0.1A
g
f'
c
= 0.1 * (24 * 36) * 4 = 345.6 kips
P
b
= 0.7 * 1397.0 = 977.9 kips
The smaller value is 0.1A
g
f'
c
= 345.6 kips. Thus the phi factor is
increased linearly from 0.7 to 0.9 as the compression axial force
goes from -345.6 kips to 0. Since the compression force we are
considering, -1397.0 kips is larger than -345.6 kips, we use a phi
factor of 0.7. Thus the axial force and moments are all multiplied
by 0.7 to get the final axial force and moments when phi factors
are used. The final axial force and moments when phi factors are
used are:
P = 0.7 * 1397.0 = 977.9 kips
M3 = 0.7 * 15456 = 10819 kips
M2 = 0.7 * 2843 = 1990 kips
Sign Convention for Axial Load and Moments
This section defines the sign convention
for axial loads and moments in the inter-
action surface. For axial loads tension is
positive and compression is negative.
The sketch to the left defines positive
M2 and M3 moments for the interaction
surface.
2
3
Compression
Tension
a) Positive M3 Moment
2
3
C
o
m
p
r
e
s
s
i
o
n
T
e
n
s
i
o
n
a) Positive M2 Moment
Appendix 4 - Interaction Surface Example Calculation
A4 - 15
A4
How to Create this Example Problem
This section provides step-by-step directions for creating this ex-
ample problem in Section Designer.
1. In ETABS set the units to kips and inches.
2. If you do not already have a model open then click the File
menu > New Model command. Next click the No button on
the New Model Initialization form and then click the OK
button in the Building Plan Grid System and Story Data
Definition dialog box.
3. In ETABS click the Define menu > Material Properties
command and verify the material named CONC has
E = 3600 ksi, f'c = 4 ksi, fy = 60.
4. In ETABS click the Options menu > Preferences > rein-
forcement Bar Sizes command. Verify that the #9 bar has a
1.00 in
2
bar area and a 1.128 in bar diameter.
5. In ETABS click the Define menu > Frame Sections com-
mand and then select the Add SD Section item from the
drop-down box.
6. This opens the SD Section Data dialog box. Click the Sec-
tion Designer button in the dialog box to start Section De-
signer.
7. In Section Designer click the Draw menu > Draw Solid
Shape > Rectangle command. Then click on the origin to
draw a rectangle.
8. Click the Draw menu > Select Mode command.
9. Right click on the rectangle to bring up the Shape Properties
dialog box. Fill in this dialog box as shown in the sketch to
the left. Be sure to set the height to 36 inches and to set the
Reinforcing item to Yes. Then click the OK button.
10. The section now appears as shown in Figure A4-3.
Section Designer Manual
A4 - 16
A4
11. Right click on one of the edge rebar, for example the one la-
beled "A" in Figure A4-3 to bring up the Edge Reinforcing
dialog box. Fill in this dialog box as shown in the sketch to
the left. Be sure to check the Apply to All Edges check box.
Then click the OK button.
12. The section now appears as shown in Figure A4-4.
13. Right click on one of the corner bars to bring up the Corner
Point Reinforcing dialog box. Set the bar size to #9, check
the Apply to All Corners check box and then click the OK
button.
14. Click the Display menu > Show Interaction Surface com-
mand to display the interaction surface.
15. When the interaction surface is first displayed you can see
the tabulated data for the interaction curve at 0 degrees.
A
(Above)
Figure A4-3:
Section Designer at
step 9
Appendix 4 - Interaction Surface Example Calculation
A4 - 17
A4
Click on the arrow buttons at the bottom of the interaction
surface dialog box to change the angle.
The Section Designer results for the 0 degree and 30 degree an-
gles are shown in Figure A4-5.
(Above)
Figure A4-4:
Section Designer at
step 11
Section Designer Manual
A4 - 18
A4
Figure A4-5:
Section Designer results at 0 degrees
(top) and at 30 degrees (bottom)
A5 - 1
A5
Appendix 5
Moment Curvature Curve Example
Calculation
Overview
This appendix presents some example hand calculations for de-
veloping a moment curvature curve. See Chapter 12 for more in-
formation on the moment curvature curves. The section consid-
ered in this example is discussed at the beginning of Appendix 4
and is illustrated in Figure A4-1. See the section titled "How to
Create this Example Problem" at the end of Appendix 4 for a de-
scription of how to define the example section in Section De-
signer.
The following assumptions are made for this example:
The axial load is 0 kips.
The angle considered is 0 degrees.
Note:
See the section
titled "How to
Create this Ex-
ample Prob-
lem" at the end
of Appendix 4
for a descrip-
tion of how to
define the ex-
ample section
in Section De-
signer.
Section Designer Manual
A5 - 2
A5
There are 11 points (maximum) on the moment curva-
ture curve.
Default Maximum Curvature
We begin by calculating the default maximum curvature consid-
ered by ETABS. This maximum curvature is equal to the steel
strain at fracture (0.1 in/in) divided by the largest perpendicular
distance from the center of a rebar to an axis through the section
centroid at a zero degree angle (horizontal). This distance is the
same for all rebar in the section and is equal to 16.5 inches. Thus
the default maximum curvature is 0.1 / 16.5 = 6.061E-3 in
-1
.
Specific Curvature Values Considered
The specific curvature values considered are defined by Figure
12-4 and Equation 12-7 (see Chapter 12). From Equation 12-7:
( )
]
|
.
|
+
=
a
b
2
2 n
1 1 - n
!
a
max
( ) ( )
+
=
0.5
2
2 1 1
1 1 - 1 1
3 - 6.061E
a
a = 1.865E-4 in
-1
b = 0.5a = 9.324E-5 in
-1
Now the curvature values associated with each of the eleven
points on the moment curvature diagram can be determined
based on Figure 12-4. The spaces between each curvature point
are reported in Table A5-1. The actual curvature values at each
point are reported in Table A5-2.
Appendix 5 - Moment Curvature Curve Example Calculation
A5 - 3
A5
Points
Space
in
1 to 2 a = 1.865E-04
2 to 3 a + b = 2.797E-04
3 to 4 a + 2b = 3.730E-04
4 to 5 a + 3b = 4.662E-04
5 to 6 a + 4b = 5.594E-04
6 to 7 a + 5b = 6.527E-04
7 to 8 a + 6b = 7.459E-04
8 to 9 a + 7b = 8.392E-04
9 to 10 a + 8b = 9.324E-04
10 to 11 a + 9b = 1.026E-03
Point
Curvature
1/in
1 0
2 1.865E-04
3 4.662E-04
4 8.392E-04
5 1.305E-03
6 1.865E-03
7 2.517E-03
8 3.263E-03
9 4.103E-03
10 5.035E-03
11 6.061E-03
For this example we will calculate the moment associated with
point 6, that is, associated with a curvature of 1.865E-03 in
-1
.
Actually, if you take this curvature to a few more significant
digits, it is 0.0018648 in/in. This is the curvature we will actually
use in our calculations. Note that for a given strain the concrete
stress and the steel stress are taken from the stress-strain dia-
grams shown in Figure 12-1.
The actual procedure of calculating the moment involves a trial
and error procedure. In this procedure, given the curvature, you
assume a concrete strain. Then you can calculate the associated
Table A5-2:
Curvature values
used for each point
on the moment cur-
vature curve
Table A5-1:
Space between each
curvature point
Section Designer Manual
A5 - 4
A5
axial load and moment. If the axial load equals your desired axial
load, 0 kips in this example, then the assumption for the concrete
strain is correct and the iteration is done. Otherwise you try again
with a new value for the concrete strain.
After several iterations of the above process you can arrive at a
concrete strain of 0.003259 in/in. We will start there with our
hand calculation.
Note: Some of the moment curvature calculations need to be car-
ried out to a large number of significant digits in order to prop-
erly converge. Thus some of these hand calculations are done
with an unusually large number of significant digits.
The first step is to develop the strain diagram as shown in Figure
A5-1a. The concrete strain is given and the curvature is given.
Using a rearranged version of Equation 12-4 we can solve for the
maximum tensile strain,
s
.
s
=
a
d' -
c
s
= 0.0018648 in
-1
* 34.5 in - 0.003259 in/in
s
= 0.0610766 in/in
The distance from the top of the section to the neutral axis, c, is
calculated using similar triangles as 1.74764 in.
As previously mentioned, for a given strain the concrete stress
and the steel stress are taken from the stress-strain diagrams
shown in Figure 12-1. To consider the concrete compression
force we will discretize the concrete compression area (top
Figure A5-1:
Strain and stress
diagrams
a) Strain
3
4
.
5
"
c
= 0.003259
s
= 0.0610766
c
=
1
.
7
4
7
6
4
"
T
s
= 2 * 75 = 150k
C
s
= 2 * 13.39 = 26.78k
C
c deduction
= -2 * 1.49 = -2.98k
C
c
= 126.20k
b) Stress
Appendix 5 - Moment Curvature Curve Example Calculation
A5 - 5
A5
1.74764 in) of the section into 20 equal-depth pieces as shown in
Figure A5-2.
The locations shown in Figure A5-2 are the locations of the top
and bottom of each piece. For example, Location 1 is the top of
Piece 2 and Location 2 is the bottom of Piece 2. Table A5-3 lists
the distance from the top of the section to each (equally spaced)
location. Also shown in the table is the concrete strain and the
concrete stress at each location.
As an example, consider Location 7. The distance is calculated
as:
in 0.61167 1.74764 *
20
7
Distance = =
The concrete strain is calculated from similar triangles as:
in/in 0.002118 003259 . 0 *
20
7
1 Strain =
=
Location 0
Location 1
Location 2
Location 3
Location 4
Location 5
Location 6
Location 7
Location 8
Location 9
Location 10
Location 11
Location 12
Location 13
Location 14
Location 15
Location 16
Location 17
Location 18
Location 19
Location 20
Piece 1
Piece 2
Piece 3
Piece 4
Piece 5
Piece 6
Piece 7
Piece 8
Piece 9
Piece 10
Piece 11
Piece 12
Piece 13
Piece 14
Piece 15
Piece 16
Piece 17
Piece 18
Piece 19
Piece 20
Figure A5-2:
Discretization of
concrete compres-
sion block
Section Designer Manual
A5 - 6
A5
Location
Distance from
Top of Section
in
Strain
in/in
Stress
ksi
0 0.00000 0.003259 3.502
1 0.08738 0.003096 3.581
2 0.17476 0.002933 3.659
3 0.26214 0.002770 3.737
4 0.34952 0.002607 3.815
5 0.43691 0.002444 3.893
6 0.52429 0.002281 3.972
7 0.61167 0.002118 3.991
8 0.69905 0.001955 3.942
9 0.78643 0.001792 3.850
10 0.87381 0.001629 3.715
11 0.96119 0.001467 3.537
12 1.04857 0.001304 3.316
13 1.13596 0.001141 3.052
14 1.22334 0.000978 2.745
15 1.31072 0.000815 2.395
16 1.39810 0.000652 2.002
17 1.48548 0.000489 1.566
18 1.57286 0.000326 1.087
19 1.66024 0.000163 0.565
20 1.74762 0.000000 0.000
The concrete stress is taken from Figure 12-1:
in/in 0.002222
3600
4
* 2
E
f
2 "
c
'
c
0
= = =
The strain, 0.002118 in/in is less than
0
, therefore:
'
c
2
0 0
f
"
"
"
"
2 #
|
|
.
|
|
|
.
|
=
Table A5-3:
Stress and strain at
each specified loca-
tion in the concrete
compression block
Appendix 5 - Moment Curvature Curve Example Calculation
A5 - 7
A5
4 *
0.002222
0.002118
0.002222
0.002118
2 #
2
|
.
|
|
.
|
=
= 3.991
Table A5-4 shows the area and compressive force associated
with each of the 20 pieces of the compression block identified in
Figure A5-2.
Piece Area
in
2
Average Stress
ksi
Force
kips
1 2.0971 3.541 -7.43
2 2.0971 3.620 -7.59
3 2.0971 3.698 -7.76
4 2.0971 3.776 -7.92
5 2.0971 3.854 -8.08
6 2.0971 3.933 -8.25
7 2.0971 3.981 -8.35
8 2.0971 3.967 -8.32
9 2.0971 3.896 -8.17
10 2.0971 3.783 -7.93
11 2.0971 3.626 -7.61
12 2.0971 3.427 -7.19
13 2.0971 3.184 -6.68
14 2.0971 2.899 -6.08
15 2.0971 2.570 -5.39
16 2.0971 2.199 -4.61
17 2.0971 1.784 -3.74
18 2.0971 1.327 -2.78
19 2.0971 0.826 -1.73
20 2.0971 0.283 -0.59
Sum -126.20
Considering Piece 7 in Table A5-4, the area is calculated as:
2
in 2.0971 24 * 1.74764 *
20
1
Area =
=
where the term in parenthesis is the depth of the piece and 24 is
the width of the section (piece).
Table A5-4:
Force in each piece
of the concrete com-
pression block
Section Designer Manual
A5 - 8
A5
The average stress is determined by averaging the stress at the
top and the bottom of the piece.
Average Stress = 0.5 * (3.972 + 3.991) = 3.981 ksi
The force is obtained by multiplying the area times the average
stress:
Force = 2.0971 * 3.981 = 8.35 kips
The negative sign in Table A5-4 indicates that the force is a
compression force.
Table A5-5 shows how the contribution of the concrete compres-
sion to the section moment (about the section centroid) is calcu-
lated.
Piece Piece Centroid
in
Distance to Sec-
tion Centroid
ksi
Moment
kip-in
1 0.04385 17.95615 133.4
2 0.13123 17.86877 135.6
3 0.21861 17.78139 137.9
4 0.30599 17.69401 140.1
5 0.39336 17.60664 142.3
6 0.48074 17.51926 144.5
7 0.56801 17.43199 145.6
8 0.65527 17.34473 144.3
9 0.74257 17.25743 141.0
10 0.82986 17.17014 136.2
11 0.91715 17.08285 129.9
12 1.00441 16.99559 122.1
13 1.09166 16.90834 112.9
14 1.17888 16.82112 102.3
15 1.26604 16.73396 90.2
16 1.35311 16.64689 76.8
17 1.44001 16.55999 62.0
18 1.52654 16.47346 45.8
19 1.61195 16.38805 28.4
20 1.68937 16.31063 9.7
Sum 2181.0
Table A5-5:
Section moment from
the concrete com-
pression block
Appendix 5 - Moment Curvature Curve Example Calculation
A5 - 9
A5
Considering Piece 7 in Table A5-5, the distance to the piece
centroid measured from the top of the section is illustrated in
Figure A5-3 and is calculated as:
) 972 . 3 991 . 3 ( * 3
) 972 . 3 991 . 3 * 2 ( * 08738 . 0
52429 . 0
+
+
+
= 0.56801 in
The distance from the piece centroid to the section centroid is
equal to 18 - 0.56801 = 17.43199 in.
The moment is equal to the force (from Table A5-4) times the
distance to the section centroid.
Moment = 8.35 * 17.43199 = 145.6 k-in
That completes the consideration of the concrete compression
block. Now we consider the contribution of the reinforcing steel.
The section is shown for reference in the sketch to the left. The
corners of the section are labeled a, b, c and d. These labels are
used to refer to each of the four bars in the section.
First we calculate the strain and the corresponding stress for each
rebar. The strain is calculated using similar triangles and the
stress is determined from Figure 12-1. Table A5-6 shows the
strain and stress for each bar.
Figure A5-3:
Distance from top of
section to centroid of
Piece 7
24"
1.5
Typ.
3
6
"
1
.
5
T
y
p
.
2#9
2#9
a d
b c
1
8
"
3 3
2
2
Centroid
2
3
Top of section
3.972 ksi
3.991 ksi
Piece 7
0
.
5
2
4
2
9
i
n
0
.
0
8
7
3
8
i
n
0
.
6
1
1
6
7
i
n
0
.
5
6
8
0
1
i
n
Note:
See the section
titled "Sign
Convention for
Axial Load and
Moments" in
Appendix 4 for
discussion of
the sign for the
moments.
Section Designer Manual
A5 - 10
A5
Rebar
Distance from
Top of Section
in
Strain
in/in
Stress
ksi
a 34.5 0.061077 75.00
b 1.5 -0.000462 -13.39
c 1.5 -0.000462 -13.39
d 34.5 0.061077 75.00
Consider Bar b in Table A5-6. the strain is calculated as:
=
74764 . 1
5 . 1 74764 . 1
* 003259 . 0 Strain
in/in 000462 . 0 Strain =
The negative sign is used to indicate that the bar is in compres-
sion.
The bar stress is taken from Figure 12-1. Noting that the yield
strain,
y
, is (60 ksi / 29000 ksi) = 0.00207 in/in, and the bar
yield stress, f
y
, is 60 ksi, the stress for Bar b is calculated as:
ksi 13.39 60 *
0.00207
0.000462
f
"
"
Stress
y
y
=
= =
The bar force is calculated as the area times the stress. This is
shown in Table A5-7.
Rebar Area
in
Stress
ksi
Force
kips
a 1.00 75.00 75.00
b 1.00 -13.39 -13.39
c 1.00 -13.39 -13.39
d 1.00 75.00 75.00
Sum 123.22
Table A5-6:
Strain and stress for
each rebar
Table A5-7:
Force in each rebar
Appendix 5 - Moment Curvature Curve Example Calculation
A5 - 11
A5
The section moment due to the bar force is calculated by multi-
plying the bar force times the distance to the section centroid as
shown in Table A5-8.
Rebar
Distance to Sec-
tion Centroid
in
Force
kips
Moment
k-in
a 16.5 75.00 1237.5
b -16.5 -13.39 220.9
c -16.5 -13.39 220.9
d 16.5 75.00 1237.5
Sum 2916.8
See the section titled "Sign Convention for Axial Load and Mo-
ments" in Appendix 4 for discussion of the sign for the moments.
Finally, we can deduct the force and moment for the concrete in
compression that is displaced by the reinforcing steel in the
compression area. The bars in the compression area are bars b
and c.
Table A5-9 shows the concrete strain at Bars b and c. The stress
shown in Table A5-9 is based on Figure 12-1.
Rebar
Distance from
Top of Section
in
Strain
in/in
Stress
ksi
b 1.5 0.000462 1.49
c 1.5 0.000462 1.49
Since the strain in Table A5-9, 0.000462 in/in, is less than
0
(0.002222 in/in), the stress is calculated as:
4 *
0.002222
0.000462
0.002222
0.000462
2 #
2
|
.
|
|
.
|
=
= 1.49 ksi
Table A5-8:
Moment caused by
each rebar
Table A5-9:
Strain and stress for
each location where
concrete force must
be deducted
Section Designer Manual
A5 - 12
A5
The deducted force is calculated as the area times the stress. This
is shown in Table A5-10.
Rebar Area
in
Stress
ksi
Force
kips
b 1.00 1.49 1.49
c 1.00 1.49 1.49
Sum 2.98
The deducted moment is shown in Table A5-11.
Rebar
Distance to Sec-
tion Centroid
in
Force
kips
Moment
k-in
b -16.5 1.49 -24.6
c -16.5 1.49 -24.6
Sum -49.2
Table A5-12 sums up the various components of force and mo-
ment for the condition when the curvature is 0.0018648 in/in.
and the concrete strain is 0.003259 in/in.
Item
Force
kips
Moment
k-in
Concrete compression -126.20 2181.0
Bars a through d 123.22 2916.8
Concrete correction 2.98 -49.2
Sum 0.00 5048.6
Since the force is essentially equal to zero, our original target
force, no further iteration is required. The final moment is
5048.6 k-in.
The section titled "How to Create this Example Problem" in Ap-
pendix 4 provides directions for creating this section in Section
Designer. Once you have created the section you can click the
Display menu > Show Moment Curvature Curve to display
the moment curvature curve.
Table A5-10:
Deducted force
Table A5-11:
Deducted moment
Table A5-12:
Sum of forces and
moments
Appendix 5 - Moment Curvature Curve Example Calculation
A5 - 13
A5
Figure A5-4 shows the moment curvature curve for this example
problem.
Figure A5-4:
Moment curvature
curve for example
problem
Index-1
I
Index
A
additional reinforcing shape, 3-8
aligning shapes, 5-2
axes, 3-1, 5-7, 6-4, 9-2
B
base material, 2-2, 2-4
C
Cancel button, 5-2
changing bar shape to single bars, 5-6
change coordinates (of polygon corner points), 5-5
changing a shape to a polygon, 5-4
circular pattern reinforcing, 3-9, 7-32
closing Section Designer, 4-3, 13-14, 14-14
colors, 10-4
constraints, drawing, 7-2, 7-37
coordinate system, 3-1
corner bars, 3-6, 7-31
corner radius, 5-6
curvature, 9-9, 12-1
D
deleting shapes, 5-2
Display menu commands
Show Section Properties, 9-1
Show Interaction Surface, 9-4
Show Moment Curvature Curve, 9-9
Draw menu commands
Select Mode, 7-1
Reshape Mode, 7-1
Draw Structural Shape
I/Wide Flange, 7-3
Channel, 7-5
Tee, 7-7
Angle, 7-9
Double Angle, 7-11
Box/Tube, 7-13
Pipe, 7-14
Plate, 7-16
Draw Solid Shape
Rectangle, 7-19
Circle, 7-21
Segment, 7-23
Sector, 7-24
Draw Poly Shape, 7-26
Section Designer Manual
Index-2
I
Draw Reinforcing Shape
Single Bar, 7-28
Line Pattern, 7-29
Rectangular Pattern, 7-30
Circular Pattern, 7-32
Draw Reference Lines
Draw Reference Line, 7-34
Draw Reference Circle, 7-34
Snap to
Guideline Intersections and Points, 7-35
Line Ends and Midpoints, 7-35
Line Intersections, 7-35
Perpendicular Projections, 7-35
Lines and Edges, 7-35
Fine Grids, 7-35
Constrain Drawn Line to
None, 7-37
Constant X, 7-37
Constant Y, 7-37
Constant Angle, 7-37
E
edge bars, 3-7, 7-31
Edit menu commands
Undo, 5-1
Redo, 5-1
Delete, 5-2
Align
Left, 5-3
Center, 5-3
Right, 5-3
Top, 5-3
Middle, 5-4
Bottom, 5-4
Change Shape to Poly, 5-4
Change Bar Shape to Single Bars, 5-6
example problem
frame section, 13-1
wall pier section, 14-1
exiting Section Designer, 4-3, 13-14, 14-14
F
File menu commands
Print Setup, 4-3
Print Graphics, 4-1
Return to ETABS, 4-3, 13-14, 14-14
G
geometric shape, 3-3
getting started, 1-1, 1-3, 2-1, 2-3, 13-4, 14-5
guidelines, 6-3, 10-1, 10-4
I
interaction surface, 9-4, 11-1
intersecting line selection, 8-2
K
keyboard command listing See Appendix 3
L
local axis angle, 3-2, 5-7, 9-2
line pattern reinforcing, 3-7, 3-9, 7-29
M
material properties, 2-2, 2-4, 7-4, 13-3, 14-4
menu command listing See Appendix 1
moment curvature curve, 9-9, 12-1
N
nudging shapes, 5-7, 10-2
O
OK button, 5-2
opening Section Designer, 2-1, 2-3, 13-4, 14-5
Options menu commands
Preferences, 10-1
Colors, 10-4
overview of Section Designer, 1-1
P
pan command, 6-3
Index
Index-3
I
polygon shapes, 3-4, 7-26
preferences, 10-1
print graphics, 4-1
printer colors, 10-4
Q
quitting Section Designer, 4-3, 13-14, 14-14
R
radius, 5-6
recommended initial reading, 1-3
rectangular pattern reinforcing, 7-30
redo, 5-1
reference lines, 7-33
reinforcing associated with geometric shapes, 3-5
reinforcing bar sizes, 3-2
reinforcing shape See shape and Draw menu
commands > Draw Reinforcing Shape
reshape mode, 7-1
restore previous zoom, 6-2
rubberband zoom, 6-1
S
screen capture, 4-2
screen colors, 10-4
section, 3-2
section properties, 9-1
Select menu commands
Select
Pointer/in Window, 8-3
Intersecting Line, 8-3
All, 8-4
Deselect
Pointer/in Window, 8-4
Intersecting Line, 8-4
All, 8-4
Get Previous Selection, 8-4
Clear Selection, 8-4
select mode, 7-1
shape, 3-2
single bar reinforcing, 5-6, 7-28
snap options, 7-35
solid shape See shape and Draw menu com-
mands > Draw Solid Shape
starting Section Designer
for frame sections, 2-1, 13-4, 14-5
for wall pier sections, 2-3
strain compatibility, 11-4
stress-strain diagrams, 12-2
structural shape See shape and Draw menu
commands > Draw Structural Shape
T
toolbar button listing See Appendix 2
tolerance
screen selection tolerance, 10-2
screen snap tolerance, 10-2
U
undo, 5-1
V
View menu commands
Rubberband Zoom, 6-1
Restore Full View, 6-2
Previous Zoom, 6-2
Zoom In One Step, 6-2
Zoom Out One Step, 6-2
Pan, 6-3
Show Guidelines, 6-3
Show Axes, 6-4
W
window selection, 8-1
Z
zoom commands, 6-1