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ETABs modelling beam wall slab

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chluk2425

Civil/Environmental
Nov 19, 2010
5
Hi everyone, I have a few question that had been bother me for quite a while that would like to ask for clarification from experts.

I understand the difference between membrane, shell and plate

1. I am modelling slab using membrane element, which this is what normally do. However I remember I had read somewhere that membrane slab has to be connected at 3or4 points only and it has to be a beam slab system. Why there is such a limitation? and, will membrane slab work with beam, wall slab system? What sort of thing should I pay attention when drawing the slab if beam wall slab system using membrane element is employed?

2. A shell element has both out and in plane stiffness, and shell element will not be mesh automatically; a membrane element has only in plane stiffness, and will be mesh automatically. If, I model the slab, using shell element, BUT, modify the stiffness M11 and M22 to very small (1e-3), and goose automesh at beam joint line, will there be any difference between the outcome if I use membrane to model it? I know it sounds stupid when you can model such property easily by using membrane, but I ha read somewhere that there are many constrains when drawing slab using membrane producing inaccurate result, and the better way to avoid suh problem is to use the more compicate method I mentioned above.

Please clarify my worries.

Thank You
 
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From my experience it is always better to model area elements in ETABS with shell elements by adjusting the stiffness modifiers accordingly. In other cases, numerical errors may occur and can cause the analysis to stop.

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