	AllExperts > Civil Engineering
	Search

About Arshad Khan
Expertise
I can answer any questions to do with engineering consultancy and construction industry in East Africa and the Middle East, and specifically with the analysis and design of reinforced concrete structures. My particular expertise is in the aseismic design and optimisation of tall buildings.

Experience
Employment history: 33 years in Construction and consultancy in UK, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Africa, Somalia, Austria, Bahrain and the U.A.E.

Organizations: Fellow of Institution of Structural Engineers (UK), Fellow of Institution of Civil Engineers(UK),Registered Engineer Kenya, Chartered Engineer (UK)

Publications: Proceedings of 2 International Conferences; Education: BSc, MSc, D.I.C.

You are here: Experts > Science > Civil Engineering > Civil Engineering > Etabs (Perimeter beam for flat plate)

Civil Engineering - Etabs (Perimeter beam for flat plate)

Expert: Arshad Khan - 11/7/2009

Question
I am now modeling a 5 Storey car building (flat plate system with perimeter beam). I notice that the perimeter beam (Bending moment and Shear) are very small if compare to my manual calculation.

It seems like the slab (Shell element) is taking/transferring the loading based on its out of plane stiffness.

I just wonder, what is the common practice to design the beam by using Etabs. In this case, can I use the Etabs design directly?

I assign the slab as Shell and use Auto mesh to 1m.

Wish you can assist me. thank you.

Answer
Hi Jimmy,

Yes, what you assume is correct- if the slab is quite stiff in relation to the beam, then it will not transfer a lot of load on to the beam. However, if you change the out-of-plane stiffness modifiers for the slabs (to simulate cracked sections & long term creep effects), then this will shed more loading on to the edge beam and converge to your manual calculations.

View Follow-Ups Add to this Answer Ask a Question