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Civil Engineering/Energy Work Diagram

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Expert: - 3/24/2009


Question
Dear Arshad,
Can you explain the use of Energy work diagram in etabs
Thank you

Answer
Hi Umar,

These basically tell you how hard each member is working (utilisation ratio), so that you can increase or decrease their sizes accoudingly in order to optimise the design. I quote form a paper by CSI:

"You can generate displays of energy diagrams that demonstrate the distribution of energy per unit volume across the structure. These displays help in identifying the members that contribute the largest to drift resistance under the influence of lateral loads. For drift control, increasing the sizes of these members will produce the most efficient use of the added material.
Along the same lines, you can activate an automatic member size optimization process for lateral drift control based upon lateral drift targets that you specify for any series of points at various floors. The drift optimization is based upon the abovementioned energy method, whereby extra material for drift control is distributed to members in proportion to their energy per unit volume for the particular lateral load case."

You can view the full paper in the website:

http://www.comp-engineering.com/downloads/technical_papers/CSI/StaggeredTrussTec...

Civil Engineering

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Arshad Khan

Expertise

I can answer any questions to do with civil and structural 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: 36 years in Construction and consultancy in the UK, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Africa, Somalia, Zambia, Austria, Bahrain, Kuwait, Doha and the U.A.E.

Organizations
.Fellow of Institution of Structural Engineers (UK) .Fellow of Institution of Civil Engineers(UK) .Member of the Institution of Engineers, Kenya .Registered Engineer, ERB, Kenya .Member of the Architectural Association of Kenya (Engineers Chapter) .Chartered Engineer (UK)

Publications
•1984: International Conference on the Art and Practice of Structural Design, London •1994: 3rd Int. Kerensky Conference in Structural Engineering, Singapore •2008: International Conference on High-Rise Towers, Abu Dhabi

Education/Credentials
BSc, 1st Class Hons, in Building Engineering, University of Bath, UK MSc in Concrete Structures and Technology, University of London. Diploma of Imperial College, UK.

Awards and Honors
•Science Congress Special Award (for 2-seater Hovercraft - 1968) •Institution of Civil Engineers Award for outstanding performance at Bath University (1975) •Concrete Society Postgraduate study Bursary Award (1976) •Consular Representative for British High Commission, Nairobi. (1995 to 1998) •Examiner for Institution of Civil Engineers Professional Interviews, Nairobi. (1997 to 1998) •Branch Representative in Vienna for PI assessment for Inst. of Struct. Engrs. (1999 to date)

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