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Civil Engineering/ETABS Energy Work Diagrams

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Expert: - 6/16/2009


Question
Dear Sir,
Could you give me an idea regarding relative work/volume diagram from etaabs model?what is this meant for? and how we can get know the safety of structure from this...thanx so much..

Answer
Hi Ravi,

This is not normally to do with stability but with deflection control and is a way of look at the utilisaton ratio- i.e. how hard a particular element is working. See the Help menu in ETABS which gives a lot of details, including the summary below:

QUOTE
As previously stated, the energy diagrams are helpful as an aid to determine which elements should be stiffened to control lateral displacements in your structure. When you request that ETABS show an energy diagram, the Energy/Virtual Work Diagram form appears. Select a load case associated with forces and one associated with displacements from the drop-down boxes.

The load case associated with forces is the load case for which you want to control displacements. In the preceding background explanation,  the required load case is the load case shown in Figure "a."  The load case associated with displacements is the one associated with Figure "b" in the preceding background information explanation.  Typically, this load case consists of one or more unit loads.
UNQUOTE  

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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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