21 July 2003

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ETABS Version 8 - Technical Notes

By John Li

Modelling Lintel/Spandrel Using Shell Element

The modelling of coupled shear wall is extremely important in high-rise analysis. To correctly model the behavior of coupled shear wall, the analysis must consider the followings:

Model #1
The picture to the right shows simple coupled shear wall modeled using beam and wall elements. Most users prefer to use this type of model because of its simplicity. However, the accuracy of this model relies on the accuracy of the fixity of the lintels provided by the corners of the wall elements are crucial to the accuracy of the model. ETABS and SAP2000, with special consideration of wall behavior, is very accurate with such model I have a written an article on this topic and would be glad to forward a copy to you. However, most other finite element programs use the classical plate element to model shear wall. Such element is good only in capturing plate bending behaviours but poor in simulating the corner (drilling DOF) rotational stiffness.

Model #2
Due to special circumstances, use may want to model lintels using shell/membrane element. Notice that the fixities of the lintels are provided by the sides of the connecting wall elements and not the corners of the wall elements. Most finite element programs are OK for such model. However, this model has two problems which are not unique to ETABS: 1. The lintels experience double curvature deformation and therefore require more refined mesh. 2. The aspect ratios of some of the finite elements are very poor.

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Model #3
To correct such problems, a most refined mesh is necessary. This model is stiffer than model #1 because of the rigid diaphragm assumption. The rigid diaphragm assumption, which is generally true for the floor slabs, is a common assumption for high-rise analysis. However, under the present circumstances, the assumption produces extra stiffnesses to the lintel beams by preventing the compression at upper sides. Although the floor slabs are very stiff, the rigid assumption may not be conservative in this case.

Model #4
In most cases, canceling the rigid diaphragm assumption may be not be the appropriate approach for many reasons. To overcome this problem, we can artificially move the lintels up such that the centroidal lines of the lintels are on the same levels of the rigid diaphragm. Because the beam centroidal line does not change in length in bending, the rigid diaphragm would not affect the bending behaviours of the lintels.

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Comparison of Results
100 kN of lateral loads are applied to all floors to test the models. The following table summarizes the result: Model #1 #2 #3 #4 Top Deflection at 15/F, mm 44.3 42.2 43.6 45.4
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The true solution lies between models #3 and #4 because the floors do provide some stiffness are not totally rigid. Model #1 gives very good result. Model #2 is stiffer because the mesh is not adequately meshed to capture the bending behaviours.

Conclusion
In order to model lintels using finite elements, the procedure is as follows: 1. Replace beam frame element using shell or membrane finite elements. 2. Adequately mesh the beam finite elements to capture bending deformation. 3. Adequately mesh the wall finite elements to have good aspect ratios and proper connectivities. 4. Users should decide whether the rigid diaphragm assumption is valid for their models. To be conservative, move the centroidal lines of the lintels to the elevation of the rigid diaphragms. The meshes of the lintels and the walls should be adjusted accordingly. In order to get the result of the lintels at the left and right sides of the finite elements, the user needs to assign spandrel labels to the finite element. This assignment procedure is detailed in the user guide. I strongly recommend, when using ETABS and SAP2000, to use the simple approach in Model #1 because it is easy and accurate.

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