ReadMe PDF
ReadMe PDF
ReadMe PDF
0
Release Date: 2009-07-02
ETABS Version 9.6.0 is an update to Version 9.5.0. It is available as a full installation on CD, or
from the ftp as a full installation or a patch.
Contents
ETABS Version 9.6.0 is available as a full installation, or as a patch to V9.5.0. Installing ETABS
V9.6.0 will uninstall older versions of ETABS (Versions 9.0.0 to 9.5.0). Versions prior to V9.0.0
will not be affected.
The instructions include information about the software protection system used and installation
options and instructions. You can choose between a Standalone or Network installation.
2. Installation Instructions for CSIxRevit Version 9.6.0
The information in this section does not apply if you do not use Revit Structure 2009 or Revit
Structure 2010.
CSIxRevit is available only as a standalone installation and only from the ftp. CSIxRevit integrates
into Revit Structure 2009/2010 to enable exchange of information with ETABS. You must first
install Revit Structure 2009 and/or Revit Structure 2010 before installing CSIxRevit.
CSIxRevit can be installed on the same machine as ETABS, but this is not required. Data transfer
files (*.EXR) exported by CSIxRevit on one machine can be moved to another machine for
importing into ETABS, and vice-versa.
Licensing
CSIxRevit uses the ETABS Version 9.5 license. This can be a standalone license installed in the
CSIxRevit installation folder, or a network license shared with ETABS.
Compatibility
CSIxRevit is compatible with ETABS Version 9.6.0, and with the API’s of “Revit Structure 2009
Build 20080915_2100” and “Revit Structure 2010 Build 2010 20090317_2115”. You must check
the results carefully if you use other builds of Revit Structure. The recommended versions of
ETABS and Revit Structure can be seen in CSIxRevit by using the menu command About.
Installation
CSIxRevit can be installed in any directory. During installation, you will be asked to specify the
path where REVIT.EXE is installed in order that the REVIT.INI file can be modified.
For Revit Structure 2009, the following lines will be added in the ExternalCommands block in
REVIT.INI:
[ExternalCommands]
ECCount=N0
ECClassNameN1=CSIxRevit2009.Class1
ECNameN1=Export to Create New ETABS Model...
ECDescriptionN1=Export to ETABS...
ECAssemblyN1=C:\Program Files\Computers And Structures\CSIxRevit2009\CSIxRevit2009.dll
ECClassNameN2=CSIxRevit2009.Class5
ECNameN2=Export to Update Existing ETABS Model...
ECDescriptionN2=Export to ETABS existing model...
ECAssemblyN2=C:\Program Files\Computers And Structures\CSIxRevit2009\CSIxRevit2009.dll
ECClassNameN3=CSIxRevit2009.clsCSINewModel
ECNameN3=Import to Create New Revit Structure Model from ETABS...
ECDescriptionN3=Import from ETABS as new Revit Structure Model...
ECAssemblyN3=C:\Program Files\Computers And Structures\CSIxRevit2009\CSIxRevit2009.dll
ECClassNameN4=CSIxRevit2009.Class2
ECNameN4=Import to Update Existing Revit Structure Model from ETABS...
ECDescriptionN4=Import from ETABS existing model...
ECAssemblyN4=C:\Program Files\Computers And Structures\CSIxRevit2009\CSIxRevit2009.dll
In the above, N0, N1, N2, N3, and N4 represent numbers. If this block was not defined in the
previous REVIT.INI file then the above lines will be created with N0=4, N1=1, N2=2, N3=3 and
N4=4.
For Revit Structure 2010, the above block will be slightly different and the “CSIxRevit2009”
keyword will be replaced with “CSIxRevit2010”.
The previous REVIT.INI file will be saved as file REVITOLD.INI. Keep this file in case you want
to uninstall CSIxRevit. Please note that if you are installing a new version of CSIxRevit then you
don’t need to uninstall the old version. The new installation will update the previously modified
REVIT.INI file for the new changes.
The information in this section does not apply if you are using standalone licenses.
For new Network installations, see the System Administrator's Help for more detailed information
about the License Manager and the License Manager Administration program “WlmAdmin.exe”.
To speed up finding a network license when ETABS or CSIxRevit2009 is launched, you can do
either or both of the following:
• Create a text file, LEVEL.TXT, and enter the ProgramLevel in a single line. The
ProgramLevel should be one of the following:
ANY/PLUS/NONLINEAR/PLUSC/NONLINEARC/NONLINEARI
Save this file to the folder where ETABS or CSIxRevit is installed. This file will cause the
program to find the license faster. Note that this file will be included when a new license is
sent.
• Create a text file, LMHOST.INI, and enter the network name or IP address of the machine
that is running the License Manager. If you are serving licenses on more than one machine,
enter each name or IP address on a separate line of text. Save this file to the folder where
ETABS or CSIxRevit is installed.
If you experience problems with the license please refer to the appropriate “License Trouble
Shooting Guide...” located in the ETABS program folder.
ETABS Version 9.6.0 and CSIxRevit are both installed with a 30-day trial license.
If you are running on Vista and the trial license does not work for ETABS V9.6.0, please run
application file LSINIT.EXE located in the folder where you have installed ETABS V9.6.0. This
file runs quickly and silently with no feedback. The trial license should now work.
Similarly, if you are running on Vista and the trial license does not work for CSIxRevit, please run
application file LSINIT.EXE located in the folder where you have installed CSIxRevit. This file
runs quickly and silently with no feedback. The trial license should now work.
5. File Compatibility
ETABS Version 9.6.0 can open model files (*.EDB) from older versions of ETABS, as well as
import older ETABS text files (*.E2K and *.$ET). Note that once you save or run these models in
Version 9.6.0, they will not be usable by older versions of the program, so you may want to save
them under a new name after opening or importing them in Version 9.6.0.
CSIxRevit transfer files (*.EXR) are not compatible with older versions of ETABS or CSIxRevit.
You can update your older ETABS model to Version 9.6.0, or update your older Revit Structure
model to Revit Structure 2009/2010, and then transfer data between the two programs using the
current version of the transfer files.
6. Significant Changes from Previous Versions
We have listed only significant changes here. For a complete list of changes, please see the separate
file ReleaseNotes.PDF located in the ETABS installation folder.
- Incident 18124 (Modeling): Automated lateral loading for the Australian code has been
implemented: Seismic according to AS 1170.4:2007, and Response Spectrum according to
AS 1170.4:2007, and wind according to 2002 AS/NZS 1170.2.
- Incident 18125 (Modeling): Automated lateral loading for the New Zealand code has been
implemented: Seismic according to NZS 1170.5:2004, and Response Spectrum according to
NZS 1170.5:2004, and wind according to 2002 AS/NZS 1170.2.
- Incident 12692 (Design): A new manual has been added to document the steel frame design
procedure for Canadian code “CAN/CSA S16-01”.
- Incidents 13043, 13428, 18094 (Design): Concrete frame design has been enhanced to now
include all Beams, Columns, and Braces in the design output tables according to their
section type, independent of their orientation. For example, every Brace will be included in
either the Beam or the Column results table, depending upon whether it is assigned a Beam
or Column section type, respectively. Similarly, if a Column section type is assigned to a
member with Beam (horizontal) orientation in order to consider the effect of axial force, it
will now be reported in the Column results table. This enhancement applies to all concrete
codes.
- Incident 14050 (Design): Vibration limit-state checking for floors according to AISC/CISC
Design Guide 11 has been added to composite beam design for code “AISC 360-
05/IBC2006.”
- Incident 14474 (Design): Concrete frame design has been added for Australian code AS
3600-2001, including seismic provisions.
- Incident 16342 (Design): Composite beam design has been added for code “AISC360-
05/IBC2006”.
- Incident 15880, etc. (Design): Multiple enhancements have been made to concrete frame
design for Indian code “IS 456-2000”. See the ReleaseNotes.PDF for more information.
- Incident 15882, etc. (Design): Multiple enhancements have been made to concrete shear-
wall design for Indian code “IS 456-2000”. See the ReleaseNotes.PDF for more
information.
- Incident 18134, etc. (Design): Multiple enhancements have been made to steel frame design
for “Chinese 2002” code. See the ReleaseNotes.PDF for more information.
- Incident 18167 (Design): Steel frame design has been added for “Eurocode 3-2005”,
incorporating the National Annexes for Bulgaria, Slovenia, Norway, and the United
Kingdom. Seismic provisions of Eurocode 8 are not included at this time.
- Incident 17645 (Import/Export – Revit Structure): CSIxRevit for ETABS has been updated
to support both Revit Structure 2009 and 2010, and is available in either 32- or 64-bit
versions.
Incidents Resolved
- Incident 14729 (User Interface and Display): An Incident was resolved for the ASCE 7-02
Wind Load Definition form (dialog box) in which the labels for parameters e1 and e2 were
transposed.
- Incident 13627 (Design): An Incident was resolved for concrete frame design using code
“ACI 318-05/IBC 2003” in which column shear forces were not being properly amplified
when Sway Ordinary frame design procedure was chosen and the Seismic Design Category
was greater than or equal to B. Now the shear design of columns will be performed in this
case according to the Sway Intermediate Frame procedure. In addition, for such cases
(Ductility=OMF, SDC >= B), the shear design of beams was previously being performed as
beams in Sway Intermediate Frame. Now such beams are designed as Sway Ordinary
beams irrespective of SDC.
- Incident 16421 (Design): An Incident was resolved for steel frame design in which the
panel-zone design shear force used to determine the doubler plate thickness was sometimes
calculated incorrectly. This design shear force is the difference |Vb|-|Vc|, where Vb is the
shear force from the beam flanges connecting to the joint, and Vc is the shear force from the
column above the joint. Vb is calculated as the larger of the capacity moment or the
factored moment from the beams, divided by their mean flange distance. Normally the
capacity moment governs, and this was being calculated correctly. However, when the
factored moment governed, the design could be unconservative, since the moments from the
two beams were added algebraically, but should have been added using their absolute
values. The affected codes are “AISC-ASD 01”, “AISC-LRFD99”, “UBC97-ASD”,
“UBC97-LRFD”, “CAN/CSA-S16-01”.
- Incident 18293 (Design): An Incident was resolved for steel frame design in which the
panel-zone design shear force used to determine the doubler plate thickness was sometimes
calculated incorrectly. This design shear force is the difference |Vb|-|Vc|, where Vb is the
shear force from the beam flanges connecting to the joint, and Vc is the shear force from the
column above the joint. Previously Vc was taken as the shear force from the column below
rather than above the joint. This error could be slightly unconservative, since Vc is usually
much smaller than Vb. The affected codes are “AISC360-05/IBC2006”, “AISC-ASD 01”,
“AISC-LRFD99”, “UBC97-ASD”, “UBC97-LRFD”, “CAN/CSA-S16-01”.
- Incident 15692: ETABS is now compatible with Revit Structure 2009, Build
20080915_2100. If you wish to import Revit Structure 2008 files into ETABS, you must
first convert them to Revit Structure 2009.
- Incident 16070: Full round-trip data transfer between ETABS and Revit Structure is now
supported. A model may be created in either program, transferred to the other program,
modified in either program, and transferred back and forth in a continuous iterative loop.
- Incident 12842: Revit Structure member families are now comprehensively supported,
subject to user control, when transferring data to and from ETABS.
- Incident 15896: Two-way transfer of deck section properties between ETABS and Revit
Structure is now supported.
- Incident 15888: Comprehensive, two-way transfer of point, line, and area loads between
ETABS and Revit Structure is now supported.
- Incident 15595: Incremental changes made in ETABS or Revit Structure may be transferred
both ways without the need to transfer the entire model. This significantly increases speed
and ease of use.
- Incident 14765: ETABS now automatically breaks columns, braces, and walls defined in
Revit Structure than span multiple floors. The link to the Revit Structure entity may be
maintained or broken under user control.
- Incident 15897: Walls, floors, beams, columns and/or braces that are defined in Revit
Structure, transferred to ETABS, and meshed in ETABS may be sent back to Revit
Structure as meshed objects or as the original object, subject to user control.
- Incident 16087: CSIxRevit2009 now uses ETABS technology and requires an ETABS
license to run.
Incidents Resolved
- Incidents 12864 and 14738: Uniform load transferred from Revit Structure to ETABS was
sometimes converted to non-uniform load. This has been resolved.
- Incident 16073: An indexing error sometimes occurred that caused link results to be
reported for the wrong object. This primarily affected panel-zone results. This has been
resolved. Panel zone forces from previous versions should be reviewed.
- Incident 13920: Concrete frame design output for enveloping results has been improved to
include, in a single sheet, the controlling forces/moment, stations, and load combinations, as
well as the resulting rebar and/or demand/capacity ratios. This is available by right-clicking
on the member for design results, or as part of the printed design report of Incident 12583.
- Incident 12916: The “Automated Lateral Loads Manual” has been added which describes
the code-based seismic and wind loads available in ETABS and SAP2000. It can be
accessed using the command Help > Documentation.
- Incident 13131: The documentation available using the Help > Documentation command
can now be modified by the user. There is a new Microsoft Access database file called
EtabsDocs.mdb, located in the Manuals subfolder where ETABS is installed, which controls
this menu command. You can copy this file and rename it to EtabsDocsn.mdb, where n can
be any single digit from 0 to 9. If there are multiple files, the one with the highest digit n is
used. Editing EtabsDocsn.mdb allows you to add your own documents, such as company
standards or language translations, to the documents provided with ETABS. The menu
structure displayed using the Help > Documentation command is defined by the table
“Control” in the EtabsDocsn.MDB file. This table refers to other tables you can create
which list the documents available from the menu. It is best not to modify the original
EtabsDocs.mdb itself, since this may be overwritten in future updates of the program.
- Incident 14224: For auto seismic loads and response-spectrum cases, a new overwrite is
provided to account for accidental torsion for joints that are not connected to rigid
diaphragms. This was previously only available for joints connected to rigid diaphragms.
Incidents Resolved
- Incident 13808: For composite beam design, the moment capacity for certain non-AISC I-
shaped members was too high because the k dimensions are specified as zeroes in the shape
database. This could be slightly unconservative. This has been resolved approximately but
adequately by correcting for the total area of the section.
- Incident 13982: For steel frame design code “AISC 360-05/IBC2006,” the design overwrite
for axial capacity was input as a force but treated as a stress. This means that the capacity
was incorrect by a factor equal to the area of the section, which could be over-conservative
or under-conservative. This has been resolved.
- Incident 14258: The boundary-zone calculation for shear-wall design code “ACI 318-
05/IBC 2003” has been significantly improved by considering the seismic inter-story drift.
This is computed by using the elastic drift multiplied by the factor Cd/I, where Cd and I can
be specified by the user as design preferences.
- Incident 13890: Shear-wall forces exported to SAFE were not correct when edge constraints
were present at the vertical edges of the wall. This has been resolved.
- Other minor Incidents, including many for Chinese design, as detailed in ReleaseNotes.pdf.
Incidents Resolved
- Incident 11758: For the shear-wall design check for code “ACI 318-02,” the interpolation of
alpha_c, a factor for calculating in-plane shear strength of shear-walls, was not correct.
ACI 21.7.4.1 has alpha values ranging between 2.0 to 3.0, depending on the hw to lw ratio.
The program sometimes produced an alpha that was out of range. This has been resolved.
- Incident 12929: The values for Fa and Fv were not always computed correctly for the
NBCC 2005 seismic lateral load and the automatic response-spectrum function. This has
been resolved. Models using these loads should be checked and re-analyzed.
- Incident 13278: For steel-frame design using code “UBC97-LRFD,” the Importance factor
specified in the design preferences was not being used. This has been resolved. Design
results may need to be re-checked.
- Incident 13280: For concrete-frame design using code “ACI 318-02,” the SDC (Seismic
Design Category) specified in the design preferences was not being used. This has been
resolved. Design results may need to be re-checked.
- Incident 13311: For shear-wall design using code “ACI 318-05,” the program sometimes
reported that a boundary element was not required when in fact it should have been. This
has been resolved. Design results may need to be re-checked.
- Incident 13659: For steel-frame design using code “AISC-LRFD99,” the special seismic
load combination required when Pu/fiPn > 0.5 was not being considered. This has been
resolved. Design results may need to be re-checked.
- Incident 12841: The speed has been substantially improved for updating large models from
ETABS to Revit Structure 2008.
- Incident 12963: The units-conversions for Young’s modulus and shear modulus of floor and
wall materials, as well as for the thermal expansion coefficient for all materials, were not
always handled correctly for models imported from Revit Structure 2008. This has been
resolved.
- Incident 12451: Steel frame design check has been added for the CAN/CSA-S16-01 design
code. Seismic provisions have been included at an initial level, similar to how they are
implemented for AISC 2005
- Incident 12455: Concrete frame design check has been added for the CAN/CSA A23.3-04
design code.
- Incident 12456: Steel frame design check has been added for the AISC 360-05 and IBC
2006 design code, including the seismic provisions of AISC 314-05. The direct analysis
method has been implemented, including second-order P-delta effects and tau-b fixed or
variable. Automatic iteration for optimal member selection includes the effect of tau-b
variable.
- Incident 12599: Several enhancements have been made to the link between ETABS and
Autodesk Revit Structural 2008. Details are given in file ReleaseNotes.pdf. A new
installation for CSIxRevit2008 can be downloaded.
- Incident 12641: Automated notional loads have been added for the AISC 2005 design code.
Incidents Resolved
- Incident 12572: An incident was resolved in which reactions exported to SAFE were
omitted at internal joints created by automatic wall meshing. This could result in a reduction
of the load that is applied in SAFE.