foundation in etabs 7.1 1

[pelao]

Hi there.


I am designing a simple structure, but very irregular, so i want to know how to obtain from etabs, in a simple way, the force or reaction that allow me design the foundations. My design only has shear walls, so i have considered continuous foot.

If somebody know a simple way to do this, please answer me.


Thank.....

 

[stressed]

If you modeled your base using restraints for your walls(which is the default), use those reactions to design your foundation

 

[pelao]

Ok.

But if I have a continuos foot below walls, columns, doors opening and windows openin, reactions can't represent interaction between foots below vertical elements and foots belows opening. So, design would not capture the overall effect between this elements.

My point is how i could model and design continuos foot in a simple way.

I am trying by defining beams, across base level, with the foot section and assign it lines springs with a equivalent stiffness to subgrade reaction of foundation soil.

It seems that it works. If you have a similar experience, please answer me.

 

[amadeus]

Try this:

Define the pier model completely (including wall segments below windows). Assign proper meshing to the walls (usually, to mesh them into 1 x 1 segments will be enough). Then, after defining the adequate slab properties for the continuous footing under the walls(remember to include the thick slab property), draw the wall foundations. Run the analysis. Once the analysis is complete try exporting the base to SAFE including all loads from above.
Once in SAFE assign the proper soil support property, set the X and Y design bands (normally 1 meter wide). Run the analysis. Check the soil pressures and run the design.
That should do the trick and capture all the forces acting over the foundations.
Foundation design for walls can not get any easier than that.

Amadeus