Automated

Lateral Loads Manual

For SAP2000

ISO SAP082313M6 Rev. 0

Proudly developed in the United States of America

August 2013

Copyright
Copyright Computers & Structures, Inc., 178-2013
All rights reserved.
The CSI Logo and SAP2000 are registered trademarks of Computers & Structures, Inc.
Watch & LearnTM is a trademark of Computers & Structures, Inc.
The computer program SAP2000 and all associated documentation are proprietary and
copyrighted products. Worldwide rights of ownership rest with Computers & Structures,
Inc. Unlicensed use of these programs or reproduction of documentation in any form,
without prior written authorization from Computers & Structures, Inc., is explicitly
prohibited.
No part of this publication may be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any
means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior explicit written
permission of the publisher.
Further information and copies of this documentation may be obtained from
Computers & Structures, Inc.
www.csiamerica.com
info@csiamerica.com (for general information)
support@csiamerica.com (for technical support)

Disclaimer
CONSIDERABLE TIME, EFFORT AND E XPENSE HAVE GONE INTO THE
DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING OF THIS SOFTWARE. HOWEVER, THE USER
ACCEPTS AND UNDERSTANDS THAT NO WARRANTY IS EXPRESSED OR
IMPLIED BY THE DEVELOPERS OR THE DISTRIBUTORS ON THE ACCURACY
OR THE RELIABILITY OF THIS PRODUCT.
THIS PRODUCT IS A P RACTICAL AND POWERFUL TOOL FOR STRUCTURAL
DESIGN. HOWEVER, THE USER MUST EXPLICITLY UNDERSTAND THE BASIC
ASSUMPTIONS OF THE SOFTWARE MODELING, ANALYSIS, AND DESIGN
ALGORITHMS AND C OMPENSATE FOR THE ASPECTS THAT ARE NOT
ADDRESSED.
THE INFORMATION PRODUCED BY THE SOFTWARE MUST BE CHECKED BY
A QUALIFIED AND EXPERIENCED ENGINEER. THE ENGINEER MUST
INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY THE RESULTS AND TAKE PROFESSIONAL
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE INFORMATION THAT IS USED.

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Introduction

1-1

1.1

About the Manual

1-1

1.2

Technical Support

1-2

1.3

Help Us to Help You

1-2

1.4

Telephone Support

1-3

1.5

Online Support

1-3

Automatic Seismic Loads

2-1

2.1

Defining Automatic Seismic Load Patterns

2-2

2.2

Automatic Seismic Load Patterns

2-3

2.2.1
2.2.2
2.2.3

Distribution of Automatic Seismic Loads

at a Story Level
Load Direction and Diaphragm Eccentricity
Story/Elevation Range Data

2-4
2-4
2-5

Lateral Loads

2.3

2.4

1994 UBC Seismic Loads

2-6

2.3.1
2.3.2
2.3.3

2-6
2-7
2-7

1997 UBC Seismic Loads

2.4.1
2.4.2
2.4.3

2.5

2.6

2.7

2.8

2.9

Options for 1994 UBC Building Period

Other Input Factors and Coefficients
Algorithm for 1994 UBC Seismic Loads

Options for 1997 UBC Building Period

Other Input Factors and Coefficients
Algorithm for 1997 UBC Seismic Loads

2-9
2-11
2-12

1997 UBC Isolated Building Seismic Loads

2-15

2.5.1
2.5.2

2-15

Other Input Factors and Coefficients

Algorithm for 1997 UBC Isolated Building
Seismic Loads

2-16

1996 BOCA Seismic Loads

2-18

2.6.1
2.6.2
2.6.3

2-18
2-19
2-19

Options for 1996 BOCA Building Period

Other Input Factors and Coefficients
Algorithm for 1996 BOCA Seismic Loads

1995 NBCC Seismic Loads

2-21

2.7.1
2.7.2
2.7.3

2-21
2-23
2-23

Options for 1995 NBCC Building Period

Other Input Factors and Coefficients
Algorithm for 1995 NBCC Seismic Loads

2005 NBCC Seismic Loads

2-26

2.8.1
2.8.2
2.8.3

2-26
2-27
2-28

Options for 2005 NBCC Building Period

Other Input Factors and Coefficients
Algorithm for 2005 NBCC Seismic Loads

2010 NBCC Seismic Loads

2-30

2.9.1
2.9.2
2.9.3

2-30
2-32
2-33

Options for 2010 NBCC Building Period

Other Input Factors and Coefficients
Algorithm for 2010 NBCC Seismic Loads

2.10 2003 IBC/ASCE 7-02 Seismic Loads

ii

2-9

2-35

Contents

2.10.1 Options for 2003 IBC/ASCE 7-02 Building

Period
2.10.2 Other Input Factors and Coefficients
2.10.3 Algorithm for 2003 IBC/ASCE 7-02 Seismic
Loads
2.11 2006 IBC/ASCE 7-05 Seismic Loads

2-35
2-36
2-38
2-41

2.11.1 Options for 2006 IBC/ASCE 7-05 Building Period2-41

2.11.2 Other Input Factors and Coefficients
2-42
2.11.3 Algorithm for ASCE 7-05 Seismic Loads
2-43
2.12 2009 IBC/ASCE 7-05 Seismic Loads

2-46

2.12.1 Options for 2009 IBC/ASCE 7-05 Building Period2-46

2.12.2 Other Input Factors and Coefficients
2-47
2.12.3 Algorithm for 2009 IBC/ASCE 7-05 Seismic
Loads
2-48
2.13 2012 IBC/ASCE 7-10 Seismic Loads

2-51

2.13.1 Options for 2012 IBC/ASCE 7-05 Building Period2-51

2.13.2 Other Input Factors and Coefficients
2-52
2.13.3 Algorithm for 2012 IBC/ASCE 7-10 Seismic
Loads
2-54
2.14 1997 NEHRP Seismic Loads
2.14.1 Options for 1997 NEHRP Building Period
2.14.2 Other Input Factors and Coefficients
2.14.3 Algorithm for 1997 NEHRP Seismic Loads
2.15 2010 Chinese Seismic Loads
2.15.1 Options for 2012 Chinese Building Period
2.15.2 Other Input Factors and Coefficients
2.15.3 Algorithm for 2010 Chinese Seismic Loads
2.16 2004 NZS 1170.5 Seismic Loads

2-57
2-57
2-58
2-59
2-62
2-62
2-62
2-63
2-65

2.16.1 Options for 2004 NZS 1170.5 Building Period 2-65

2.16.2 Other Input Factors and Coefficients
2-66

iii

Lateral Loads

2.16.3 Algorithm for 2004 NZS 1170.5 Seismic

Loads
2.17 2007 AS 1170.4 Seismic Loads

2-66
2-69

2.17.1 Options for 2007 AS 1170.4 Building Period 2-69

2.17.2 Other Input Factors and Coefficients
2-70
2.17.3 Algorithm for 2007 AS 1170.4 Seismic Loads 2-71
2.18 2004 Eurocode 8 (EN 1998-1) Seismic Loads

2-72

2.18.1 Options for EN 1998-1:2004 Building Period 2-72

2.18.2 Other Input Factors and Coefficients
2-73
2.18.3 Algorithm for EN 1998-1:2004 Seismic Loads 2-74
2.19 2002 Indian IS:1893

2-75

2.19.1 Options for 2002 Indian IS:1893 Building Period2-75

2.19.2 Other Input Factors and Coefficients
2-75
2.19.3 Algorithm for IS:1893Seismic Loads
2-76
2.20 2008 Italian NTC Seismic Loads

2-77

2.20.1 Options for 2008 Italian NTC Building Period 2-78

2.20.2 Other Input Factors and Coefficients
2-78
2.20.3 Algorithm for 2008 Italian NTC Seismic Loads 2-79
2.21 2007 Turkish Seismic Code (TSC) Loads
2.21.1 Options for 2007 TSC Building Period
2.21.2 Other Input Factors and Coefficients
2.21.3 Algorithm for 2007 TSC Seismic Loads
2.22 User Defined Seismic Loads
2.22.1 Input Factors and Coefficients
2.22.2 Algorithm for User Defined Seismic Loads
2.23 Response Spectrum Functions
2.23.1 From File
2.23.2 User
2.23.3 Code Specific

iv

2-83
2-83
2-84
2-84
2-87
2-87
2-87
2-88
2-89
2-89
2-90

Contents

2.23.4 1994 UBC Parameters for a Response

Spectrum Function
2.23.5 1997 UBC Parameters for a Response
Spectrum Function
2.23.6 1996 BOCA Parameters for a Response
SpectrumbFunction
2.23.7 1995 NBCC Parameters for a Response
Spectrum Function
2.23.8 2005 NBCC Parameters for a Response
Spectrum Function
2.23.9 2010 NBCC Parameters for a Response
Spectrum Function
2.23.10 2003 IBC/ASCE 7-02 Parameters for a
Response Spectrum Function
2.23.11 2006 IBC/ASCE 7-05 Parameters for a
Response Spectrum Function
2.23.12 2009 IBC/ASCE 7-05 Parameters for a
Response Spectrum Function
2.23.13 2012 IBC/ASCE 7-10 Parameters for a
Response Spectrum Function
2.23.14 1997 NEHRP Parameters for a Response
Spectrum Function
2.23.15 1998 Eurocode 8 Parameters for a
Response Spectrum Function
2.23.16 2004 Eurocode 8 Parameters for a
Response Spectrum Function
2.23.17 1992 NZS 4203 Parameters for a Response
Spectrum Function
2.23.18 2004 NZS 1170.5 Parameters for a
Response Spectrum Function
2.23.19 2007 AS 1170.4 Parameters for a Response
Spectrum Function
2.23.20 2007 AASHTO Parameters for a Response
Spectrum Function
2.23.21 2012 AASHTO Parameters for a Response
Spectrum Function
2.23.22 2002 Indian IS:1893 Response Spectrum
Function

2-90
2-90
2-90
2-91
2-92
2-92
2-93
2-93
2-94
2-94
2-95
2-95
2-96
2-96
2-97
2-98
2-98
2-99
2-100

Lateral Loads

2.23.23 2008 Italian NTC Parameters for Response

Spectrum Function
2-100
2.23.24 2007 TSC Parameters for a Response
Spectrum Function
2-104

Chapter 3

Automatic Wind Loads

3.1

Defining Automatic Wind Load Patterns

3-2

3.2

Automatic Wind Load Patterns

3-2

3.2.1
3.2.2
3.2.3

3-3
3-4
3-5

3.3

3.4

3.5

3.6

3.7

3.8

vi

Exposure
Wind Exposure Parameters
Wind Exposure Height

1994 UBC Wind Loads

3-7

3.3.1
3.3.2

3-7
3-7

Input Wind Coefficients

Algorithm for 1994 UBC Wind Loads

1997 UBC Wind Loads

3-9

3.4.1
3.4.2

3-9
3-9

Input Wind Coefficients

Algorithm for 1997 UBC Wind Loads

1996 BOCA Wind Loads

3-12

3.5.1
3.5.2

3-12
3-13

Input Wind Coefficients

Algorithm for 1996 BOCA Wind Loads

1995 BS 6399 Wind Loads

3-15

3.6.1
3.6.2

3-15
3-16

Input Wind Coefficients

Algorithm for 1995 BS 6399 Wind Loads

1995 NBCC Wind Loads

3-18

3.7.1
3.7.2

3-18
3-19

Input Wind Coefficients

Algorithm for 1995 NBCC Wind Loads

2005 NBCC Wind Loads

3-21

3.8.1
3.8.2

3-21
3-22

Input Wind Coefficients

Algorithm for 2005 NBCC Wind Loads

Contents

3.9

2010 NBCC Wind Loads

3-24

3.9.1
3.9.2

3-24
3-25

Input Wind Coefficients

Algorithm for 2010 NBCC Wind Loads

3.10 ASCE 7-95 Wind Loads

3.10.1 Input Wind Coefficients
3.10.2 Algorithm for ASCE 7-95 Wind Loads
3.11 ASCE 7-02 Wind Loads
3.11.1 Input Exposure
3.11.2 Algorithm for ASCE 7-02 Wind Loads
3.12 2006 IBC / ASCE 7-05 Wind Loads
3.12.1 Input Exposure
3.12.2 Algorithm for ASCE 7-05 Wind Loads
3.13 ASCE 7-10 Wind Loads
3.13.1 Input Exposure
3.13.2 Algorithm for ASCE 7-10 Wind Loads
3.14 1987 RCDF Wind Loads
3.14.1 Input Wind Coefficients
3.14.2 Algorithm for 1987 RCDF Wind Loads
3.15 2010 Chinese Wind Loads
3.15.1 Input Wind Exposure Parameters
3.15.2 Input Wind Coefficients
3.15.3 Algorithm for 2010 Chinese Wind Loads
3.16 2008 API 4F Wind Loads
3.16.1 Input Exposure
3.16.2 Algorithm for API 4F-2008 Wind Loads
3.17 2005 Eurocode 1 (EN 1991-14) Wind Loads

3-28
3-28
3-28
3-32
3-32
3-34
3-40
3-40
3-42
3-47
3-48
3-49
3-55
3-55
3-55
3-56
3-56
3-57
3-58
3-60
3-61
3-61
3-64

3.17.1 Input Wind Coefficients

3-64
3.17.2 Algorithm for EN 1991-1-1:2005 Wind Loads 3-65

vii

Lateral Loads

3.18 2002 AS/NZS 1170.2 Wind Loads

3.18.1 Input Wind Coefficients
3.18.2 Algorithm for AS/NZS 1170.2:2002 Wind
Loads
3.19 2011 AS/NZS 1170.2 Wind Loads
3.19.1 Input Wind Coefficients
3.19.2 Algorithm for AS/NZS 1170.2:2011 Wind
Loads
3.20 1987 Indian IS:875 Part-3Wind Loads
3.20.1 Input Wind Coefficients
3.20.2 Exposure from Extents of Diaphragms
3.20.3 Exposure from Area Objects
3.21 2008 Italian NTC Wind Loads
3.21.1 Input Wind Coefficients
3.21.2 Algorithm for Italian NTC 2008 Wind Loads
3.22 1997 TS 498Wind Loads
3.22.1 Input Wind Coefficients
3.22.2 Algorithm for 1997 TX 498 Wind Loads
3.23 User-Defined Wind Loads

References

viii

3-70
3-70
3-71
3-76
3-76
3-77
3-82
3-82
3-83
3-84
3-86
3-86
3-87
3-91
3-91
3-91
3-93

Chapter 1
Introduction

SAP2000, ETABS, and CSiBridge are extremely powerful and productive

structural analysis and design programs, partially due to the high level of intelligence embedded within the software. What this means is that many of the capabilities are highly automated, allowing the user to create and analyze the
models in such a way that is both natural and efficient for a structural engineer.
This manual seeks to explain the logic behind the automated lateral load generation so that users can gain greater insight into the behavior of the programs,
and hence, greater confidence in their models and analyses.

1.1

About the Manual

The next chapter will show how seismic loads are generated for various codes,
including a detailed discussion of the algorithms used. Chapter 3 does the same
for automatic wind loads, again describing both the forms used and the accompanying algorithms.
It is strongly recommended that you read this manual and review any applicable Watch & Learn Series tutorials before attempting to use the automated
features of the software. Additional information can be found in the on-line
Help facility available from within the programs main menu.

1-1

Lateral Loads

1.2

Technical Support
Free technical support is available from Computers and Structures, Inc. (CSI)
or your dealer via telephone and e-mail for 0 days after the software has been
purchased. After 0 da ys, priority technical support is available only to those
with a yearly Support, Upgrade and Maintenance plan (SUM). Customers who
do not have a current SUM subscription can obtain technical support, but via email only and at the non-priority level. Please contact CSI or your dealer to inquire about purchasing a yearly SUM subscription.
If you have questions regarding use of the software, please

Consult this documentation and other printed information included with

your product.

Check the on-line Help facility in the program.

If you cannot find an answer, then contact us as described in the sections that
follow.

1.3

Help Us to Help You

Whenever you contact us with a technical support question, please provide us
with the following information to help us help you

1-2

The version number that you are using. This can be obtained from inside
the program using the Help menu > About command in SAP2000 and
ETABS or the Orb > Resources > Help command in CSiBridge.

A description of your model, including a picture, if possible.

A description of what happened and what you were doing when the problem occurred.

The exact wording of any error messages that appeared on your screen.

A description of how you tried to solve the problem.

The computer configuration (make and model, processor, operating system, hard disk size, and RAM size).

Your name, your companys name, and how we may contact you.

Technical Support

Chapter 1 - Introduction

1.4

Telephone Support
Priority phone support is available to those with a current SUM subscription
from CSI or your dealer. For users in North America, you may contact CSI via
a toll call between 830 A.M. and 500 P.M., Pacific Time, Monday through
Friday, excluding U.S. holidays, at (510) 64-2200.
When you call, please be at your computer and have the program manuals at
hand.

1.5

Online Support
Online support is available by

Sending an e-mail and your model file to support@csiamerica.com.

Visiting CSIs web site at http//www.csiamerica.com and using the Support link to submit a request for technical support.

If you send us e-mail, be sure to include all of the information requested in the
previous Help Us to Help You section.

Telephone Support

1-3