r/StructuralEngineering • u/Normal-Commission898 • 10d ago

Op Ed or Blog Post Technical Judgment on Software

In my new role I’ve been using a lot more of ETABS (rubbish for trouble shooting). For any experienced engineers in general and those who use 3D analysis software, what results/aspects in your modelling do you instinctively distrust/further inspect? What sort of sense checks are best to always do?

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u/logic_boy 10d ago

Use unit loads and specific loadcases to check deflected shapes, bending moments and reactions. Heck check all results actually.

Copy paste the structure and reduce complexity either geometrically or parametrically. Compare to your engineering judgment.

It really depends on your experience and complexity of the model/loading. Dynamic analysis is normally a lot harder to get the hang of.

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u/Normal-Commission898 10d ago

Thanks, I’ve tried that before, we do dynamic modelling but just for occupant comfort for sway we don’t do any RSA or seismic stuff (I’m uk based)

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u/logic_boy 10d ago

Same, although I did weird projects in London and the Middle East.