Benchmark problems from the AISC 2017 Specification for Structural Buildings (commentary, page 16.1-291) have been reproduced in ETABS. The intention of AISC benchmark problems is to indicate whether or not an analysis software is capable of performing rigorous second order analyses which include P-Δ and P-δ effect.

ETABS captures both sources of nonlinear geometry with great accuracy, well within the 3% and 5% limitation of AISC. This capability is validated in the benchmark-problem results, shown below. Meshing the column may be required to improve accuracy of P-δ effect in pinned  condition cases and  for axial loads close to buckling.

Figure 1 - P-δ response

Figure 2 - P-Δ response

See Also

• P-Delta analysis parameters
• P-Delta effect

Attachments

• Case 1 ETABS model (zipped EBD file)
• Case 2 ETABS model (zipped EBD file)