Import ETABS into SAFE FAQ

Models may be imported from ETABS into SAFE by specifying exporting option , story to be exported , load cases and combinations.

On this page:

How are wall systems imported from ETABS into SAFE?

Answer: Adjoining walls automatically import into SAFE, though walls below the floor slab import as wall objects, whereas walls above import as deep beams. This produces the proper behavior.

How do I successfully export floors from ETABS to SAFE?

There are 3 options to Export from ETABS to SAFE:

1) Floor loads: This is a common option and should be used for most gravity floor systems, when there is no transfer of  loads from floors above, or the floors from above has small influence on floor being exported

2) Floor loads and loads from above: This option is recommended when loads from above have an important effect on the floor being exported (i.e transfer floor), for foundation design and also this is the recommended option to export gravity and lateral loads. In this case, loads in SAFE will be separated in two load patterns  floor loads and loads from above (i.e. Dead_Above, Dead); these load patterns will be combined in one load case (i.e. DEAD)

3) Floor loads plus columns and wall distortions: This option should be used when exporting temperature loads, in this case walls and columns will be replaced by fixed supports in SAFE, and deformation will be assigned to these nodes

Notes:

• Property modifiers assigned to elements in  ETABS will not be exported into SAFE
• Rigid area zones above columns will be automatically assigned to floors in SAFE. This is not available in ETABS
• Beams in SAFE will be assigned an internal modifier of 0.1 to torsional stiffness, to avoid torsional load path
• Columns above are not exported
• Uniform load stets defined in ETABS are not exported
  
  

How is only some information imported into an existing SAFE model?

Extended Question: I have imported an ETABS model into SAFE, but now I have updated loading within the ETABS model, and I would like to import only these loads into the SAFE model without overwriting any other information (object properties, load combinations, etc.). How is this done?

Answer: There are three options available for importing only a specific set of information into an existing SAFE model:

• Option 1.
  
  
  1. Import the updated ETABS *.f2k floor as a new SAFE model.
  2. Within the initial SAFE model, through File > Import > SAFE Database Tables in Text File..., select the *.$sf file of this newly created SAFE model.
  3. Select Import as a New Model or Add to Existing Model, then specify which objects will be replaced or kept in the event that they occur in the same location.

• Option 2.
  
  
  1. Import the updated ETABS *.f2k floor as a new SAFE model.
  2. Select Edit > Interactive Database... to copy the updated tables into the initial SAFE model.

• Option 3. 
  
  
  1. Export the entire model to database tables using any convenient format via File > Export > SAFE Database Tables, modify the appropriate tables by deleting old items and adding new ones, and then import back the entire model.

Note: For Option 1, the Add to Existing Model option is NOT applicable to replacing items i.e replacing Point Loads. It applies to named items, as an example, Load Patterns. Say if you have a load pattern named Dead in the original model and one in the imported model, these options determine what happens to the Dead load pattern definition from the imported model.

How are Results of Response Spectrum analysis imported into SAFE?

Refer to link below for more information:

Response spectrum analysis results importing into SAFE