SILO ANALYSIS USING ETABS:

INVERTED T FOUNDATION

ENGR. ANGELO B. AMARGO

Structural Consultant
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 PART 1:
ETABS MODELLING

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 1. Set to USE BUILT-IN SETTING WITH
2. Select METRIC SI in the dropdown list of display units
3. Click OK

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 4. Select BLANK

1. Click OK

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 6. Go to: EDIT > EDIT STORIES AND GRID SYSTEMS

7. Select ADD NEW GRID SYSTEM

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 8. Rename GRID SYSTEM NAME to Silo Grid

9. Select Cylindrical

10. Under LABELING DIRECTION, select COUNTERCLOCKWISE

11. Input values:

a. Number of Grid Lines in R direction = 2

b. Number of Grid Lines in T Direction: = 55 (or number of stiffeners + 1)

c. Spacing of Grids in R Direction = 8.3058 (or Radius Location of

anchor bolts, refer to the data provided in GSI Load)

d. Spacing of Grids in T Direction = 360/54 (or 360 degrees /

number of stiffeners)

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 12. Select G1

13. Select DELETE GRID SYSTEM

14. Select MODIFY/SHOW STORY DATA

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 15. Rename the story designation and revise Height:
Base > Footing 0> -1.5 (embedment depth)
Story 1 > NGL 3> 1.5 (positive value of
Story 2 > FGL 3> 0.5 (assumed height of

facility FFL from NGL)

Story 3 > FFL 3> 2.5 (assumed height of

stemwall from FGL)

Story 4 > CENTROID 3> 18.55 (eave height + 1/3 of

(peak height – eave height)

16. Click OK

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 17. Click OK

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 18. Go to: DEFINE > MATERIAL PROPERTIES

19. Select ADD NEW MATERIAL

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 The material we need to define for this project is 4000psi concrete, Gr.60 rebar and Gr. 40
rebar. Materials such as 4000psi concrete and Gr.60 rebar were defined by default, but
if not, select MATERIAL TYPE: Concrete or MATERIAL TYPE: Rebar. We only need to
define Gr. 40 rebar here

20. Select Rebar in the dropdown list of Material type

21. Select Grade 40 for rebar grade

22. Click ok

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 Do not change the input values.

23. Click ok

24. Define a DUMMY material by repeating steps 19-22 using any concrete material.
Change the WEIGHT PER UNIT VOLUME to 0. Click OK. This dummy material will be
used later on to represent the Steel Silo Structure.

25. Repeat steps 19 – 22 if there are other materials that need to be defined. If done, click
OK.

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 26. Go to DEFINE > SECTION PROPERTIES > FRAME SECTIONS

27. Select DELETE MULTIPLE PROPERTIES

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 32. Select all sections.

33. Select DELETE SELECTED FRAME SECTIONS. Repeat until nothing is left. Warning will
appear, just click OK. If only one section remains, select OK.

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 34. Select ADD NEW PROPERTY

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 33. Select the icon showing RECTANGULAR SHAPE

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 34. Revise the following inputs:

a. Property Name: C450x450; where C stands for column, 450x450 is the

size of column which is the thickness of the stemwall. It will be used in the
intersection of stemwall and tunnel wall.

b. Material: Select 4000psi

c. Depth: 450 (or thickness of the stemwall)

d. Width: 450 (or thickness of the stemwall)

35. Click ok.

Note: By default, a column section is generated. If rebars appear inside the concrete
section in the icon at the upper right corner, this means a column section is generated.

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 35. Select ADD NEW PROPERTY for other column sizes (if applicable).

36. Select ADD NEW PROPERTY to define girder section

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 37. Select the icon showing RECTANGULAR SHAPE

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 38. Revise the following inputs:

a. Property Name: G600x450; where G stands for girder, 600 is the depth,
400 is the width which is the thickness of the stemwall. It will be used in the
tunnel opening.

b. Material: Select 4000psi

c. Depth: 600 (Initial Size – to be designed)

d. Width: 450 (or thickness of the stemwall)

39. By default, a column section is generated. If rebars appear inside the concrete section
in the icon at the upper right corner, this means a column section is generated.
However, we have to define girder this time. To do this, Select MODIFY/SHOW REBAR

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 38. Select M3 DESIGN ONLY (BEAM)

39. Select A615Gr40 for the confinement Bars

40. Click OK

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 41. Notice that for beam icon, no rebar appears.

42. Click OK

43. Repeat steps 36 – 42 if another girder section is to be defined.

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 57. Go to DEFINE > SECTION PROPERTIES > WALL SECTIONS

58. Select ADD NEW PROPERTY

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 54. Input the following:

a. Property Name: W450; where W stands for wall and 450 is the
thickness

b. Wall Material: 4000Psi

c. Thickness: 450 (this thickness was computed using the

excel spreadsheet)

55. Click OK

56. Repeat steps 47-48 if there are other thickness of wall.

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 59. Go to DEFINE > SECTION PROPERTIES > SLAB SECTIONS

60. Select ADD NEW PROPERTY

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 57. Input the following:

d. Property Name: S500; where S stands for slab and 500 is the
thickness

e. Slab Material: 4000Psi

f. Thickness: 500 (this thickness was computed using the

excel spreadsheet)

58. Click OK

59. Repeat steps 53-55 if there are other thickness of wall.

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 61. Go to DEFINE > SPRING PROPERTIES > AREA SPRINGS

62. Select ADD NEW PROPERTY

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 59. Input the following:

g. Property Name: SBC240; where SBC stands for soil bearing

capacity and 150 is the value

h. Local 3 Direction (Compression Only): 24000 (SBC x FS / Allow.

Settlement)

i. Nonliner Option: Select COMPRESSION ONLY

60. Click OK

61. Repeat steps 58-54 if there are other thickness of wall. Click OK if already done.

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