offset expansion joints

[Skicat]

A senior engineer asked me if ETABS can model a structure with offset expansion joints. The EJ at the first level occurs in a different bay then the EJ's in the levels above. Has anyone had any experience with modeling this condition in ETABS? Thanks.

 

[Murali27]

skicat

possible, but depends on the stability of the part which is on the other level. Not sure of the structural system what you have.

Cheers

 

[stressed]

Define a new membrane type slab to use for your expansion joint. Membrane type has in-plane stiffness only so as not to transfer moment. You can adjust the area property modifiers in order to transfer shear only in 1 direction