Yousef ZAA:
How you design it and detail it will determine how it acts, deep beam or otherwise. What you call it has nothing to do with it. It’s just that other engineers won’t understand you, or what you are talking about, when you use an unorthodox definition or description.
If you're talking ETABS, a spandrel is essentially a beam or wall panel over an opening.
If you're talking classical architectural terminology, a spandrel is the part of the exterior framing that is horizontal and occurring at about floor level (dik's definition).
I like to debate structural engineering theory -- a lot. If I challenge you on something, know that I'm doing so because I respect your opinion enough to either change it or adopt it.
