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Composite Beam
Design Manual
AISC 360-10
For
ISO ETA010424M66 Rev. 0 January 2024

Proudly developed in the United States of America
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Contents
Symbols 1
1 Introduction 5
2 Design Preliminaries 7
2.1 Design Preferences and Beam Overwrites 7
2.2 Frame Objects Designed as Composite Beams 8

2.2.1 Hard Requirements 8
2.2.2 Soft Requirements 8
2.2.3 Overwriting the Frame Design Procedure 9
3 Steel Beam Section Properties and Flexural Strength 10
3.1 Steel Section Properties 10
3.2 Steel Section Classification 10
3.3 Beam Unbraced Length 11
3.4 Beam Lateral Torsional Buckling Factor 11
3.5 Steel Beam Flexural Strength 12
4 Composite Beam Section Properties and Moment Capacity 13
4.1 Deck Properties and Effective Slab Width 13
4.1.1 Location where Deck Properties and Slab Width are checked 13
4.1.2 Deck Orientation and Properties 13
4.1.3 Effective Width of the Concrete Slab 15
4.2 Transformed Section Moment of Inertia 17
i
4.3 Transformed Section Modulus 19
4.4 Effective Moment of Inertia for Partial Composite Connection 20
4.5 Effective Section Modulus for Partial Composite Connection 20
4.6 Composite Plastic Moment Capacity for Positive Bending 20
5 Strength Checks 23
5.1 Design Load Combinations 23
5.1.1 Strength Checks for Construction Loads 23

5.1.2 Strength Checks for Service Loads 24
5.2 Beam Stations Checked for Strength 24
5.3 Shear Yield Check 24
5.4 Construction Bending Check 25
5.5 Negative Bending Check 25
5.6 Positive Bending Check 26
6 Deflection Checks 28
6.1 Composite Beam Deflections 28
6.2 Dead Load Deflection Check 29
6.3 Camber 29
6.4 Post-Composite and Live Load Deflection Checks 30
6.5 Net Deflection Checks 30
6.6 Additional Cantilever Backspan Checks 31
7 Shear Studs 32
7.1 Beam Segments and their Maximum and Minimum Numbers of Studs 32
7.1.1 Beam Segments 32

7.1.2 Maximum Number of Shear Studs on Beam Segments 34
7.1.3 Minimum Number of Shear Studs on Beam Segments 35
7.2 Strength of Shear Studs 35
7.3 How ETABS Distributes Shear Studs on Beams 36
7.4 User Defined Shear Stud Distributions 38
ii
8 Vibration Checks 39
8.1 Effective Panel Weight 39
8.2 Floor Fundamental Natural Vibration Frequency 41
8.3 Design for Walking Excitation 42
8.4 Design for Rhythmic Excitation 42
8.5 Design for Sensitive Equipment and Sensitive Occupancies 43
9. Web Openings 45
9.1 Steel Section Restrictions 45
9.2 Limits on Opening Placement and Dimensions 46
9.2.1 Aspect Ratio 46

9.2.2 Buckling of Tee-shaped Compression Zone 46
9.2.3 Maximum Opening Dimensions 47
9.2.4 Tee Proportions 47
9.2.5 Concentrated Loads 47
9.2.6 Placement of Openings 47
9.2.7 Reinforcement Plate Aspect Ratio 47
9.3 Strength Checks 47
9.3.1 Maximum Nominal Flexural Capacity 48

9.3.2 Maximum Nominal Shear Capacity 49
9.3.3 Lateral Buckling 52
9.4 Circular Openings 52
9.5 Minimum Spacing between Openings 52
Appendix A. Design Preferences 54
A1. Beam Tab 54
A2. Shear Studs Tab 55
A3. Camber Tab 56
A4. Deflection Tab 57
A5. Vibration Tab 58
A6. Prices Tab 61
A7. Factors Tab 61
iii
Appendix B. Beam Overwrites 63
B1. Beam Tab 63
B2. Bracing (C) and Bracing (S) Tabs 65
B3. Deck Tab 66
B4. Shear Studs Tab 68
B5. Deflection Tab 69
B6. Vibration Tab 71
iv
Symbols
The following table provides a list of the symbols used in this manual and their definitions. As a
rule, the symbols used in this manual match those used in the AISC Specification and
Commentary, and in AISC Design Guide 11.
Ac Area of concrete slab within effective width, in2.

Ac-left Area of concrete slab within effective width on left side of beam, in2.
Ac-right Area of concrete slab within effective width on right side of beam, in2.
AS Area of the structural steel cross section, in2.
Asa Cross-sectional area of a steel-headed stud anchor, in2.
Atr Transformed area of an element of the composite steel beam section, in2.
Aw Area of the web, in2.
B Effective panel width, in.
Bg Girder panel mode effective width, in.
Bj Beam panel mode effective width, in.
C Compression force in the concrete slab, kips.
Cb Lateral-torsional buckling modification factor, unitless.
Cbot Cope depth at bottom of beam, in.
Cf Compression force in the slab in a composite beam, smaller of AsFy and
0.85 f c' Ac , kips
Ctop Cope depth at top of beam, in.

Dg Girder transformed moment of inertia per unit width, in.3
Dj Beam transformed moment of inertia per unit width, in.3
Ds Slab transformed moment of inertia per unit width, in.3
Ec Modulus of elasticity of concrete slab, ksi. Possibly different on the left and right
sides of the beam. Also, different for stress calculations and deflection
calculations.
Es Modulus of elasticity of steel, ksi.
Symbols 1
Composite Beam Design AISC 360-10 Symbols
Fu Minimum specified tensile strength of structural steel or shear stud, ksi.

Fy Minimum specified yield stress of structural steel, ksi.
Fycp Cover plate yield stress, ksi.
Iequiv Equivalent moment of inertia of a partially composite beam, in4.
IO Moment of inertia of an element of the composite steel beam section taken about
its own center of gravity, in4.
Ig Transformed or effective moment of inertia of the girder, in.4
Ij Transformed or effective moment of inertia of the beam, in.4
Islab Moment of inertia of a beff wide strip of slab, including any concrete in the deck
ribs, in.4
Is Moment of inertia of the structural steel section, including any cover plate, in4.
Itr Moment of inertia for fully composite uncracked transformed section, in4.
L Center-of-support to center-of-support length of the beam, in.
L1 Distance from point of maximum moment to the closest point of zero moment or
physical end of beam top flange, or physical end of concrete slab, in.
L2 Distance from point of maximum moment to the nearest point of zero moment or
physical end of beam top flange, or physical end of concrete slab measured on the
other side of the point of maximum moment from the distance L1, in.
Lb Laterally unbraced length of beam; length between points that are braced against
lateral displacement of the compression flange or braced against twist of the
cross-section, in.
Lg Girder span, in.
Lj Beam span, in.
Mmax Maximum positive moment for a beam, kip-in.
Mn Nominal flexural strength, kip-in.
Mp Plastic bending moment, kip-in.
Mpt load Moment at the location of a point load, kip-in.
Mu Required flexural strength, kip-in.
N1 Required number of shear studs between the point of maximum moment and an
adjacent point of zero moment (or end of slab), unitless.
N2 Required number of shear studs between a point load and a point of zero moment
(or end of slab), unitless.
P0 Amplitude of the driving force, P0 = 65 lbs.
Py Tensile strength of the structural steel section: Py=FyAs, kips.
PCC Percent composite connection, unitless.
Symbols 2
Qn Nominal strength of one shear stud (shear stud or channel), kips.

Rg Coefficient to account for group effect, unitless
Rp Position effect factor for shear studs, unitless
S Beam spacing, in
Seff Effective section modulus of a partially composite beam transformed section
referred to the tension flange (including cover plate), in3.
Ss Section modulus of the structural steel section, including any cover plate if,
referred to the tension flange, in3.
Str Section modulus for the fully composite uncracked transformed section referred to
the tension flange of the steel section (including cover plate), in3.
Vh Horizontal shear force to be provided by the shear studs between the location of
the maximum bending moment and the nearest point of zero-moment, kips
Vh2 Horizontal shear force to be provided by the shear studs between a point load
location and the nearest point of zero-moment, kips
Vn Nominal shear strength, kips.
Vu Required shear strength, kips.
W Effective panel weight, lbs.
Wg Effective panel weight for a girder, kips
Wj Effective panel weight for a beam, kips
a Depth of the compression block in the concrete slab, in.
a0 Acceleration tolerance limit, in/seconds2
ap Predicted peak acceleration of the beam, in/seconds2
beff Effective width of the concrete flange of the composite beam, in.., beff = beff-left +
beff-right
beff-left Effective width of the concrete slab on the left side of a beam, in.
beff-right Effective width of the concrete slab on the right side of a beam, in.
d Depth of a structural steel section from the outside face of the top flange to the
outside face of the bottom flange, in.
d1 Distance from the centroid of the compression force, C, in the slab the top of the
steel section, in.
d2 Distance from the centroid of the compression force in the steel section to the top
of the steel section, in.
d3 Distance from Py to the top of the steel section, in.
emid-ht Distance from the edge of steel headed shear stud shank to the steel deck web, in.
Symbols 3
f c' Specified compressive strength of concrete, ksi.
f c'−left Specified compressive strength of concrete on left side of beam, ksi.
f c'− right Specified compressive strength of concrete on right side of beam, ksi.
fn Natural fundamental vibration frequency of a beam panel, Hz.

g Acceleration of gravity, in/seconds2.
hr Height of metal deck rib, in. Possibly different on the left and right sides of the
beam.
i Harmonic number:1,2, or3
ifstep ith harmonic forcing frequency, Hz.
n Modular ratio, n = Es Ec
tc Thickness of concrete slab, in. If there is metal deck, this is the thickness of the
concrete slab above the metal deck. Possibly different on the left and right sides of
the beam
tcp Thickness of the cover plate, in.
tw Thickness of the web, in.
w Supported weight per unit area of a panel, psf.
wp Unit weight of rhythmic activity participants distributed over the entire bay, psf.
wt Distributed weight supported, including dead load, superimposed dead load,
occupants and participants distributed over the entire bay, psf.
y Distance from the bottom of the bottom flange of the structural steel section to the
elastic neutral axis of the fully composite beam section, in.
ybare Distance from the bottom of the bottom flange of the structural steel section,
excluding any cover plate, to the neutral axis of the structural steel section,
including any cover plate, in.
αi Dynamic coefficient for the ith harmonic of the rhythmic activity
β Unitless factor used in computing the number of shear studs between a point load
and a point of zero moment, equal to Str /Ss for full composite connection and Seff
/Ss for partial composite connection.
β Damping ratio
∆j Midspan deflection of a beam due to the weight it supports, in.
∆g Midspan deflection of a girder due to the weight it supports, in.
φb Resistance factor for bending in a non-composite beam, unitless. The default
value is 0.9.
φv Resistance factor for beam shear, unitless. The default value is 0.9.
Symbols 4
1 Introduction
This manual describes composite beam design in ETABS, including the design of beams with
web openings, per the provisions of the ANSI/AISC 360-10, Specification for Structural Steel
Buildings (AISC), and the ASCE 23-97 Specification for Structural Beams with Web Openings
(ASCE 23-97).
Once you have analyzed a model, you can perform the design of its composite beams by
selecting the Design menu > Composite Beam Design > Start Design/Check command.
Other commands in the Composite Beam Design submenu let you:
• control the various design parameters, including the applicable design code, on a
model-wide basis
• control the various design parameters on a beam-by-beam basis
• select groups of beams to be designed all with the same section
• change the design load combinations from the default ones
• design individual or grouped beams interactively, including adding openings to
individual beam webs
• view the design results
• freeze the design section of selected beams
• change the design section of selected beams by selecting a specific section from a list
• change the design of selected beams by copying a design from a beam and pasting it to
other beams
• change the design sections of selected beams by resetting them to what they were when
the model was last analyzed
• compare the current design sections to what they were when the model was last
analyzed
• verify that all the previous designs are still acceptable after the model was re-analyzed,
or the design preferences and/or the beam overwrites were changed
• reset all the design parameters
• delete the current design results
Composite beam design consists of trying various trial structural steel sections, computing their
composite section properties, the resulting shear and flexural stresses and deflections at several
key locations along the length of a beam, and then comparing those computed values with
acceptable limits. That comparison produces a demand/capacity ratio, which typically should
Introduction 5
Composite Beam Design AISC 360-10 Introduction
not exceed a value of one if code requirements are to be satisfied. ETABS checks the
requirements for strength and deflection limit states under construction and service conditions.
It also checks vibrations acceptability under service conditions.
For each structural steel section it evaluates, ETABS determines the total number of shear studs
required to satisfy the design requirements and their distribution. If you prefer, ETABS can
check the adequacy of a shear stud distribution you specify. In interactive design mode, you can
try out various design sections and vary the percentage of composite action for each, and view
the resulting demand/capacity ratios and shear stud distributions.
The design output can be presented graphically, in tables for both input and output data, or in
calculation sheets prepared for each beam.
The remainder of this manual is organized in eight chapters and two appendices:
• Chapter 2 introduces the composite beam design preferences and beam overwrites and
explains which frame objects are designed as composite beams
• Chapter 3 provides an overview of how ETABS determines the values of the section
properties of the steel beam acting alone and its flexural strength
• Chapter 4 explains how ETABS computes the transformed moment of inertia and the
elastic and plastic moment capacities of beams
• Chapter 5 explains how ETABS checks the strength of beams
• Chapter 6 explains how ETABS checks beam deflections
• Chapter 7 explains how ETABS determines the total numbers of shear studs required on
beams and their distribution
• Chapter 8 explains how ETABS checks beam vibration acceptability
• Chapter 9 explains how ETABS checks the strength of beams at web openings
• Appendix A lists the various design preferences items
• Appendix B lists the various beam overwrites items
Introduction 6
2 Design Preliminaries
This chapter introduces the composite beam design preferences and beam overwrites and explains
which frame objects are designed as composite beams.
2.1 Design Preferences and Beam Overwrites

The composite beam design preferences are assignments that apply to all the composite beams
in a model. Notably, the preferences include the selection of a design code.
Default values are provided for all preference items and you should review these with the
Design > Composite Beam Design > View/Revise Preferences… command to ensure they are
acceptable. The preference items are described in Appendix A.
You can change the values of the preferences with the View/Revise Preferences…command at
any time. After changing the preferences, you can redesign the beams, or you can check that the
previous designs are still acceptable with the Design > Composite Beam Design > Verify All
Members Passed… command.
The beam overwrites are assignments that apply only to selected beam objects. They take
precedence over the preference items. They include most of the preference items, plus some
assignments that are beam-specific by nature.
Default values are provided for all overwrite items. You can change these values with the
Design > Composite Beam Design > View/Revise Overwrites… command or by clicking the
Overwrites… button when designing a beam in interactive mode. The overwrite items are
described in Appendix B.
After changing the overwrites with the View/Revise Overwrites… command, you can redesign
the affected beams, or you can check that the previous designs are still acceptable with the
Verify All Members Passed… command.
Design Preferences and Beam Overwrites 7

Composite Beam Design AISC 360-10 Design Preliminaries
2.2 Frame Objects Designed as Composite Beams
2.2.1 Hard Requirements

ETABS puts the following restrictions on the frame objects that it can design as composite
beams:
(a) Section Requirement
Only frame objects that are assigned an I-section, channel section, or auto-select section
consisting of a list of any of these can be designed as composite beams. The I-shaped and
channel sections can be imported from the built-in property files, or they can be user-defined.
Sections defined with the Section Designer are categorized as “general” sections regardless of
their actual shape, and ETABS will not design beams with such sections as composite beams.
Unsymmetrical I-section and channels in which the top and bottom flange have different
dimensions are valid composite beam sections, although you may have limited use for them
since you can specify the provision of a bottom flange cover plate in the beam overwrites.
(b) Material Property Requirement
Only frame objects that are assigned a material whose property data specifies “Steel” as the type
of design can be designed as composite beams.
(c) Beam Orientation Requirement
Only frame objects whose line type is "Beam" can be designed as composite beams. This means
the frame objects must lie in a horizontal plane, or in a plane with an inclination that is within
the maximum inclination from horizontal for beams and floors tolerance defined in the model.
Furthermore, the local axis 2 angle of the frame object must be zero, which means its local axes
1 and 2 are in the same vertical plane. You can check the Local axis 2 Angle of any beam by
right clicking on it and then selecting the Geometry tab of the Beam Information form.
(d) Support and Extent Requirement
Only frame objects spanning between two supports or frame objects representing cantilevers
can be designed as composite beams. Composite beams cannot be modeled using multiple,
adjacent frame objects between supports for a single composite beam.
Cantilevers and their backspans can be modeled as a single object when the cantilever is a beam
overhang extending over a supporting girder, but they should be modeled as two separate
objects when the cantilever is moment-connected to its backspan.
2.2.2 Soft Requirements

ETABS will by default design steel beam objects as composite beams when they meet the
above hard requirements, plus the following two soft requirements:
Design Preliminaries 8
Composite Beam Design AISC 360-10 Design Preliminaries
 At least one side of the beam objects must support a floor object whose section is
specified as a deck section (not a slab or a wall section). The deck section can be filled,
unfilled or it can be a solid slab. When the deck is unfilled, the beam will still go
through the composite beam design procedure, which will design it as a non-composite
beam.
 The beam objects must not frame continuously into a column or a brace. Both ends of
the objects must be pinned for major axis bending (bending about the local 3 axis). Note
that the assembly of a column and a beam moment connected to it at one end and
simply supported at the other makes an elementary frame capable of resisting lateral
forces.
2.2.3 Overwriting the Frame Design Procedure

By default, ETABS designs steel beam objects that meet the hard requirements above but not
the two soft requirements per the steel frame design procedure.
You can change the design procedure for one or more steel beam objects from steel frame design to
composite beam design by selecting them, selecting the Design menu > Overwrite Frame Design
Procedure command, and choosing composite beam design. This change is successful only if the
beam objects meet the hard requirements above. For example, if you select a steel beam with a
tube section and try to change its design procedure to composite beam design, the change will
not happen.
You can set the design procedure of a steel beam object that supports a floor object with a slab
section instead of a deck section. If you do, you should also set the modeling type of the floor
object section to membrane, to ensure that the distributed loads applied on the floor object result
in distributed line loads on the beam. Also, the floor object will not provide any composite
action. Floor objects that are intended to provide composite action should be defined as deck
sections, which include an option to model solid slabs.
When ETABS performs the composite beam design of a non-composite beam that does not
support any deck, it computes the flexural capacity of the beam based on its unbraced length but
it does not account for axial forces or any out-of-plane bending, and it does not check the
adequacy of slender sections. Therefore, the design results for some beams will be different
when they are designed with the steel frame design procedure.
Design Preliminaries 9
3 Steel Beam Section Properties and Flexural Strength
This chapter provides an overview of how ETABS determines the values of the various section
properties of the steel beam acting alone and its flexural strength. The subject is covered in detail
in the Steel Frame Design Manual AISC 360-10 for ETABS, to which you are referred for
additional information.
3.1 Steel Section Properties

When designing a composite beam and evaluating a structural steel section, ETABS:
• retrieves its section properties from the properties tables if the section is a catalog
section and the beam overwrites do not specify the provision of a cover plate,
• computes the section properties otherwise.
3.2 Steel Section Classification

ETABS classifies sections as compact, noncompact, or slender-element in accordance with
AISC Section B4. Additional information is available in Section 3.3 Classification of Sections
for Local Buckling in the Steel Frame Design Manual AISC 360-10. ETABS deems slender-
element sections not acceptable and does not do any further checks of these.
Sections with webs that are not compact are also deemed not acceptable.
Note that per AISC, all current ASTM W, S, M, C, & MC shapes have compact flanges except
W21x48, W14x99, W14x90, W12x65, W10x12, W8x31, W8x10, W6x15, W6x9, W6x8.5, and
M4x6 (for Fy = 50 ksi), and all current ASTM A6 W, S, and HP shapes have compact webs at
Fy ≤ 65 ksi.
Steel Section Properties 10

Composite Beam Design AISC 360-10 Steel Beam Section Properties and Flexural Strength
3.3 Beam Unbraced Length

When computing the unbraced length, Lb, of a beam, ETABS decides whether the deck restrains
the top flange of the beam somewhat differently, depending on whether the beam is being
checked for flexural capacity under construction conditions or under service conditions:
• under construction conditions, the deck restrains the top flange of the beam only if it is
perpendicular to it
• under service conditions, the deck always restrains the top flange of the beam if it is
filled, and if it is not filled, only restrains the top of the beam if it is perpendicular to it.
Under both construction and service conditions, ETABS considers that the top
and bottom flange of a beam are braced at any point where another beam
Beam Considered
frames into it at an angle greater than 30 degrees, as depicted in the sketch to Br
ac
ing
the right. You need to detail the connection so as to ensure that the flanges are Be
adequately braced, or else redefine the beam brace points in the beam am
overwrites. θ > 30°
When the bracing is program calculated or brace points are user-specified in

the overwrites, ETABS always assumes that each end of the beam is braced at both the top and
the bottom flange. If the unbraced length of a beam is longer than the actual beam, you need to
specify an unbraced length in the beam overwrites instead of brace points.
3.4 Beam Lateral Torsional Buckling Factor

The value of the beam lateral torsional buckling factor, Cb, for a given load combination and at
a given location on one of the unbraced segments of the beam, is:
12.5M max
Cb = if the beam is not a cantilever (AISC F1-1)
2.5M max + 3M A + 4 M B + 3M c
Cb = 1.0 if the beam is a cantilever (AISC F1-1)
where:
Mmax = absolute value of the maximum moment in the unbraced segment

MA = absolute value of the moment at the quarter point of the unbraced segment
MB = absolute value of the moment at the center point of the unbraced segment
MC = absolute value of the moment at the three-quarter point of the unbraced segment
You can specify the values of Cb under both construction conditions and service conditions in
the beam overwrites.
Steel Beam Section Properties and Flexural Strength 11

Composite Beam Design AISC 360-10 Steel Beam Section Properties and Flexural Strength
3.5 Steel Beam Flexural Strength

Once ETABS has classified a section as compact or non-compact, ETABS computes the design
flexural strength, ΦbMn, of the steel beam acting alone in accordance with AISC Sections F1
through F4. Additional information is available in Section 3.5.3 Nominal Flexure Strength in
the Steel Frame Design Manual AISC 360-10 for ETABS.
Because the value of Mn depends on the values of Lb and Cb, which depend on the load
combination for which the strength of the beam is being checked, and on the location along the
beam where that strength is being checked, ETABS computes anew the value of Mn for each
load combination and at each output station being checked.
Steel Beam Section Properties and Flexural Strength 12

4 Composite Beam Section Properties and Moment Capacity
This chapter explains how ETABS computes the transformed moment of inertia, transformed
section modulus, and plastic moment capacities of composite beams. These depend on the adjacent
deck properties and effective slab width so the determination of these is presented first.
4.1 Deck Properties and Effective Slab Width
4.1.1 Location where Deck Properties and Slab Width are checked
In order to compute the section properties and plastic moment capacity of a composite beam,
ETABS only computes the effective slab width and retrieves the adjacent deck properties along
the middle 70% of the beam. This 70% ratio is derived based on two assumptions:
• The plastic moment capacity of the composite beam is approximately twice that of the
steel beam alone.
• The steel beam alone is capable of resisting the entire moment in the beam for the last
15% of the beam length at each end of the beam. Note that for a uniformly loaded
beam, the moment drops off to half of the maximum moment or less in the last 15% of
the beam.
• You can redefine this default “middle range” of 70% in the design preferences, as
explained in Appendix A.
4.1.2 Deck Orientation and Properties

ETABS distinguishes between the properties of the deck on the left and right sides of a
composite beam since they can differ on the two sides, and carries the distinction throughout the
rest of the composite section property calculations. The figure below shows examples of
different deck types and different deck directions on the two sides of a beam:
Deck Properties and Effective Slab Width 13

Composite Beam Design AISC 360-10 Composite Beam Section Properties and Moment Capacity
Figure 4-1 Different Deck Types and Different Deck Directions

on the Two Sides of the Beam
For the purpose of composite beam design, the deck ribs are considered as either parallel or
perpendicular to the span of a beam. The concrete in the metal deck ribs is included in the
transformed section moment of inertia and composite moment capacity calculations when the
deck ribs are oriented parallel to the beam, and it is not included when the deck ribs are oriented
perpendicular to the beam. ETABS assumes the deck span is parallel to the beam span as long
as the two are within 15 degrees of one another.
While it accounts for different types of deck and different deck orientations on the two sides of
a beam, ETABS only accounts for a single set of deck properties and a single deck orientation
on each side.
When multiple deck types or deck directions occur within the middle range on the same side of a
beam, ETABS decides which single deck section and direction to use on that side of the beam based
on the following steps:
• ETABS computes the product of tc • f c′ for each deck where tc is the depth of the
concrete above the metal deck and f c′ is the concrete slab compressive strength. It uses
the deck section that has the smallest value of tc • f c′ in the calculations for the beam.
• If two or more deck sections have the same value of tc • f c′ but the deck spans in
different directions, ETABS uses the deck section that spans perpendicular to the beam.
• If two or more deck sections span in the same direction and have the same value of tc •
f c′, ETABS uses the deck section with the smaller tc value.
• If two or more deck sections span in the same direction and have the same values of tc
and f c′, ETABS uses the first defined deck section.
You can specify the deck properties and deck orientation on each side of a beam as beam
overwrites, as explained in Appendix B.
Composite Beam Section Properties and Moment Capacity 14

4.1.3 Effective Width of the Concrete Slab

ETABS computes the effective widths of the concrete slab, beff-left and beff-right, separately on each
side of a composite beam.
On each side, ETABS computes the distances to the nearest approximately parallel beam or to
the nearest slab edge along the middle range of the beam and records the smallest distance. The
effective width on each side is, in accordance with AISC Section I3.1a, the smallest of:
• half the smallest distance to the nearest approximately parallel beam
• the smallest distance to the nearest slab edge
• one eighth the beam span.
You can specify the effective slab width on each side of a beam as a beam overwrite, as
explained in Appendix B.
4.1.3.1 Effect of Diagonal Beams on Effective Slab Width

Consider the example shown in Plan A of Figure 4-2. In Plan A, the length of Beam A is LA.
Assume that the effective width of this beam is controlled by the distance to the centerline of
the adjacent beam. Also, assume that ETABS checks the effective width of the slab over the
default middle range (70%) of Beam A. If the variable labeled xA in the figure is less than or
equal to 0.15, the effective width of the concrete slab on the upper side of Beam A (i.e., the side
between Beam A and Beam X) is controlled by the distance between Beam A and Beam X. On
the other hand, if xA is greater than 0.15, the effective width of the concrete slab on the upper
side of Beam A is controlled by the distance between Beam A and Girder Y, at a location of
0.15LA from the left end of Beam A. This distance is measured along a line that is perpendicular
to Beam A.

Figure 4-2 Examples of the Effect of Diagonal Beams on

Composite Beam Effective Width
Now consider the example shown in Plan B of Figure 4-2. Assume that the effective width of
Beam B is controlled by the distance to the centerline of the adjacent beam. When considering
the perpendicular distance from Beam B to the adjacent beam on the upper side of Beam B,
ETABS considers the diagonal beam labeled Beam Z when the angle θ is less than 45 degrees.
If the angle θ is greater than or equal to 45 degrees, Beam Z is ignored when computing the
effective slab width on the upper side of Beam B.
Plan C in Figure 4-2 shows a special case where two diagonal beams frame into Beam C at the
same point. In this special case, ETABS assumes that the effective width of the slab on the side
of the beam where the two diagonals exist is zero. You may change this in the beam overwrites.
ETABS assumes the zero effective width because, although it is checking the effective width
for Beam C, it is unable to determine whether a slab is actually between the two diagonal
beams.
4.1.3.2 Effect of Openings on Effective Slab Width

Now consider Plan D shown in Figure 4-3. There is an opening on both sides of the slab at the
left end of Beam D:

LV
xD * LD
Beam D
Plan D
Figure 4-3 - Example of the Effect of Openings on Composite Beam Effective Width
Assume again that the effective width of this beam is controlled by the distance to the centerline
of the adjacent beam, and assume that ETABS checks the effective width of the slab over the
default center 70% of the Beam D length. If the width of the opening, xD • LD is less than
0.15LD, ETABS bases the effective width of the concrete slab on the distance to the adjacent
beams. On the other hand, if xD • LD exceeds 0.15LD, it assumes the effective concrete slab
width for Beam D to be zero; that is, it assumes a non-composite beam.
4.2 Transformed Section Moment of Inertia

This section describes how ETABS computes the moment of inertia, Itr, of the fully composite
uncracked transformed section of a beam, which is subject to positive bending resulting in stresses
in the elastic range.
ETABS computes the values of Itr used for beam deflection checks and for beam vibration
checks separately because the two values are different. The value of Itr used for deflection
checks is based on the modulus of elasticity of concrete, Ec, specified in the material definition.
The value of Itr used for vibration checks is, in accordance with AISC Design Guide 11, based
on an enhanced short-term modulus of elasticity of concrete due to the small strain range
involved in vibration: Ec is taken as the modulus of elasticity specified in the material definition
multiplied by a 1.35 enhancement factor. Also, for deflection calculations, concrete is
considered effective only when it is in compression, whereas for vibration calculations, it is
considered effective in both compression and tension.
The concrete in the metal deck ribs is included in the composite moment of inertia and plastic
moment capacity calculations when the deck ribs are oriented parallel to the beam, and not
included otherwise. Note that the deck type and deck orientation may be different on the two
sides of the beam as described in Deck Properties and Effective Slab Width.
All calculations are done based on a “transformed section” of the beam, that is, the section

consisting of the structural steel section, including any cover plate, plus the “transformed areas”
of the concrete slab to the left and right of the beam. The transformed area of the concrete slab
on one side of the beam is defined as the area of the concrete slab on that side multiplied by the
ratio Ec/Es. Again, Ec may be different on the two sides of the beam.
ETABS first computes the location y of the elastic neutral axis, “ENA”, of the transformed
section. By definition of the ENA, when the beam is subject to positive bending such that the
flexural stresses remain in the elastic range, all the parts of the composite section located below
the ENA are in tension, and all the parts above it are in compression. When all the concrete is in
compression, or when concrete is considered effective in both tension and compression, the
ENA is located at the centroid of the transformed section. If concrete in tension is considered
not effective and there is some, the ENA is located at the centroid of the transformed section
obtained by considering the steel and only the parts of the concrete slab that are in compression.
ETABS measures y from the bottom of the steel section – without cover plate.
When the deck properties are the same on both sides of the beam, the location of the ENA can
be computed by checking whether it is located within the steel section, or within the deck ribs,
or within the deck cover. Because “within the deck ribs” or “within the deck cover” may be ill-
defined when there are different deck types on each side of the beam, an iterative algorithm is
used in which concrete in tension is removed and the location of the ENA is recomputed at each
iteration until no concrete in tension remains.
Once the location of the ENA is known, Itr is computed through a two-step process:
1. ETABS computes the moment of inertia relative to the bottom flange of the steel section, Σ
(Atry1 ), per the equations in the table below:
2
Table 4-1 Transformed Section Properties for a Fully Composite Beam

Transformed
Item Area, Atr y1 Atry1 Atry12 IO
Concrete slab, beff tc* Ec t* beff Ec tc*3

d + hr + tc − c Atry1 Atry12
left side Es 2 12 Es
Concrete slab, beff tc* Ec tc* beff Ec tc*3

d + hr + tc − Atry1 Atry12
right side Es 2 12 Es
Concrete in
beff hr* wr Ec hr* beff wr Ec hr*3
metal deck d + hr − Atry1 Atry12
S r Es 2 12 Sr Es
ribs, left side
Concrete in
beff hr* wr Ec hr* beff wr Ec hr*3
metal deck d + hr − Atry1 Atry12
S r Es 2 12 Sr Es
ribs, right side

Table 4-1 Transformed Section Properties for a Fully Composite Beam

Transformed
Item Area, Atr y1 Atry1 Atry12 IO
Steel section
including any AS ybare Atry1 Atry12 Is
cover plate
Sums ΣA tr Σ (A y ) Σ (A y
tr 1 tr 1
2
) ΣI O
In the above table, hr* and tc* have different meanings depending on whether Itr is computed for
beam deflection checks, or for beam vibration checks:
• For deflection checks, hr* is the height of the metal deck ribs above the ENA, if the deck
ribs are parallel to the beam, and zero if they are perpendicular to it
• For vibration checks, the concrete in tension is considered effective and hr* = hr if the
deck ribs are parallel to the beam, and zero if they are perpendicular to it
• For deflection checks, tc* is the thickness of the concrete slab that lies above the ENA,
zero if the ENA is above the concrete slab, tc* = 0
• For vibration checks, tc* is the thickness of the concrete slab
Note that the value of hr* and tc* can be different on the left and right sides of the beam.
2. Once Σ (A y tr 1
2
) is known, Itr is computed by application of the parallel axis theorem:
I tr= ∑A 2
tr y1 + ∑ I − (∑ A ) y
O tr
2
4.3 Transformed Section Modulus

The value of the section modulus for the fully composite uncracked transformed section
referred to the tension flange of the steel section, Str is derived from the value of Itr:
I tr
Str =
y + tcp

4.4 Effective Moment of Inertia for Partial Composite Connection

The equivalent moment of inertia, Iequiv, of a beam with partial composite action is by definition
equal to:
I equiv = I s + (ΣQn / C f ) ( I tr − I s ) (AISC Equation C-I3-4)
where:
∑Q n = sum of strengths of shear studs between the point of maximum positive bending
moment and the nearest point of zero moment (AISC C-I3-8)

Cf is the compression force in the slab for a fully composite beam:
C f = Min( As Fy , 0.85( f c'−left Ac −left + f c'− right Ac − right ))
and, per AISC Commentary Section I3.2, the effective moment of inertia used to compute
composite deflection, Ieff, is taken as 0.75Iequiv.
4.5 Effective Section Modulus for Partial Composite Connection

The effective section of modulus, Seff, referred to the tension flange of the steel section for a
partially composite beam is equal to:
Seff = S s + (ΣQn / C f ) ( Str − S s ) (AISC Equation C-I3-5)
4.6 Composite Plastic Moment Capacity for Positive Bending

AISC Section I3.2 specifies that the positive bending moment capacity of composite beams be
computed based on the plastic stress distribution for the limit state of yielding provided the web
of the beam is compact. Because, as stated in Steel Beam Flexural Strength, it dismisses as
inadequate structural steel sections that do not meet that requirement, ETABS always computes
the positive bending moment capacity of composite beams based on the plastic stress
distribution.
A typical plastic stress distribution is shown in the figure below. The compression force in the
concrete slab, C, is the smallest of:
=C Asw Fy + 2 Asf Fy (AISC C-I3-6)
=C 0.85( f c'−left Ac −left + f c'− right Ac − right ) (equivalent to AISC C-I3-7)
C = ∑ Qn
= sum of strengths of shear studs between the location of the station being checked
and the nearest point of zero moment to either side (adapted from AISC C-I3-8)

When computing AISC Equation C-I3-6, ETABS includes the contribution of the bottom flange
cover plate if there is one.
When computing AISC Equation C-I3-7, ETABS computes separately the maximum
compressive forces that can be developed by the concrete in the slab on the left side of the beam
and on the right side of the beam and adds up the two.
When computing AISC Equation C-I3-8, ETABS conservatively counts the shear studs acting
at the beam station being checked instead of those acting at the point of maximum positive
moment so as to satisfy the requirements of AISC Section I8-2c.
α1 f c′
CConc
a
CSteel
Fy
Plastic neutral axis (PNA)
TSteel
Fy
Beam Section Beam Elevation Plastic Stress

Distribution
Figure 4-4 – Composite Beam Plastic Stress Distribution

Consistent with standard practice, ETABS does not account for the contribution of the
longitudinal slab reinforcement to the compression force.
Given a value of the compression force, C, the resulting plastic moment capacity, Mn, is
computed using a three-step process:
1. ETABS first computes the depth, a, of the compression block in the slab and the distance,
d1, from its centroid to the top of the steel section.
a is such that if the top of the highest slab on the left and right sides of the beam is offset by
a, the compressive force developed by the concrete located above the resulting plane is
equal to C.
If the deck properties are the same on both sides of the beam, and the slab is a solid slab, or
there is deck and it is perpendicular to the beam on both sides, then:
C
a= (AISC C-I3-9)
0.85 f c'beff
Because the computation is not as straightforward when the deck properties differ on the
two sides of the beam, or when the concrete in the deck rib contributes to the compression
force, ETABS uses an iterative algorithm in which the value of a is adjusted until the exact

answer is found.
2. ETABS computes the location of the plastic neutral axis, PNA, in the steel section, and the
distance, d2, from the centroid of the compression force in the steel section to the top of the
steel section. When C is controlled by AISC Equation C-I3-6, the steel section is
completely in tension, the PNA is at the top of the steel section and d2 is zero.
3. ETABS computes Mn :
Mn = C(d1 + d2) + Py(d3 – d2) (AISC-C-I3-10)

5 Strength Checks
This chapter explains how ETABS checks the shear and flexural strength of the beams it
designs under construction conditions and service conditions.
5.1 Design Load Combinations

ETABS can automatically generate default composite beam design load combinations with
which it will check the shear and flexural strength of the composite beams it designs. You may
use these default load combinations; you may define your own load combinations and use these
instead; or you may use both. You may modify the default load combinations, and you may
delete them if you have defined your own.
5.1.1 Strength Checks for Construction Loads

The load combinations used for checking the strength of an unshored beam subjected to
construction loads are the “construction load combinations”. The automatically generated
construction load combinations are given by the following formulas:
Σ
1.4 ( WDL) (AISC B2, ASCE 2.3.2(1))
Σ Σ
1.2 ( WDL) + 1.6 ( CL) (AISC B2, ASCE 2.3.2(2))
where:
ΣWDL = The sum of all wet dead load (WDL) load cases defined for the model. Note
that if a load case is simply defined as dead load, it is considered a WDL load
case.
ΣCL = The sum of all construction load (CL) load cases defined for the model. Note
that you need to define all corresponding loads in the model.
ETABS checks the strength of the beam subjected to construction loads if the beam is unshored.
If the beam is shored, any specified design load combinations for construction loads are not
relevant.
Design Load Combinations 23

Composite Beam Design AISC 360-10 Strength Checks
5.1.2 Strength Checks for Service Loads

The load combinations used for checking the strength of a composite beam under service loads
are the “strength load combinations”. The automatically generated strength load combinations
are given by the following formulas:
Σ
1.4 ( WDL + ΣSDL) (AISC B2, ASCE 2.3.2(1))
Σ
1.2 ( WDL + ΣSDL) + 1.6 (ΣLL + ΣRLL) (AISC B2, ASCE 2.3.2(2))
where:
ΣLL = The sum of all live load (LL) load cases defined for the model.
ΣRLL = The sum of all reducible live load (RLL) load cases defined for the model.
ΣSDL = The sum of all superimposed dead load (SDL) load cases defined for the
model.
and the remainder of the terms are as defined previously.
5.2 Beam Stations Checked for Strength

ETABS performs the strength checks described in this Chapter at the following beam stations:
• The first and last stations on the beam

• The stations where the maximum shear, maximum positive bending moment, and
maximum negative bending moment occur for the load combination being checked
• The stations located where point loads are applied
• The stations located where other beams frame in.
5.3 Shear Yield Check

ETABS checks that the shear strength of a beam is adequate for all the construction and all the
strength load combinations at all the stations listed in Beam Stations Checked for Strength. The
design must satisfy:
Vu
≤ 1.0
φvVn
In the above equation:
h E
• Φv is equal to 1 for rolled I-shaped members with ≤ 2.24 and to 0.9 otherwise, in
tw Fy
accordance with AISC Section G1, and
Strength Checks 24
• Vn is given by:
Vn = 0.6 Fy AwCv (AISC G2-1)
where Aw is the area of the beam web, minus an allowance for coping when one of the
ends of the beam is checked and the beam frames into an I-shaped or channel shaped
girder:
Aw = d • tw away from the beam ends

Aw = (d − Ctop − Cbot) • tw at the beam ends
and Cv, the web shear coefficient, is computed in accordance with AISC Section G2. The
reader is referred to Section 3.5.4 Nominal Shear Strength in the Steel Frame Design
Manual AISC 360-10 for ETABS for specifics.
ETABS does not perform the checks against the limit state of block shear rupture called for in
AISC Section J4.3
5.4 Construction Bending Check

If the beam is unshored, ETABS checks that the flexural strength of the steel beam alone is
adequate for all the construction load combinations at all the stations listed in Beam Stations
Checked for Strength.
The design must satisfy:
Mu
≤ 1.0 (AISC B3-1)
φM n
where:
• Mu is the required flexural strength, that is, the applied factored moment. It can be
positive or negative.
• Φb is equal to 0.9. per AISC Section F1, and
• Mn is computed in function of Cb, and Lb for each load combination and each location as
explained in Steel Beam Section Properties and Flexural Strength.
The above check does not take into account any axial force or out of plane bending that may
occur in the beam.
5.5 Negative Bending Check

If the beam is subject to negative bending for any of the strength load combinations at any of
the stations listed in Beam Stations Checked for Strength, the flexural strength of the steel beam
alone is checked for that load combination at that station.
Strength Checks 25
−M u
≤ 1.0 (AISC B3-1)
φM n
where:
• Mu is the required flexural strength, that is, the applied factored moment
• Φb is equal to 0.9. per AISC Section F1, and
• Mn is computed in function of Cb, and Lb for each load combination and station under
consideration as explained in Steel Beam Section Properties and Flexural Strength.
5.6 Positive Bending Check

The flexural strength of the composite beam is checked for all the strength load combinations at
all the stations listed in Beam Stations Checked for Strength.
Mu
≤ 1.0
φM n (AISC B3-1)
where:
• Mu is the required flexural strength, that is, the applied factored moment
• φ is equal to 0.9. per AISC Section I3.2, and
• Mn is computed based on, amongst other parameters, the cumulative strength of the
shear studs acting at the beam station being checked as explained in Composite Plastic
Moment Capacity for Positive Bending if the beam is composite,
• Mn is computed as explained in Steel Beam Flexural Strength otherwise.
The beam is considered non-composite if its effective width is zero, or the deck(s) next to it is
(are) not filled. Also, you can specify in their overwrites if ETABS is to design beams as non-
composite without studs, non-composite with studs, composite as required, or always
composite.
In the case of a moment-connected beam supported at both ends, ETABS makes an allowance
for pattern loading in which only a fraction of the live load is present on the adjacent spans,
since this will increase the positive bending of the beam.
Mu
When the highest ratio occurs at a beam station other than the one where the maximum
φM n
positive bending moment occurs, the percentages of composite action attained based on the
Strength Checks 26
shear stud distribution and resulting composite plastic moment capacities are reported for both
stations in the output.
Note that the above check does not take into account any axial force or out of plane bending that
may occur in the beam.
Strength Checks 27
6 Deflection Checks
This chapter explains how ETABS computes and checks the deflections of the composite beams
it designs.
6.1 Composite Beam Deflections

Composite beam deflections are computed using a moment-area technique: ETABS constructs
an M/EI diagram by computing the M/EI values at each output station along the length of the
beam and assuming a linear variation of M/EI between the stations. M/EI is taken as zero along
the end length offsets of the beams. Deflections at each station are then computed based on this
M/EI diagram. Finally, the overall deflected shape of the beam is drawn by connecting the
computed values of the deflection at the various stations with straight-line segments.
For the purpose of composite beam design, in the case of a beam supported at both ends, beam
deflections are measured from the straight line joining the two supports as illustrated below:
Figure 6-1 Deflection Results Reported by the Composite Beam Design Postprocessor
In the case of cantilever beams, the displacement is measured at the free end relative to the
beam support. For loads other than live loads, the deflection includes the tilt caused by the
rotation of the supported end, taken as equal to the rotation of the point object at the fixed end
computed during analysis with two possible adjustments:
• a reduction of the analysis rotation if the backspan is composite to account for the
increased moment of inertia of the composite section compared to that of the analysis
steel section (incidentally, when designing several selected beams, ETABS identifies
and designs the backspans first)
Composite Beam Deflections 28

Composite Beam Design AISC 360-10 Deflection Checks
• a downwards rotation to account for the initial curvature of the backspan if it has a
camber.
For live loads, the tilt caused by the rotation of the supported end is ignored when the cantilever
is designed as live loads may not always be present on nearby beams.
The automatically created design load combination for computing deflections is given by the
following equation:
ΣWDL + ΣSDL + ΣLL + ΣRLL (AISC L1, ASCE 2.4.1, C.1.1, C.2)
where all the terms are as described in Design Load Combinations. Note that all the load factors
for this serviceability check are 1.0. Dead load deflections are the dead load component of the
deflections computed for this load combination. Likewise, superimposed dead load are the
superimposed dead load component of the deflections computed for it, and live load deflections
are the sum of the unreducible live load and reducible live load components of the deflections
computed for it.
6.2 Dead Load Deflection Check

Shoring during construction affects how dead load deflection is evaluated and how camber is
specified. By default, beams are not shored during construction, but you can specify shoring for
specific beams in the beam overwrites.
If a beam is shored, ETABS computes its dead load deflection using:
• the moment of inertia of the steel section (including any cover plate) Is, if the beam is
non-composite or is a cantilever beam
• Ieff otherwise – see Effective Moment of Inertia for Partial Composite Connection for
information on Ieff
and does not check the computed value against any limit, but retrieves it later, to compute the
total beam deflection.
If a beam is not shored, ETABS computes its dead load deflection based on Is. If the design
preferences or the beam overwrites specify a maximum limit for dead load deflection, ETABS
checks that the dead load deflection is less.
6.3 Camber
If you have specified a specific camber during interactive beam design or in the beam
overwrites, ETABS uses that camber.
Otherwise, it computes a camber equal to 80% of the dead load deflection, rounded down to the
nearest beam camber increment if the beam and its structural steel section meet the following
criteria:
Deflection Checks 29
• the beam is not shored

• camber is not preempted in the beam overwrites
• the beam span is more than 24 ft.
• the depth of the steel section is more than 14 in.
• the web thickness of the section is more than ¼ in.
• the computed camber is at least the minimum camber specified in the design
preferences
If that camber is more than the maximum camber specified in the design preferences, the
maximum camber is used.
All the numbers used in the above criteria, as well as the 80% ratio, can be changed in the
design preferences. The next to last three criteria implement recommendations published by
AISC in the Specifying Camber Steelwise article of Modern Steel Construction, July 2006.
6.4 Post-Composite and Live Load Deflection Checks

ETABS computes the superimposed dead load and live load deflections using Is if the beam is
designed as non-composite or is a cantilever beam, Ieff, otherwise.
In the case of a moment-connected beam supported at both ends, ETABS makes an allowance
for pattern loading in which only a fraction of the live load is present on the adjacent spans
since this will increase the estimated deflection of the beam. Also, note that Ieff is used along the
entire length of the beam, even in the areas of negative bending.
You can specify an adjustment factor for Ieff in the design preferences.
If the design preferences or the beam overwrites specify a maximum limit for post-composite
deflection, the sum of the superimposed dead load and live load deflections is checked against
that limit.
If the design preferences or the beam overwrites specify a maximum limit for live load
deflection, ETABS checks that the live load deflection is less.
6.5 Net Deflection Checks

If the design preferences or the beam overwrites specify a maximum limit for net deflection, the
sum of the dead load, superimposed dead load, and live load deflections, minus any computed
camber, is checked versus that maximum limit.
6.6 Additional Cantilever Backspan Checks

When designing a beam that acts as a cantilever backspan, ETABS performs some additional
checks to ensure its deflection will not cause the connected cantilever(s) at the end(s) to tilt
excessively.
Each cantilever deflection is computed assuming the same section for the cantilever and the
backspan and as explained in Composite Beam Deflections for loads other than live loads.
The cantilever live load deflection is taken as equal to its tilt, i.e., it is computed assuming no
live load on the cantilever, and with a rotation at the supported end corresponding to the rotation
induced by a fraction the design live load on the backspan. The value of that fraction is the
Pattern Live Load Factor specified in the Beam Tab of the Composite Beam Preferences form.
7 Shear Studs
This chapter explains how ETABS determines the total number of shear studs required to satisfy
the design requirements on a composite beam, and their distribution.
It first introduces the concept of “beam segments”, along with the maximum workable and
minimum required numbers of shear studs on any beam segment based on the minimum and
maximum spacing requirements specified in the design preferences.
Next, it explains how shear studs are distributed along the beam segments to satisfy design
requirements.
Finally, it explains how composite beams are designed when their shear stud distribution is
user-specified.
7.1 Beam Segments and their Maximum and Minimum Numbers of Studs
7.1.1 Beam Segments

ETABS divides the top flange of each composite beam into one or more beam segments that
together extend along the length of the beam. A composite beam segment may span between
any two of the following three locations:
• the physical end of the beam top flange, which takes into account the physical
dimensions of the frame object or wall object supporting the beam, plus a half inch gap,
• a connection to another beam that frames into or sits on the beam being considered,
• the physical end of the concrete slab on top of the beam.
Figure 7-1 shows some examples of beam segments. The figure uses the following notation:
L = Length of composite beam measured from center-of-support to center-of-support

LCBS = Length of a beam segment
Beam Segments and their Maximum and Minimum Numbers of Studs 32

Composite Beam Design AISC 360-10 Shear Studs
LCBS
a) LCBS for Beam Between Two Columns
LCBS
b) LCBS for Beam Between Two Girders
LCBS LCBS LCBS
c) LCBS when Beams Frame into Considered Beam
End of
slab
LCBS
d) LCBS when Slab Ends in Beam Span
Figure 7-1 – Examples of Beam Segments and their Lengths
Shear Studs 33
7.1.2 Maximum Number of Shear Studs on Beam Segments

As stated in Deck Properties and Effective Slab Width, for the purpose of composite beam
design, there is at most a single deck type and orientation on each side of the middle range of
the beam.
7.1.2.1 Deck Ribs Oriented Perpendicular to Beam Span

If the deck on the left side or the deck on the right side, or both of them, has or have ribs and is
or are perpendicular to the beam, then shear studs must be placed within these deck ribs. The
number of rows of shear studs running along the width of the beam flange in each metal deck
rib is limited to one. For a typical case with 3/4" diameter shear studs and an average width of
the deck rib equal to 6 inches, it is difficult to fit more than one row of shear studs in a deck rib
and still have adequate edge clearances. (To have more than one row of shear studs in a single
deck rib, you can specify a user-defined shear stud pattern for the beam.) The maximum number
of shear studs that can be placed on a segment is then equal to the product of the number of
deck ribs that occur in that segment times the maximum number of shear studs that can be
placed within one rib.
The number of deck ribs itself is computed by dividing the segment length, LCB, by the deck rib
spacing and rounding the number down. When the deck on the left and the deck on the right
have a different rib spacing, the widest one is used.
The maximum number of shear studs that can be placed within one rib is computed based on the
beam flange width, the minimum transversal shear stud spacing specified in the design
preferences, and a side cover requirement of one inch or one stud diameter, whichever is larger,
as illustrated in the sketch below. If you want, you can specify a different maximum number of
studs that can be placed within one rib in the beam overwrites.
≥ ds & ≥ 1"
7.1.2.2 Solid Slab or Deck Ribs Oriented Parallel to Beam Span

If instead:
• there is a deck on one side only of the beam and it is a solid slab type or it is parallel to
the beam
• or there are decks on both sides of the beam and both decks are a solid slab type or are
parallel to the beam
shear studs can be placed anywhere on the flange of the beam. (This assumes that the deck is
split over the flange of the beam if necessary.)
The maximum number of shear studs that can be placed in a single row along a segment is
Shear Studs 34
computed by dividing the segment length, LCB, by the minimum longitudinal shear stud spacing
specified in the design preferences and rounding the number down.
The maximum number of rows of studs on the beam is computed based on the beam flange
width, the minimum transversal shear stud spacing specified in the design preferences, and a
side cover requirement of one inch or one stud diameter, whichever is larger, as illustrated in the
sketch above. Again, the maximum number of rows of studs that can be placed on the beam can
be specified in the beam overwrites.
7.1.2.3 No Deck or Unfilled Deck

When there is no deck on either side of the middle range of a beam, the beam is not designed as
composite and does not place any studs on it. It does the same when the decks on both sides of
the beam are unfilled, or when there is a deck on only one side and it is unfilled.
7.1.3 Minimum Number of Shear Studs on Beam Segments

Generally, the minimum number of shear studs required to satisfy the maximum spacing
requirements on a beam segment is computed by dividing the segment length by the maximum
shear stud spacing and rounding the number up.
If the deck on the left side or the deck on the right side, or both of them, has or have ribs and is
or are perpendicular to the beam, shear studs must be placed within the deck ribs and the
maximum shear stud spacing is rounded down to the nearest multiple of the rib spacing. When
the deck on the left and the deck on the right have a different rib spacing, the widest one is used.
7.2 Strength of Shear Studs

ETABS only supports the use of steel headed stud anchors as shear studs. Accordingly, the
capacity Qn of a single shear stud is equal to:
=Qn 0.5 Asa f c′Ec ≤ Rg R p Asa Fu (AISC I8-1)
where Rg and Rp are defined in the table below:
Condition Rg Rp
Solid slab (No decking) 1.0 0.75
Decking oriented parallel to the steel shape

wr
≥ 1.5
hr 1.0 0.75
wr
< 1.5 0.85 0.75
hr
Shear Studs 35
Decking oriented perpendicular to the steel shape.

Number of steel headed stud anchors occupying the same
deck rib:
1 1.0 0.6+
2 0.85 0.6+
3 or more 0.7 0.6+
+
This value may be increased to 0.75 when emid-ht ≥ 2 in. (51 mm).
The terms f c′ and Ec can be different on the two sides of the beam. The program computes Qn for
each side of the beam separately and uses the smaller value in the calculations.
You can specify the value of Qn to use for any given beam in the beam overwrites. This can be
useful in case you want to use channel anchors as shear studs.
7.3 How ETABS Distributes Shear Studs on Beams

A beam is considered non-composite if its effective width is zero, or the deck(s) next to it is
(are) not filled. Also, you can specify in their overwrites if ETABS is to design beams as non-
composite without studs, non-composite with studs, composite as required, or always
composite.
If a beam is non-composite, a minimum number of shear studs are placed on it, as explained in
Minimum Number of Shear Studs on Beam Segments, or no studs if it is what you specified in
the beam overwrites.
If the strength and stiffness of the structural steel section are adequate without composite action,
and you have not specified always composite in the beam overwrites, a minimum number of
shear studs are placed.
Otherwise, ETABS determines the optimal number of shear studs through an iterative process,
in which for each iteration:
• a tentative percentage of composite action is set,

• a corresponding shear stud distribution is computed as explained below,
• the strength and deflection of the beam with that shear stud distribution are checked as
explained in Strength Checks and Deflection Checks — with, in particular, Mn
computed for each station being checked based on the number of shear studs acting at
that station
• a next percentage of composite action is chosen based on the results of the checks.
The investigated percentage of composite action is at least:
• 25% or the minimum percentage of composite action you specified in the design
Shear Studs 36
preferences,
• whatever you set it to in interactive design mode.
Also, the investigated percentage of composite action cannot exceed the maximum percentage
of composite action specified in the design preferences.
For a given percentage of composite action, ETABS computes the corresponding target
horizontal shear force Vh to be provided by the shear studs between the location of the
maximum bending moment and the nearest point of zero-moment for each load combination.
If there are point loads on the beam, ETABS also computes, for each point load location and
each load combination, a target horizontal shear force Vh2 to be provided by the shear studs
between the location of the point load and the nearest point of zero-moment per the following
equation:
 M u − φ M n steel alone 
Vh 2 = Vh  
 φ M n comp − φ M n steel alone
 
where:
Mn comp = Maximum moment capacity of the composite beam, considering partial

composite connection if applicable, kip-in.
Mn steel alone = Moment capacity of the steel beam alone, kip-in.
Mu = Moment at the point load location, kip-in.
Vh = Horizontal shear force to be provided by the shear studs between the point
of maximum moment and the point of zero moment, kips
Vh2 = Horizontal shear force to be provided by the shear studs between the point
load considered and the point of zero moment, kips
The use of this equation is conservative because it assumes a linear relationship between the
percentage of composite action and the beam plastic moment capacity, whereas the actual
plastic moment capacity is somewhat higher, as depicted in AISC Figure C-18.2.
The design load combinations are then sorted in order of decreasing shear stud densities. The
shear stud density is the ratio of the target horizontal shear force to the corresponding distance
between the nearest point of zero moment and the location at which the shear force was
computed.
The shear studs are then distributed on the beam segments. ETABS first places the minimum
number required to satisfy maximum spacing requirements on all the segments. Then, starting
with the design load combination with the greatest shear stud requirement, and continuing with
the following load combinations, it checks that, at each of the locations where a shear force has
been computed, there are enough shear studs on the segments to develop that shear force. If
there aren’t enough, the number of shear stud on the segments is progressively increased,
starting with the segments closest to the ends of the beam, until there are enough shear studs.
Shear Studs 37
7.4 User Defined Shear Stud Distributions

As mentioned in the Introduction and explained in Shear Studs Tab, you can specify composite
shear stud distributions in the beam overwrites. This can be useful when you check an existing
building, or when you are not satisfied with the shear stud distribution generated. Before you
use this feature, note that in interactive design mode, you can vary the percentage of composite
action for a given structural steel section, view the resulting stress, deflection ratios, and shear
stud distributions for each of these percentages, and choose one. Also, note that you can achieve
a shear stud distribution of one shear stud per foot on most beams by setting the maximum
longitudinal shear stud spacing in the design preferences to one foot.
When you specify the shear stud distribution on a beam, ETABS computes the number of rows
of shear studs along the beam based on the deck type and the deck orientation relative to the
beam as explained above. This number of rows determines the number of shear studs per row
and the individual capacities Qn of the shear studs.
ETABS checks the strength and deflection of the beam as explained in Strength Checks and in
Deflection Checks — with, in particular, Mn computed for each station being checked based on
the number of shear studs acting at that station.
Shear stud minimum spacing requirements are NOT checked for user-defined shear stud
distributions.
Shear Studs 38
8 Vibration Checks
By default, ETABS checks beam vibration acceptability when designing composite beams.
ETABS can apply one of the three sets of design criteria defined in AISC Steel Design Guide 11
Second Edition (DG11):
• design criterion for walking excitation

• design criteria for rhythmic excitation
• design criteria for sensitive equipment and sensitive occupancies
Which of these criteria to apply depends on the intended use of the space supported by a beam.
By default, the walking excitation criterion is applied. You can specify another DG11 set of
criteria, or no criteria at all, on a model-wide basis in the design preferences, and on a beam-by-
beam basis in the beam overwrites.
The evaluation of each of these sets of criteria depends on the values of a number of associated
parameters. When you specify a set of criteria, default values will be used. You can modify
most of these default values on a model-wide basis, and all on a beam-by-beam basis.
The vibration criteria is applied on a beam-by-beam basis: When it assesses the vibrations of a
beam supported by girders, ETABS computes the contributing characteristics of the girders
based on their current designs, and does not attempt to re-design the girders in order to satisfy
the beam vibrations criteria.
After explaining how several quantities common to all DG11 criteria are computed, the
remainder of this chapter explains how each of the DG11 sets of criteria is implemented.
In the case of design for sensitive equipment, DG11 distinguishes between evaluation against a
generic velocity limit, against a waveform peak velocity or acceleration specific limit, and
against a narrowband spectral velocity or acceleration specific limit, but currently only the first
one is implemented.
8.1 Effective Panel Weight

The effective panel weight for the beam or girder panel modes is equal to:
W = wBL (DG11 4.2)
Effective Panel Weight 39

Composite Beam Design AISC 360-10 Vibration Checks
w, the supported weight per unit area, is computed as the sum of the dead loads (not counting any
superimposed dead loads), plus the additional dead load and live load specified by DG11 for the
occupancy type specified in the design preferences. If you want, you can override the occupancy
type, and/or the associated additional dead load and live load in the beam overwrites.
For the beam panel mode, the effective width is equal to:
B j C j ( Ds D j )
14
= L j ≤ 2 3 × Floor Width (DG11 4.3a)
where:
C j = 2.0 for beams in most areas

= 1.0 for beams parallel to a free edge
Ds = I slab = Transformed slab moment of inertia per unit width
beff • n
Dj = I tr S = Transformed beam composite section moment of inertia per unit width
Itr = Transformed beam composite section moment inertia
S = Beam spacing
Lj = Beam span
DG11 defines a free edge as the edge of a balcony, a mezzanine, or the building edge if the
cladding is not connected. ETABS considers a beam parallel to a free edge if that beam is at the
limit of the building or is next to an opening, but you can explicitly set whether the beam is
parallel to a free edge in the beam overwrites.
As mentioned in Transformed Section Moment of Inertia, Itr is computed differently for

vibration checks and deflection checks. Also, note that ETABS computes Islab more precisely
than DG11: DG11 averages the thickness of the slab and ribs, and acknowledges it is an
approximation, whereas ETABS uses the actual deck ribs geometry.
For the girder panel mode, the effective width is equal to:
Bg C g ( D j D g )
14
= Lg ≤ 2 3 × Floor Length (DG11 4.3b)
where:
Cg = 1.6 for girders supporting beams connected to the girder flange

= 1.8 for girders supporting beams connected to the girder web
Dg = Girder transformed moment of inertia per unit width
= I tr − g L j for all except edge girders
= I tr − g 2 L j for edge girders
Lg = Girder span
Vibration Checks 40
When the beam being designed is supported by two girders with different stiffness, the
computations are based on the properties of the most flexible one. Also, the moment of inertia
of the girder, Itr-g, is the composite transformed moment of inertia of the girder, even when it is
designed per the steel frame design procedure. This is consistent with DG11 Section 3.2, which
specifies using the composite transformed moment of inertia of a beam even when there are no
shear studs on it as long as the slab or deck is somehow attached to it. If the girder is separated
from the slab (e.g., the case of beams with overhangs that extend over a supporting girder), you
can instruct ETABS to use the moment of inertia of the girder steel section in the beam
overwrites.
The floor width and floor length are computed based on the extents of the framing at the story
and in the tower where the beam being designed is located. The floor length and width are
measured parallel and perpendicular to the beam being designed, respectively, at its location.
You can specify their values in the beam overwrites.
When a beam is continuous over its supports, which per DG 11 includes the case where it
attached to girder webs, and the adjacent beam spans are greater than 0.7 times the beam span
under consideration, the effective panel weight, Wj, is increased by 50 percent.
For the combined mode, the panel weight, W, is equal to:
∆j ∆ 'g
=W Wj + Wg (DG11 4.4)
∆ j + ∆ 'g ∆ j + ∆ 'g
where:
∆ j = mid-span deflection of the beam under the weight it supports,

∆ 'g = reduced mid-span deflection of the girder, if any, under the weight it supports
Lg
∆ 'g = ∆ g where Lg/Bj is taken as not less than 0.5 nor greater than 1.0
Bj
∆ j and ∆ g are computed as explained in Composite Beam Deflections.
8.2 Floor Fundamental Natural Vibration Frequency

In the case of design for walking excitation and rhythmic excitation, the floor fundamental
natural vibration frequency, fn, is evaluated as:
g
f n = 0.18 (DG11 3.4)
(∆ j + ∆g )
In the case of design for sensitive occupancies and sensitive occupancies, fn, is the smallest of
the beam frequency, and the girder frequency if there is a girder:
fn = min(fj, fg)
Vibration Checks 41
where:
g
f j = 0.18 (DG11 3.3)
∆j
g
f g = 0.18 (DG11 3.3)
∆g
If you want, you can specify the value of fn in the beam overwrites.
8.3 Design for Walking Excitation

The design of the beam must be such that the predicted peak acceleration of the floor, ap,
satisfies:
ap a0
≤ (DG11 2.6)
g g
where a0 is a specified walking tolerance acceleration limit which depends on the intended use
of the space supported by the beam, and ap/g is equal to:
P0e(
−0.35 f n )
ap
= (DG11 4.1)
g βW
with:
P0 = amplitude of the driving force, always 65 lbs. in accordance with DG11 Section
4.1.1
β = modal damping ratio
DG11 Table 4.1 lists recommended values for the ratio a0/g and you can set it accordingly in the
design preferences or the beam overwrites.
DG11 Table 4.2 provides guidelines for estimating β and you can set it accordingly in the
design preferences or the beam overwrites.
8.4 Design for Rhythmic Excitation

In the case of design for rhythmic excitation, the design of the beam must be such that the
predicted peak acceleration of the floor, ap, satisfies:
ap a0
≤ (DG11 2.18)
g g
While this equation is the same as DG 11 Equation 2.6, ap and a0 are computed differently than
in the case of design for walking excitation.
Vibration Checks 42
Recommended values for the ratio a0/g are listed in DG11 Table 5.1.
ap depends on the step frequency of the rhythmic activity. DG11 Table 5.2 provides suggested
ranges of step frequency and Equation 2.18 must be satisfied for all intermediate step
frequencies included within these ranges.
For a given step frequency fstep , ap is the combination of the floor responses to each harmonic of
the dynamic force and is given by:
ap
=
(∑ a )1.5 1/1.5
pj
(DG11 5-1)
g g
where the peak acceleration due to the ith harmonic is given by:
a pj 1.3αi w p wt
= (DG11 5.2)
g  f  2
 
2 2

 n  − 1 +  2βf n 
 
 if step    if step 
 
with:
αi = Dynamic coefficient from DG11 Table 5.2

wp = Effective weight per unit area of participants distributed over floor panel
wt = Effective distributed weight per unit area of floor panel, including occupants
i = 1 for the 1st harmonic, 2 for the 2nd one, 3 for the 3rd one
8.5 Design for Sensitive Equipment and Sensitive Occupancies

As mentioned above, while there are several DG 11 design criteria for sensitive equipment and
sensitive occupancies ETABS only implements the one that evaluates the beam response as a
velocity, which it compares to a specified maximum velocity, V1/3, Lim. The design of the beam
must be such that the floor maximum one-third octave spectral velocity due to walking, V1/3
satisfies:
φWV1/3 ≤ V1/3,Lim
where ΦW is a normalized mode shape value which accounts for the location of the walker
relative to the beam. The default value of ΦW is 1.0, corresponding to the worst-case scenario of
the walker located at mid-span, but you can specify a different value in the beam overwrites.
V1/3 is computed differently based on the type of walking — very slow, slow, moderate, or fast.
You can specify the type of walking in the design preferences and the beam overwrites.
In the case of very slow walking, V1/3 is equal to:
Vibration Checks 43
2.43
250 × 106 f step
=V1/3
βW fn 1.8
1− e (
−2πβ f n / f step
) (DG11 6-3a)
with:
fn = min(fb, fg) where fb is the beam frequency, and fg is the girder frequency if the
beam is supported by a girder
fstep = average step frequency from DG11 Table 6.
W = value of panel weight measured in lbs.
In the case of slow, moderate, or fast walking, V1/3 is equal to:
175 × 106 −γ f n
V1/3 = e if f n ≤ f L (DG11 6-3b)
βW f n
2.43
250 × 106 f step
=V1/3
βW fn 1.8 (
1− e )
−2πβ f n / f step
if f n ≥ fU (DG11 6-3b)
with:
f L = intermediate zone lower boundary frequency from DG11 Table 6.1
fU = intermediate zone upper boundary frequency from DG11 Table 6.1
γ = dynamic load parameter from DG11 Table 6.1

and with the value of V1/3 obtained by linear interpolation between the two above values for
intermediate values of fn.
The values of fstep, fL, fU and γ depend on the type of walking. DG11 Table 6.1 provides
recommended values. These recommended values are automatically selected when you set the
type of walking in the design preferences and beam overwrites, but you can specify different
values afterwards. The value of V1/3, Lim depends on the intended use of the space supported by
the beam. DG11 Table 6.2 provides recommended values of V1/3, Lim. This recommended value
is automatically selected when you set the occupancy in the design preferences and beam
overwrites, but you can specify a different value afterwards.
Vibration Checks 44
9. Web Openings
You can add, modify, and delete beam web openings on any beam that is designed per the
composite beam design procedure and per the AISC 360-05, AISC 360-10 or AISC 360-16
specification by designing it interactively with the Interactive Composite Beam Design form
and clicking the Web Openings button, which in turn displays the Beam Web Openings form.
While the design procedure of the beam needs to be composite beam design, the design of the
beam does not need to be composite.
In accordance with AISC Commentary Section G8, the strength of a beam with web openings is
checked at these openings per the provisions of the ASCE 23-97 Specification for Structural
Beams with Web Openings (ASCE 23-97).
ASCE 23-97 places empirical limits on the location, size, and spacing of web openings. Before
checking the strength of a beam with web openings, ETABS first checks that the openings
locations, dimensions, are within these limits.
Because the minimum opening spacing depends on the strength demand/capacity ratios of the
beam at these openings, the opening spacing requirements are not checked until after the
strength of the beam has been checked.
In this chapter, the top tee and the bottom tee refer to the regions of the beam section above and
below a web opening.
9.1 Steel Section Restrictions

Per ASCE 23-97 Section 5.1, the section of a beam with web openings must be a compact
section. Accordingly, when a beam has web openings, ETABS only selects compact sections
and deems other sections not acceptable. As stated in Steel Section Classification, when
designing composite beams, ETABS anyway never selects slender-element sections or sections
with webs that are not compact.
Also, when h0 ≥ 0.3d, where h0 is the height of the opening and d is the depth of the steel
section, ASCE 23-97 limits the width to thickness ratio of the section web:
(d − 2t f ) / tw ≤ 520 / Fy with Fy in ksi (ASCE 23-97 Sections 5.2.1 and 5.2.2)
Steel Section Restrictions 45

Composite Beam Design AISC 360-10 Web Openings
9.2 Limits on Opening Placement and Dimensions

The following ASCE 23-97 requirements must be satisfied:
9.2.1 Aspect Ratio

a0
When h0 ≥ 0.3d, ASCE 23-97 limits the aspect ratio of the opening, where a0 is the length of
h0
the opening, to the following:
a0
<= 3.0 when web of the section satisfies ( d − 2t f ) / tw ≤ 420 / Fy
h0
a0
<= 2.2 otherwise (ASCE 23-97 Sections 5.2.1 and 5.2.3)
h0
Also, when h0 ≥ 0.3d, the opening must be proportioned so that:
=p0 ( a0 / h0 ) + (6h=
0 / d ) < 5.6 for non-composite beams,
=p0 ( a0 / h0 ) + (6h=
0 / d ) < 6.0 for composite beams(ASCE 23-97 Sections 5.2.1 and 5.2.4)
9.2.2 Buckling of Tee-shaped Compression Zone

ASCE 23-97 requires that non-composite tees in compression be designed as axially loaded
columns when M u / (Vu • d ) > 20 where Mu and Vu are the factored bending moment and
shear, respectively, at the centerline of the opening and when ν exceeds 4, where:
ν = aspect ratio of the tee = a0 / st or a0 / st if the opening is reinforced
st = depth of tee
st = effective depth of a reinforced tee = st − Awr / (2b f )

ETABS makes sure this requirement does not apply, then evaluates the ratio M u / (Vu • d ) for
each of the various design load combinations. When that ratio exceeds 20 for a given load
combination, and:
• the beam is non-composite, or

• the load combination is a construction load combination and the beam is not shored, or
• Mu is negative
ETABS then limits the ratio ν of the tee in compression to no more than 4.
Web Openings 46
9.2.3 Maximum Opening Dimensions

Per ASCE 23-97 Section 5.5, h0 cannot be greater than 0.7d and a0 cannot be greater than 1.5d.
9.2.4 Tee Proportions

Per ASCE 23-97 Section 5.6, the depth of a tee in compression cannot be less than 0.15d and
the ratio ν of a tee in compression cannot exceed 12. Whether the tee in compression is the top
one or the bottom one depends on the sign of the bending moment, and these two requirements
are checked for each of the various design load combinations.
9.2.5 Concentrated Loads

Per ASCE 23-97 Section 5.8, no web opening can be located under a point load. Accordingly,
when designing a girder supporting beams, ETABS checks that its web openings are located
away from the beams framing in.
Web openings are not checked to be located away from point loads caused by loads applied to
the model joint objects.
9.2.6 Placement of Openings

Per ASCE 23-97 Section 5.9, the nearest edge of a web opening cannot be closer than a distance
d from the support. The edges of all web openings are checked to be no closer than a distance d
from the beam ends. Note that the two checks are not equivalent in the case of beams with
overhangs that extend over a supporting girder.
9.2.7 Reinforcement Plate Aspect Ratio

To avoid compromising the compact classification of the beam section, the width, b, and the
thickness, t, of the reinforcement plates, if there are some, must satisfy the following equation:
b E
≤ 0.38 (AISC Table B4.1b)
t Fy
9.3 Strength Checks

The section of the beam and, if the beam is composite, its shear stud distribution must be such
that the interaction of flexure and shear for each of the various design load combinations
satisfies:
3 3
 M u   Vu 
  +  ≤ 1.0 (ASCE 23-97 Eqn. 1)
 Φ 0 M m   Φ 0Vm 
Web Openings 47
where:
Mu = factored moment at centerline of opening

Vu = factored shear at centerline of opening
Mm = maximum nominal flexural capacity at opening; occurs when Vu = 0
Vm = maximum nominal shear capacity at opening; occurs when Mu = 0
Φ0 = resistance factor for opening design = 0.90 for non-composite beams, and 0.85 for
composite beams
9.3.1 Maximum Nominal Flexural Capacity

Per ASCE 23-97 Section 4.2, the maximum nominal flexural capacity at an opening Mm is
determined based on the plastic distribution on the net section. In the case of composite beams,
the calculation is identical to the calculation presented in Composite Plastic Moment Capacity
for Positive Bending, with the following two adjustments:
1. the compression force in the concrete slab, which ASCE 23-97 refers to as Pc instead of C is
the smallest of:
=Pc 0.85( f c'−left Ac −left + f c'− right Ac − right ) (equivalent to ASCE 23-97 C6a)
N
Pc = ∑ Qn (equivalent to ASCE 23-97 C6b)
1
Pc = Asn Fy (ASCE 23-97 C6c)
where:
f c'−left , f c'− right = specified concrete compressive strengths on left and right sides of beam,
respectively
Ac-left,Ac-right = areas of concrete slab within effective width on left and right sides of
beam, respectively
N = number of shear studs between the high moment end of the opening and
the support
Qn = individual shear stud capacity previously computed for the beam
Asn = the net area of the steel section = As − h0tw + 2 Awr
Awr = cross-sectional area of web reinforcement along top or bottom edge of

opening
2. AISC Equation C-I3-10 is adjusted to account for the hole in the beam web and the optional
opening reinforcement:
M n = Pc ( d1 + d 2 ) + Fy Asn ( d 3 − d 2 ) + Fy ( As − Asn )e
Web Openings 48
where:
e = eccentricity of web opening: distance from the centerline of the steel

section to the centerline of the opening, positive when the opening is
above the centerline of the steel section
In accordance with ASCE23-97 Section 4.3.2, only shear studs completely within the defined
range are counted when computing N.
Equations ASCE 23-97 C6a and AISC C-I3-7 are identical. As explained in Composite Plastic
Moment Capacity for Positive Bending, to evaluate equation ASCE 23-97 C6a the maximum
compressive forces that can be developed by the concrete in the slab on the left side of the beam
are calculated separately from the right side of the beam, and added together.
N
The term NQn in ASCE23-97 Equation C6-b has been replaced with ∑Q
n =1
n to account for the
case where the number of shear studs per row varies along the length of the beam and, with it,
the value of Qn.
Per ASCE 23-97 Section 4.2, when an opening is reinforced, Mm cannot exceed the nominal
flexural capacity of the unperforated section without reinforcement.
9.3.2 Maximum Nominal Shear Capacity

Per ASCE 23-97 Section 4.3, the maximum nominal shear capacity at an opening Vm is equal to
the sum of the shear capacities of the top tee and bottom tee: Vm = ΣVmt
Per ASCE 23-97 Section 5.6, the shear capacity for an individual tee Vmt is considered zero if:
• the depth of a tee in tension is less than 0.15d for non-composite beams or 0.12d for
composite beams, or
• ν of the tee is greater than 12.
9.3.2.1 General Equations

Per ASCE 23-97 Section 4.3.1, the shear capacity for an individual tee Vmt, including the top tee
in a composite beam for which ( )( )
6 + µ / ν + 3 ≤ 1.0 is given by:
6+µ
=Vmt V pt ≤ V pt (ASCE 23-97 2)
ν+ 3
where:
Vpt = plastic shear capacity of the web of the of the tee = Fy tw st / 3
Fy = specified minimum yield stress of steel
Web Openings 49
tw = thickness of the web

bf = width of flange
µ= ratio relating the secondary bending moment contributions of concrete and opening
reinforcement to the product of the plastic shear capacity of a tee the depth of the
tee,
2 Pr d r + Pch d h − Pcl d l
µ= (ASCE 23-97 3)
V pt st
where:
Pr = force in reinforcement along one edge of opening = Fy Awr ≤ Fy twa0 / (2 3)

≤ Fy ( Af + Afr )
dr = distance from outside edge of flange to centroid of reinforcement

Pch, Pcl = concrete forces at high and low moment ends of opening, respectively; for top
tees in composite sections only
dh, dl = distances from outside edge of top flange to centroid of concrete force at high
and low moment ends of opening, respectively; for top tees in composite
sections only
Af = area of flange = bf tf
Afp = area of flange cover plate reinforcement
tf = thickness of flange
9.3.2.2 Top Tees in Composite Beams

Per ASCE 23-97 Section 4.3.2, the force in the concrete at the high moment end of the opening,
Pch, is the smallest of:
=Pch 0.85( f c'−left Ac −left + f c'− right Ac − right ) (equivalent to ASCE 23-97 4a)
N
Pch = ∑ Qn (equivalent to ASCE 23-97 4b)
n =1
Pch = Fy Ast (ASCE 23-97 4c)
where Ast is the steel area of top tee, including the area of any opening reinforcement.
Per ASCE 23-97 Section 4.3.2, the force in the concrete at the high moment end of the opening,
Pcl, is equal to:
N0
Pcl =Pch − ∑ Qn ≥ 0 (equivalent to ASCE 23-97 5)
n =1
Web Openings 50
where N0 is the number of shear studs fully over the opening.

N
The terms NQn and N0Qn in ASCE23-97 Equations 4-b and 5 have been replaced with ∑Q
n =1
n
N0
and ∑Q
n =1
n to account for the case where the number of shear studs per row varies along the
length of the beam and with it the value of Qn.
In accordance with ASCE 23-97 Section 4.3:
• dh is computed assuming the concrete is in compression at the top of the deck, down to a
specific depth, and the determination of dh is identical to the determination of d presented
in Composite Plastic Moment Capacity for Positive Bending
• dl is computed assuming the concrete is in compression at the bottom of the deck, if the
deck ribs are parallel to the beam, or at the bottom of the slab cover otherwise, up to a
specific depth. The determination of dl is not presented, but it is somewhat similar to the
determination of d, with the difference that the concrete compression block extends from
the top of the beam towards the top of the deck, instead of the reverse.
If the ratio ( )(
6+µ / ν + 3 ) exceeds 1.0, the values of Pch and accordingly Pl are
recomputed based on the following additional restriction:
Pch ≤ Fy t f (b f − tw ) + Awr  (ASCE 23-97 9)
and Vmt is equal to:
µ
Vmt
= V ≥ V pt (ASCE 23-97 8)
ν pt
withν = a0 / st
In no case can the value of Vmt computed for the top tee in a composite beam exceed its plastic
shear capacity, Vmt(sh) given by:
) V pt + 0.11 f c' Avc

Vmt ( sh= (ASCE 23-97 10b)
where :
Avc = effective concrete area shear area = 3ts te

ts = total thickness of the slab
te = average thickness of the slab, including the concrete in the ribs when they are
parallel to the beam
Web Openings 51
9.3.3 Lateral Buckling

ASCE 23-97 Section 5.4 specifies that non-composite beams and negative moment regions of
composite beams subject to lateral buckling of the compression flange shall be proportioned so
that strength is not governed by the strength at an opening, determined without regard to lateral
buckling. Additionally, ASCE 23-97 Section 5.4 specifies that the effect of the opening on
lateral buckling of the member shall be considered.
ETABS does not check either of these two provisions.
9.4 Circular Openings

Per ASCE 23-97 Section 5-11, the equations above still apply, with the following substitutions:
• for unreinforced openings
h0 = D0 for bending
h0 = 0.9 D0 for shear
a 0 = 0.45D0
• for reinforced openings
h0 = D0
a 0 = 0.45D0
9.5 Minimum Spacing between Openings

In accordance with ASCE 23-97 Section 5.10, when there are several web openings on a beam,
the clear spacing S between any two openings is checked to satisfy the following equations:
• for rectangular openings
S ≥ h0 (ASCE 23-97 11a)
Vu
Φ 0V p
S ≥ a0 (ASCE 23-97 11b)
V
1− u
Φ 0V p
• for circular openings
S ≥ 1.5D0 (ASCE 23-97 12a)
Web Openings 52
Vu
Φ 0V p
S ≥ D0 (ASCE 23-97 12b)
V
1− u
Φ 0V p
Additionally, if the beam is composite, the spacing between any two openings must also satisfy:
S ≥ a0 (ASCE 23-97 Eqn. 13a)
S ≥ 2d for rectangular openings (ASCE 23-97 Eqn. 13b)
Web Openings 53
Appendix A. Design Preferences
The composite beam design preferences are assignments that apply to all the composite beams
in a model. You can review and modify their values with the Design > Composite Beam
Design > View/Revise Preferences... The command displays the Composite Beam Design
Preferences form, which features seven tabs:
• Beam tab
• Shear Studs tab
• Camber tab
• Deflection tab
• Vibration tab
• Price tab
• Factors tab
A1. Beam Tab

Table A1 lists the design preference items available on the Beam tab:
Table A1: Composite Beam Preferences on the Beam Tab
Item Possible Default Value Description

Values
Shored Toggle for shored or unshored
Yes/No No
Construction? construction.
Length in the middle of the beam over
which the program checks the effective
Middle Range (%) ≥ 0% 70%
width on each side of the beam, expressed
as a percentage of the total beam length.
Factor applied to live load for special
Pattern Live Load
≥0 0.75 pattern live load check for cantilever back
Factor
spans and continuous spans.
Design Preferences 54
Composite Beam Design AISC 360-10 Design Preferences
Table A1: Composite Beam Preferences on the Beam Tab

Values
The acceptable stress ratio limit. This item
Stress Ratio Limit >0 1.0
applies to design optimization only.
A2. Shear Studs Tab

Table A2 lists the design preference items available on the Shear Studs tab:
Table A2: Composite Beam Preferences on the Shear Studs Tab

Values
Minimum percent composite connection
applied to the beams that require
Minimum PCC composite action to meet strength or
>0 25
(%) deflection criteria. This percentage also
applies to beams for which Always
Composite is specified in the Overwrites.
Maximum percent composite connection
Maximum PCC(%) >0 100
for the beams.
Toggle for placement of shear studs in a
single segment. To place studs in a single
Single segment with uniform spacing throughout
Yes/No No
Segment? the beam, select Yes. This factor has no
effect on checking beams with user-
defined shear stud distributions.
6ds Minimum longitudinal spacing of shear
Min. Long.
>0 (i.e., six stud studs along the length of the beam.
Spacing
diameters)
Maximum longitudinal spacing of shear
studs along the length of the beam. This
Max. Long.
>0 36 inches setting applies to all beams composite or
Spacing
non-composite unless "NonComposite w/o
Studs" is specified in the overwrites.
4ds Minimum transverse spacing of shear
Min. Trans.
>0 (i.e., four stud studs across the beam flange.
Spacing
diameters)
Shear Studs Tab 55

Table A2: Composite Beam Preferences on the Shear Studs Tab

Values
Max. Studs per Maximum number of shear studs in a
>0 3
Row single row across the beam flange.
Middle of the Toggle controlling the location of shear
Position of Shear Ribs/Weak Middle of the studs within deck ribs when the deck is
Studs in Deck Ribs Position/ Ribs perpendicular to the beam. It changes the
Strong Position stud shear strength.
A3. Camber Tab

Table A3 lists the design preference items available on the Camber tab:
Table A3: Composite Beam Preferences on the Camber Tab

Values
Toggle for whether or not beams have a
Calculate Camber? Yes/No Yes
camber.
Percent of dead load (not including
Camber DL, % ≥0 80 superimposed dead load) on which camber
calculations are based.
Minimum Beam Actual (not nominal) beam depth below
≥0 13.5 in.
Depth for Camber which beams are never cambered.
Minimum Web Web thickness below which beams are
≥0 0.25 in.
Thick. for Camber never cambered.
Minimum Beam Minim beam span below which beams are
≥0 24 ft.
Span for Camber never cambered.
The limiting number in the current unit. If
Minimum Camber, the calculated camber falls below this
≥0 0.75 in.
abs. limit, the required camber will be reported
as zero.
The minimum camber limitation
denominator. Inputting a value of 360
Minimum Camber, means that the maximum camber limit is
>0 900
L/ L/360. If the calculated camber falls below
this limit, the required camber will be
reported as zero.
Camber Tab 56
Table A3: Composite Beam Preferences on the Camber Tab

Values
The absolute maximum camber in the
Camber Abs Max current unit. If the calculated camber is
>0 4
Limit larger than this limit, the required camber
will be reported as this limiting value.
The maximum camber limitation
Camber Max means that the maximum camber limit is
>0 180
Limit, L/ L/360. If the calculated camber is larger
than this limit, the required camber will be
reported as this limiting value.
The camber interval in the current unit.
The camber is reported as an integer
Camber Increment >0 0.25
multiple of the interval. This is used for
rounding purposes only.
Camber rounding procedure. If Yes is
Camber Rounding selected, camber is rounded down
Yes/No Yes
Down consistently to the next level; else camber
is rounded to the nearest level.
A4. Deflection Tab

Table A4 lists the design preference items available on the Deflection tab:
Table A4: Composite Beam Preferences on the Deflection Tab

Values
Pre-composite dead load deflection
PreComp DL limitation denominator. Inputting a value
≥0 0
Limit, L/ of 120 means that the deflection limit is
L/120. Zero means no check for this item.
Post-composite superimposed dead plus
live load deflection limitation
Super DL+LL
≥0 240 denominator. Inputting a value of 120
Limit, L/
means that the deflection limit is L/120.
Zero means no check for this item.
Deflection Tab 57
Table A4: Composite Beam Preferences on the Deflection Tab

Values
Live load deflection limitation
Live Load
≥0 360 means that the deflection limit is L/360.
Limit, L/
Inputting zero is special, since it means no
check has to be made for this item.
Net deflection (total deflection minus
Total Camber camber) limitation denominator. Inputting
≥0 240 a value of 240 means that the deflection
Limit, L/ limit is L/240. Zero means no check for
this item.
A factor by which the value of Iequiv is
Ieff Reduction
adjusted in deflection calculations to
Factor for Comp. >0 0.75
account for variations observed in
Defl.
composite beam deflections.
A5. Vibration Tab

Table A5 lists the design preference items available on the Vibration tab:
Table A5: Composite Beam Preferences on the Vibration Tab

Values
Walking, Vibration criterion to be considered in
Rhythmic, design.
Vibration
Sensitive Walking
Criterion
Equipment,
None
Vibration Tab 58

Values
Paper Office, Occupancy category to be considered in
Electronics the design. Selecting this item changes the
Office, default parameters for the damping ratio
Residential, (DG11 Table 4.2) and vibrational
Church, acceleration due to gravity a0/g (DG11
Assembly, Table 4.1, DG11 Table 5.1). However, the
Dining, default parameters can be changed here.
Occupancy
Exercise Paper Office
Category
Room,
Shopping
Mall, Indoor
Footbridge,
Outdoor
Footbridge,
Other
Damping ratio of the system (DG11 Table
Damping Ratio >0 0.0250
4.2, DG11 Section 5.2).
Vibrational acceleration limit as a fraction
Acceleration Limit, of acceleration due to gravity, a0/g for
> 0% 0.005
a0/g walking excitation (DG11 Table 4.1,
DG11 Table 5.1).
Rhythmic activity to be considered in the
design. Selecting this item changes the
Aerobics,
default parameters for damping ratio
Dancing, Live
Rhythmic Activity (DG11 Section 5.2), and upper and lower
Concert, Aerobics
Type values of forcing frequencies for first
Sports Event,
harmonic mode of loading (DG11 Table
Other
5.2). However, the default parameters can
be changed in this tab.
Affected occupancy category to be
Office or
considered in the design. Selecting this
Residential,
Affected item changes the default parameters for
Dining, Office or
Occupancy vibrational acceleration limit as a fraction
Weightlifting, Residential
Category of acceleration due to gravity a0/g (DG11
Rhythmic
Table 4.1, Table 5.1). However, the
Activity only
default limit can be changed in this tab.
Vibration Tab 59

Values
Upper value of forcing frequency, f, for
first harmonic mode of loading (DG11
Upper Step Table 5.2). The default value comes from
>0 2.75
Frequency the entry listed in that table for the selected
rhythmic activity and affected occupancy
category.
Lower value of forcing frequency, f, for
first harmonic mode of loading (DG11
Lower Step Table 5.2). The default value comes from
>0 2
Frequency the entry listed in that table for the selected
rhythmic activity and affected occupancy
category.
Number Number of frequencies between the lower
Frequencies >0 16 step and upper step frequencies for which
Checked the beam will be checked.
Equipment or use category to be
Computer
considered in the design. Selecting this
Equipment or Use System, Lab Computer
item changes the default damping ratio
Category Robots, Class System
(DG11 Table 4.2) and vibrational velocity
A through E
limit (DG11 Table 6.2).
Walking speed. Selecting this item
Very Slow, changes the default damping step
Slow, frequency, intermediate zone lower and
Walking Speed Very Slow
Moderate, upper frequencies, and value of γ (DG11
Fast Table 6.1). However, the values of these
four parameters can be changed in this tab.
Vibrational Vibrational velocity limit (DG11 Table
>0 8000
Velocity Limit 6.2).
f step >0 1.25 Step frequency (DG11 Table 6.1).
Intermediate zone lower frequency (DG11
f_L >0 6
Table 6.1).
Intermediate zone upper frequency (DG11
f_U >0 8
Table 6.1).
γ >0 0.1 γ factor (DG11 Table 6.1)
Vibration Tab 60
A6. Prices Tab

Table A6 lists the design preference items available on the Prices tab:
Table A6: Composite Beam Preferences on the Prices Tab

Values
Toggle to consider price rather than steel
Optimize for
Yes/No No weight when selecting the optimum beam
Price?
section from an auto select section list.
Price of steel per unit weight of steel beam
Steel Price ($) ≥0 $1 per pound
(including any cover plate).
Stud Price ($) ≥0 $0 Installed price for a single shear stud.
Camber price per unit weight of steel beam
Camber Price ($) ≥0 $0
(including any cover plate).
A7. Factors Tab

Table A7 lists the preference items available for Φ factors when the design code is set to AISC
306-10. Most of these factors are specified by the AISC specification, but a few are specific to
ETABS. The default value for all of the Φ factors specific to ETABS (and not specified by
AISC) is 0.9, the same as the φ factors for flexure (AISC I3.2a, G1) and thus by default they
have no effect on the design.
Table A7 Composite Beam Preferences on the Factors Tab

Values
Resistance factor for bending capacity in a
steel beam alone, φb. See Construction
φ-b >0 0.9
Bending Check and Negative Bending
Check.
Resistance factor applied to the positive
φ -bcpp >0 0.9 bending capacity in a composite beam
section. See Positive Bending Check.
Prices Tab 61
Table A7 Composite Beam Preferences on the Factors Tab

Values
Resistance factor for shear capacity in steel
beam, φv. See Beam Stations Checked for
Strength
ETABS performs the strength
checks described in this Chapter
at the following beam stations:
• The first and last stations

on the beam
• The stations where the
maximum shear,
maximum positive
φ -v >0 0.9 bending moment, and
maximum negative
bending moment occur
for the load combination
being checked
• The stations located
where point loads are
applied
• The stations located
where other beams frame
in.
Shear Yield Check.

The reported reaction forces are multiplied
by this factor. A value of 1 means that the
Reaction Factor >0 1.0
program calculated load-factored end
reaction forces is to be reported.
Factors Tab 62
Appendix B. Beam Overwrites
The composite beam overwrites are assignments that apply only to their target beam objects.
You can review and modify their values for selected beams with the Design > Composite
Beam Design > View/Revise Overwrites... The command displays the Composite Beam
Design Overwrites form, which features seven tabs:
• Beam tab
• Bracing (C) tab
• Bracing (S) tab
• Deck tab
• Shear Studs tab
• Deflection tab
• Vibration tab
B1. Beam Tab

Table B-1 lists the overwrite items available on the Beam tab:
Table B-1: Composite Beam Overwrite Items on the Beam Tab

Values
Toggle to select if the beam depth is to be
Restrict Beam considered in an auto select section list. If
Yes/No No
Depth? yes, maximum and minimum depths must
be input.
Maximum actual (not nominal) beam
Maximum Depth >0 44 inches depth to be considered in an auto select
section list.
Minimum actual (not nominal) beam depth
Minimum Depth ≥0 0
to be considered in auto select section list.
Beam Overwrites 63
Composite Beam Design AISC 360-10 Beam Overwrites
Table B-1: Composite Beam Overwrite Items on the Beam Tab

Values
Toggle to select if the beam width is to be
Restrict Beam considered in an auto select section list. If
Yes/No No
Width? yes, maximum and minimum width must
be input.
Maximum actual beam width to be
Maximum Width >0 18 inches
considered in an auto select section list.
Minimum actual beam width to be
Minimum Width ≥0 0
considered in auto select section list.
Shored No Toggle for shored or unshored
Yes/No
Constuction? (unshored) construction.
Specified in Yield stress of the beam, Fy. Specifying 0
Beam Fy ≥0 Material means that Fy is as specified in the material
Properties properties.
Specified in Minimum tensile strength of the beam, Fu.
Beam Fu ≥0 Material Specifying 0 means that Fu is as specified
Properties in the material properties.
Toggle switch indicating the provision of a
Cover Plate
Yes/No No full-length cover plate under the structural
Present?
steel section bottom flange.
Plate width ≥0 0 Width of cover plate, bcp.
Plate thickness ≥0 0 Thickness of cover plate, tcp.
Cover plate yield stress, Fycp. Specifying 0
Plate Fy >0 0 means that Fycp is as specified in the beam
material properties.
Live Load Program Toggle specifying how the live load
Program
Reduction calculated or reduction factor for the beam is
calculated
Determination user-defined determined.
Live Load Beam A reducible live load is multiplied by this
> 0 and ≤ 1
Reduction Factor dependent factor to obtain the reduced live load.
Beam Tab 64
B2. Bracing (C) and Bracing (S) Tabs

Tables B-2a, B-2b, and B-2c list the overwrite items available on the Bracing (C) and Bracing
(S) tabs. The (C) is short for “under Construction Conditions”, and (S) short for “under Service
Conditions”.
Table B-2a: Initial Composite Beam Overwrite Items on the Bracing(C) and (S) Tabs
Values
Cb factor Beam lateral torsional buckling factor used
to compute the plastic moment capacity of
Program
≥0 the steel beam acting alone. Specifying 0
calculated
means that this value is program
calculated.
Bracing Program This item defines how the unbraced
Condition calculated, lengths are determined for buckling about
bracing Program the beam local 2-axis. They are program
specified or calculated calculated, based on user-specified
length uniform and point bracing, or based on a
specified user-specified maximum unbraced length.
When you set the Bracing Condition type to Bracing Specified, you get to specify the two items
shown in Table B-2b:
Table B-2b: Additional Composite Beam Overwrite Items When the Bracing Condition
Is Specified as Bracing Specified
Values
The number of user-specified point brace
locations. Clicking on this item displays
No. Point Braces ≥0 0
the Point Braces form, where you specify
point braces.
The number of user-specified uniform
No. Uniform braces. Clicking on this item displays the
≥0 0
Braces Uniform Braces form, where you specify
uniform braces.
Bracing (C) and Bracing (S) Tabs 65

When you set the Bracing Condition type to Length Specified, you get to specify the two items
shown in Table B2c:
Table B2c: Additional Composite Beam Overwrite Items When the Bracing Condition
Is Specified as Length Specified
Values
Absolute Yes/No No Toggle switch for whether the maximum
Length? unbraced length is given as an absolute
length or a relative length.
Unbraced L22 ≥ 0 and ≤ beam Length of Maximum unbraced length for buckling
length beam about the beam local 2 axis.
Unbraced L22 ≥ 0 and ≤ 1.0 1.0 Maximum unbraced length ratio for
ratio buckling about the beam local 2 axis.
Specifying the maximum unbraced length as an absolute length means entering the actual
maximum unbraced length. Specifying the maximum unbraced length as a relative length means
entering the ratio of the maximum unbraced length to the length of the beam. This ratio can
range from 0 to 1, inclusive.
B3. Deck Tab

Table B-3 lists the overwrite items available on the Deck tab:
Table B-3: Composite Beam Overwrite Items on the Deck Tab

Values
Program
Deck ID Left Program Toggle specifying how the Deck ID on the
calculated or
Determination calculated left side of the beam is determined.
user-defined
Any defined
deck property Beam
Deck ID Left Deck ID on the left side of the beam.
name or dependent
“None”
Program
Deck Direction Program Determines how the deck direction on the
calculated or
Left Determination calculated left side of the beam is determined.
user-defined
Span direction of the metal deck ribs on
Deck Direction Parallel, or Beam
the left side of the beam relative to the
Left perpendicular dependent
span direction of the beam.
Deck Tab 66
Table B-3: Composite Beam Overwrite Items on the Deck Tab

Values
Program Toggle specifying how the effective width
b-eff left Program
calculated or of the concrete slab on the left side of the
Determination calculated
user-defined beam is determined.
Beam User-specified effective width of the
b-eff left ≥0
dependent concrete slab on the left side of beam .
Program
Deck ID Right Program Toggle specifying how the Deck ID on the
calculated or
Determination calculated right side of the beam is determined.
user-defined
Any defined
deck property Program
Deck ID Right Deck ID on the right side of beam.
name or calculated
“None”
Deck Direction Program
Program Determines how the deck direction on the
Right calculated or
calculated right side of the beam is determined.
Determination user-defined
Span direction of the metal deck ribs on
Deck direction Parallel, or Beam
the right side of beam relative to the span
Right perpendicular dependent
direction of beam.
Program Toggle specifying how the effective width
b-eff right Program
calculated or of the concrete slab on the right side of the
user-defined beam is determined.
User-specified effective width of concrete
b-eff right ≥0 0
slab on the right side of the beam, beff right
Deck Tab 67
B4. Shear Studs Tab

Table B-4 lists the overwrite items available on the Shear Studs tab:
Table B-4: Composite Beam Overwrite Items on the Shear Studs Tab
Values
Type of beam design. NC w studs is short
Composite as
for Non-composite with minimum shear
required, NC w
Composite as studs. NC w/o studs is short for Non-
Beam Type studs, NC w/o
required composite without any shear studs. Force
studs, or Force
Composite is short for always design with
Composite
composite action.
Minimum value of percent composite
connection applied to beams that require
Minimum PCC composite action to meet strength or
>0 25
(%) deflection design criteria. This percentage
also applies to beams for which "Always
Composite" is specified.
Maximum percent composite connection
Maximum PCC(%) >0 100
considered for the beam.
Toggle to indicate if a user-defined shear
User Pattern? Yes/No No
stud pattern is defined.
0, meaning no Uniform spacing of shear studs along the
Uniform
≥0 user-specified beam.
Spacing
shear studs
Number of sections in which additional
uniformly spaced shear studs are specified.
0, meaning no Clicking on this item displays the
No. Additional
≥0 user-specified Additional Sections form, where you
Sections
sections specify the section lengths and the number
of uniformly spaced shear studs in the
sections.
Toggle for placement of shear studs in a
Single single segment. To place studs in a single
Yes/No No
Segment? segment with uniform spacing throughout
the beam, select Yes.
Max. Studs per Maximum number of shear studs in a
>0 3
Row single row across the beam flange.
Shear Studs Tab 68

Table B-4: Composite Beam Overwrite Items on the Shear Studs Tab
Values
Capacity of a single shear stud. Specifying
Program
Qn ≥0 0 means that the value is program
calculated
calculated.
The default value for the maximum longitudinal spacing of shear studs along the length of the
beam is 36 inches in accordance with AISC Section I8.2d. However, AISC Section I8.2d also
specifies the spacing cannot exceed eight times the total slab thickness, and it is up to you to set
it accordingly if the total slab thickness is less than 36"/8 = 4.5".
The “Max Studs per Row” item indicates the maximum number of shear studs that is allowed in
a row across the beam flange. For wider beams, the Min. Trans. Spacing item might allow for
more shear studs across the beam flange but the Max Studs per Row item will limit the number
of studs in any row.
B5. Deflection Tab

Table B-5 lists the overwrite items available on the Deflection tab:
Table B5: Composite Beam Overwrite Items on the Deflection Tab

Values
Ratio, Toggle to consider live load and total load
Deflection Check
Absolute, Ratio deflection limitations as absolute or as
Type
Both divisor of beam length (relative).
Pre-composite dead load deflection
PreComp DL limitation denominator. Inputting a value
≥0 0
Limit, L/ of 120 means that the deflection limit is
L/120. Zero means no check for this item.
Post-composite superimposed dead plus
live load deflection limitation
Super DL+LL
≥0 240 denominator. Inputting a value of 120
Limit, L/
means that the deflection limit is L/120.
Live load deflection limitation
Live Load denominator. Inputting a value of 360
≥0 360
Limit, L/ means that the deflection limit is L/360.
Deflection Tab 69
Table B5: Composite Beam Overwrite Items on the Deflection Tab

Values
Total - Camber camber) limitation denominator. Inputting
≥0 240 a value of 240 means that the deflection
Limit, L/ limit is L/240. Zero means no check for
this item.
Pre-composite dead load deflection limit
PreComp DL used when the absolute deflections are
≥0 0
Limit, abs checked. Zero means no check for this
item.
Deflection limit for Post-composite
deflection (superimposed dead load plus
Super DL+LL Beam Span /
≥0 live load deflection) used when absolute
Limit, abs 240
deflections are checked. Zero means no
check for this item.
Deflection limit for live load deflection
Live Load Beam Span / used when absolute deflections are
≥0
Limit, abs 360 checked. Zero means no check for this
item.
Total Camber Beam Span / camber) limit used when absolute
≥0
Limit, abs 240 deflections are checked. Zero means no
check for this item.
Toggle for the program to calculate beam
Calculate Camber? Yes/No Yes
camber.
User-specified camber when the program
Fixed Camber ≥0 0
does not calculate beam camber
Deflection Tab 70
B6. Vibration Tab

Table B6 lists the composite beam overwrite items available on the Vibration tab:
Table B-6: Composite Beam Overwrite Items on the Vibration Tab

Values
Walking,
Rhythmic,
Vibration Vibration criterion to be considered in the
Sensitive Walking
Criterion design.
Equipment,
None
Paper Office,
Electronics
Office,
Residential,
Occupancy category to be considered in
Church,
the design. Selecting this item changes the
Assembly,
default parameters for the damping ratio
Dining,
Occupancy (DG11 Table 4.2) and vibrational
Exercise Paper Office
Category acceleration limit as a fraction of
Room,
acceleration due to gravity a0/g (DG11
Shopping Mall,
Table 4.1, DG11 Table 5.1). However, the
Indoor
default parameters can be changed here.
Footbridge,
Outdoor
Footbridge,
Other
Damping ratio of the system (DG11 Table
4.1, DG11 Section 5.2). The default value
comes from the Preferences if the vibration
Damping Ratio >0 0.0250
criterion and occupancy category match;
otherwise, the value comes from the
predefined table.
Program Panel frequency. Specifying 0 means that
Bay Frequency ≥0
Calculated the value is program calculated.
Vibration Tab 71

Values
Vibrational acceleration limit as a fraction
of acceleration due to gravity a0/g for
walking excitation (DG11 Table 4.1,
Acceleration DG11 Table 5.1). Default value comes
>0 0.005
Limit, a0/g from the Preferences if the vibration
criterion and occupancy category match;
otherwise, the value comes from the
predefined table.
Additional dead load (DL) to be
Additional Dead considered as mass source. This increases
≥ 0 4 psf.
Load mass and reduces the natural frequency of
the system.
Live load (LL) in addition to dead load to
Additional Live be considered as mass source. This
≥ 0 11 psf.
Load increases mass and reduces the natural
frequency of the system.
Another load in addition to dead load to be
Additional considered as mass source. This increases
≥ 0 0 psf.
Colateral Load mass and reduces the natural frequency of
the system.
Program Toggle specifying how the floor length for
Floor Length Program
calculated or vibration is determined
user-defined
Beam Floor length for vibration, measured along
Floor Length >0
dependent the beam.
Program Toggle specifying how the floor vibration
Floor Width Program
calculated or for vibration is determined
user-defined
Beam Floor width for vibration, measured
Floor Width >0
dependent perpendicular to the beam.
Toggle which when set to Yes instructs
ETABS to compute and use the composite
Comp. Steel
Yes, No Yes moment of inertia of the girder if it is a
Girder
steel girder, even if it was not designed
assuming composite action.
Vibration Tab 72

Values
Program Toggle specifying how the free edge
Free Edge Program
calculated or condition for vibration is determined.
user-defined
Position of the beam relative to the slab.
Program
Beam DG11 defines a free edge as the edge of a
Free Edge Calculated,
dependent balcony, a mezzanine, or the building edge
Yes, No
if the cladding is not connected.
Vibration Tab 73

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Power

ISO ETA010424M66 Rev. 0 January 2024

Copyright  Computers and Structures, Inc., 1978-2024

Further information and copies of this documentation may be obtained from:

Computers and Structures, Inc.

[email protected] (for general information)

CONSIDERABLE TIME, EFFORT AND EXPENSE HAVE GONE INTO THE

THIS PRODUCT IS A PRACTICAL AND POWERFUL TOOL FOR STRUCTURAL

THE INFORMATION PRODUCED BY THE SOFTWARE MUST BE CHECKED BY

2.1 Design Preferences and Beam Overwrites 7

2.2 Frame Objects Designed as Composite Beams 8

3 Steel Beam Section Properties and Flexural Strength 10

3.1 Steel Section Properties 10

3.2 Steel Section Classification 10

3.3 Beam Unbraced Length 11

3.4 Beam Lateral Torsional Buckling Factor 11

3.5 Steel Beam Flexural Strength 12

4 Composite Beam Section Properties and Moment Capacity 13

4.1 Deck Properties and Effective Slab Width 13

4.2 Transformed Section Moment of Inertia 17

4.4 Effective Moment of Inertia for Partial Composite Connection 20

4.5 Effective Section Modulus for Partial Composite Connection 20

4.6 Composite Plastic Moment Capacity for Positive Bending 20

5.1 Design Load Combinations 23

5.1.1 Strength Checks for Construction Loads 23

5.2 Beam Stations Checked for Strength 24

5.3 Shear Yield Check 24

5.4 Construction Bending Check 25

5.5 Negative Bending Check 25

5.6 Positive Bending Check 26

6.1 Composite Beam Deflections 28

6.2 Dead Load Deflection Check 29

6.4 Post-Composite and Live Load Deflection Checks 30

6.5 Net Deflection Checks 30

6.6 Additional Cantilever Backspan Checks 31

7.1.1 Beam Segments 32

7.2 Strength of Shear Studs 35

7.3 How ETABS Distributes Shear Studs on Beams 36

7.4 User Defined Shear Stud Distributions 38

8.1 Effective Panel Weight 39

8.2 Floor Fundamental Natural Vibration Frequency 41

8.3 Design for Walking Excitation 42

8.4 Design for Rhythmic Excitation 42

8.5 Design for Sensitive Equipment and Sensitive Occupancies 43

9.1 Steel Section Restrictions 45

9.2 Limits on Opening Placement and Dimensions 46

9.2.1 Aspect Ratio 46

9.3 Strength Checks 47

9.3.1 Maximum Nominal Flexural Capacity 48

9.4 Circular Openings 52

9.5 Minimum Spacing between Openings 52

Appendix A. Design Preferences 54

A1. Beam Tab 54

A2. Shear Studs Tab 55

A3. Camber Tab 56

A4. Deflection Tab 57

A5. Vibration Tab 58