The intent of modeling cladding is to facilitate the application of auto wind loads based on exposure of shell objects. The "cladding" consists of shell objects with the None section property that are added around the outermost perimeter of the structure. The cladding objects have no self-weight or structural properties. You should select the cladding objects before using the Assign menu > Shell Loads > Wind Pressure Coefficient command to apply wind load to the structure. Do this by using the Select menu > Select > Labels > Shell Labels command to bring up the Select by Shell Label form; on that form the objects can be selected on a face-by-face basis.
Click the Draw menu > Auto Draw Cladding command to access the Cladding Options form. Three options are available: 1. Use Floors, 2. Use Beams, and 3. Use Columns. “Use Selected Objects only” can also be checked with any of the three options.
1.a Use Floors: When this radio button is selected, the program detects the edge of all floor objects and draws vertical shell objects with the None section property.
1.b. ETABS adds cladding at selected floors when you check “Use Selected Objects only”.
2.a. Use Beams: When this radio button is selected, the program detects the outermost beams in the building structure and draws vertical shell objects with the None section property.
2.b. ETABS adds cladding at selected beams when you check “Use Selected Objects only”.
3.a. Use Columns: When this radio button is selected, the program detects the outermost columns in the building structure and draws vertical shell objects with the None section property.
3.b. ETABS adds cladding at selected columns when you check “Use Selected Objects only”.
