Benchmark problems as per AISC 2010 Specification for Structural Buildings, commentary page 16.1-276 have been reproduced in ETABS. AISC Benchmark problems are intended to indicate if an analysis program is capable of performing a rigorous second order analysis, including P-Δ and P-δ effects. The results below show that ETABS is able to capture with great accuracy both effects, clearly whiting the 3% and 5% limitation of AISC. In each case the column element has been divided in two elements. Also, the problems below are intended to demonstrate the capabilities of the program only, this does not mean this will be the most practical or efficient method of designing compression elements for stability.
