To create a professional and comprehensive ETABS story mass summary report, you should organize your findings into a clear structure that includes modeling assumptions, primary data tables, and verification checks.
Detect "ghost mass" from accidental double-counting or modeling errors. Accessing the Data To find this specific table after running an analysis: Navigate to the . Expand Tables > Analysis Results > Structure Results . Right-click Mass Summary by Story and select Show Table . Key Columns to Analyze Significance UX / UY The total translational mass in the X and Y directions. Sum UX / Sum UY etabs mass summary by story better
: ETABS calculates these values by lumping half the mass from the story below and half from the story above at the floor level, providing a realistic distribution for lateral force analysis. Key Review Points & Tips Mass Source Configuration : The accuracy of this table depends entirely on your Mass Source Look at the "Mass" column from top to bottom
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: For seismic design, understanding the mass distribution is key. The mass of a structure directly influences its seismic response. A well-distributed mass can lead to a more stable structure under earthquake loads.
Ensure that the sum of the effective modal masses in the X and Y directions equals at least 90% of the total mass listed in your Story Mass Summary. If they don’t match, your structure is either too flexible (need more modes) or your constraints (rigid diaphragms) are preventing proper mass participation.
: Translational and rotational masses are concentrated at a master node, usually at the center of mass, to capture dynamic effects.