Initial P-Delta Analysis

The initial P-Delta analysis option accounts for the effect of a large compressive or tensile load upon
the transverse stiffness of members in the structure. Compression reduces lateral stiffness, and
tension stiffens it. This is a type of geometric nonlinearity known as the P-Delta effect. Initial P-Delta
analysis does not include large-strain or large-rotation effects.

This option is particularly useful for considering the effect of gravity loads upon the lateral stiffness of
building structures, as required by certain design codes. Other applications are possible.

Initial P-Delta analysis in ETABS considers the P-Delta effect of a single loaded state upon the
structure. That load can be specified in two ways:

 As a specified combination of static load cases; this is called the P-Delta Load Combination on
the P-Delta   Options  form. For example, this may be the sum of a dead load case plus a
fraction of a live load case. This approach requires an iterative solution to determine the P-
Delta effect upon the structure.

 As a story-by-story load upon the structure computed automatically from the mass at each level.
This approach is approximate, but does not require an iterative solution.

When an initial P-Delta analysis is requested on the  P-Delta Options form, it is performed before all
linear-static, modal, response-spectrum, and time-history analyses in the same analysis run. The initial
P-Delta analysis essentially modifies the characteristics of the structure, affecting the results of all
subsequent analyses performed.

As an important exception, initial P-Delta analysis does NOT affect nonlinear-static analysis. Nonlinear
static analyses consider the P-Delta effect separately, if requested.

Because the load causing the P-Delta effect is the same for all linear analysis cases, their results may
be superposed in load combinations.

Initial P-Delta analysis under a P-delta load combination is iterative in nature, and may considerably
increase computation time. Including initial P-Delta analysis may make interpretation of the results
more difficult. It is strongly recommended that a preliminary linear analysis be performed first to check
the model for correctness before using initial P-Delta analysis.

Iterative Solution

When a P-Delta load combination is specified, the following Iteration Control parameters also
may be specified on the P-Delta Options form to control the iterative solution:

 Convergence Tolerance (Relative): Iteration is used to make sure that equilibrium is

If the P-delta iteration does not converge during analysis, subsequent linear load cases
will not be run. This is usually an indication that the structure is unstable due to one of the
 following causes: (a) Inadequate support or connections; (b) Global or local buckling; (c)
Significant nonlinearity in links,  hinges, or layered shell; or (d) Poor conditioning, such as
the use of excessively large stiffnesses. The model should be improved if possible.
Alternatively, a custom nonlinear load case, which allows more control over the nonlinear
iteration, may be defined and used instead of the Preset P-Delta Option.

Buckling

If compressive P-Delta axial forces are present and are large enough, the structure may buckle.
Local buckling of individual members or global buckling of the whole structure are both
possible. The program makes no distinction between local and global buckling.

If the program detects that buckling has occurred, the analysis is terminated and no results are
produced. This is because the analysis of a structure that has buckled requires consideration of
large-displacement effects that are only considered during non-linear static analysis.

Initial P-Delta analysis may be used to estimate buckling loads by performing a series of
analyses, each time increasing the magnitude of the P-Delta load combination, until buckling is
detected. The relative contributions from each static load case to the P-Delta load combination
must be kept the same, increasing all load case scale factors by the same amount between
runs.

It is important to understand that there is no single buckling load for a structure. Rather, there is
a different buckling load corresponding to each spatial distribution of loads. If buckling of the
structure is a concern under various loading situations, the buckling load should be estimated
separately for each situation, as described above, by starting with different P-Delta load
combinations.

 Practical Application.

For most building structures, especially tall buildings, the P-Delta effect of most concern occurs
in the columns because of gravity load, including dead and live load. The column axial forces
are compressive, making the structure more flexible against lateral loads.

Building codes (ACI 1999; AISC 1994) normally recognize two types of P-Delta effects: the first
caused by the overall sway of the structure and the second caused by the deformation of the
member between its ends. The former effect is often significant; it can be accounted for fairly
accurately by considering the total vertical load at a story level, which is caused by gravity
loads and is unaffected by any lateral loads. The latter effect is significant only in very slender
columns or columns bent in single curvature (not the usual case); this requires consideration of
axial forces in the members because of both gravity and lateral loads.

The program can analyze both of those P-Delta effects. However, it is recommended that the
former effect be accounted for in the analysis, and the latter effect be accounted for in design
using the applicable building-code moment-magnification factors (White and Hajjar 1991). This
is how the design checks work in ETABS.