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Sway Limitation Check in Excel

 Sway Limitation 





Change EY+1 for the Y direction value.

🏗️ Sway Limitation Check in Structural Engineering Using Excel

In structural engineering, sway limitation refers to the control of lateral displacements in a structure to ensure stability and serviceability under lateral loads such as wind or seismic forces. Excessive sway can lead to discomfort for occupants, damage to non-structural elements, and in severe cases, structural failure. Therefore, it's crucial to assess and limit sway within permissible limits defined by building codes.

📘 Understanding Sway Limitation

Sway, or lateral displacement, is the horizontal movement of a structure due to lateral loads. Building codes like ASCE 7-16 and BNBC 2020 specify maximum allowable drifts (sway) to ensure structural safety and occupant comfort. Typically, the allowable story drift is a fraction of the story height, such as 1/400 to 1/600 of the story height for wind loads.(Google Sites, Structural Engineering Forum Of Pakistan)


🧪 Performing Sway Limitation Check Using ETABS and Excel

To perform a sway limitation check:

  1. Model the Structure in ETABS:

    • Ensure that all structural elements are accurately modeled.

    • Assign appropriate load cases, including lateral loads like wind and seismic forces.

  2. Run the Analysis:

    • Perform the analysis to obtain displacement results.

  3. Extract Displacement Data:

    • Navigate to Display → Show Tables → Analysis Results → Displacements.

    • Export the relevant displacement data for each story level.

  4. Use Excel for Sway Limitation Check:

    • Input the extracted displacement data into a pre-formatted Excel template.

    • Calculate the story drift by finding the difference in displacement between consecutive floors.

    • Compare the calculated drift with the allowable limits as per the relevant code.

    • Assess whether the sway is within permissible limits.(Structural Engineering Forum Of Pakistan, Scribd)

📥 Download Sway Limitation Check Excel Template

For a practical application, you can download a pre-formatted Excel template to perform sway limitation checks:

👉 Download Excel

📚 Further Reading