Mechanism of Progressive Collapse Resistance of RC Frames Subjected to a Center Column Loss

Abstract

Column loss scenarios are often used to investigate progressive collapse resistance of reinforced concrete (RC) buildings. The present study experimentally and computationally investigated the progressive collapse resistance of RC frames subjected to a center column loss. A one-third scale model of a single-story RC frame, which comprises two spans and two bays, was tested and computed. During the experiment and numerical analysis, the vertical displacement on the top of the removed center column was applied until it failed. This study gives insight into the progressive collapse behaviour as well as the failure mode of the RC frame. It has been shown that the catenary action can be activated in the frame beams, and the tensile membrane action can also be mobilized in the frame slabs at large deformations. Based on the experimental and computational results, the mechanism of progressive collapse resistance of RC frames was discussed. At large deformations, a simplified calculation method of progressive collapse resistance of RC frames was also proposed.