Robustness of a full-scale precast building structure subjected to corner-column failure

Abstract

Although many analytical and experimental studies have been carried out to date on the progressive collapse and robustness of cast-in-place reinforced concrete (RC) and steel building structures, very few experimental research works have been performed on precast concrete (PC) structures. The small number of publications on these experiments have focused on analysing the behaviour of subassemblies after the sudden loss of an internal column. This paper is the first to describe the construction of a full-scale purpose-built experimental PC building to study the sudden removal of corner columns and the structure’s ability to find alternative load paths (ALPs). The connections between the precast members were designed using existing simplified guidance for robustness. The results obtained from the test using gravity loads corresponding to typical load combinations defined in building codes for accidental design situations, showed a structural response governed by Vierendeel action with a clear contribution from the floor slabs. Load increase factors were obtained from the test results which can be applied by practitioners using simplified linear finite element models to account for non-linear dynamic effects in a simplified manner. This work is expected to form part of a large database of experimental results that are useful for developing advanced numerical simulations and parametric analyses.