Structural reliability of RC frames under sudden column removal scenarios considering static and dynamic methods

Abstract

<p>The alternative load path (ALP) method is widely used to investigate the performance of reinforced concrete (RC) buildings in case of progressive collapse (or disproportional collapse) scenarios. This kind of analysis can be carried out either in a static way or in a dynamic way. In this contribution, these methods are compared by means of nonlinear static and nonlinear dynamic analysis methods. A 5-storey RC frame subjected to two different sudden column removal scenarios is adopted as a case study. The probabilistic analysis considers 12 random variables. On the basis of the stochastic results, a dynamic amplification factor (DAF) is calculated. The mean values of the DAF are 1.114 and 1.102 for the external column removal scenario (Case A) and the internal column removal scenario (Case B), respectively. Compared to the failure probabilities obtained through a static analysis, the failure probabilities for the incremental dynamic analysis results are 184.0% and 180.7% higher for Case A and Case B, respectively.</p>