Study of Progressive Collapse of Precast Steel Reinforced Concrete Building

Abstract

Progressive collapse starts when any load-carrying elements of the building collapse during extreme loading, such as earthquakes, blasts, or fire. The Precast Steel Reinforced Concrete (PSRC) buildings comprise of precast RCC columns and steel girders. These structural elements are connected to form a moment-resisting frame and are susceptible to progressive collapse. However, this structural system has the advantage of inherent stiffness and damping during lateral loads and is also known for its construction efficiency, lightweight and low cost. Earlier investigations have shown PSRC systems useful in designing and constructing buildings while maintaining ample strength and high ductility during seismic incidents. Despite much previous research, the PSRC structural system's use is limited in high seismic regions. This paper aims to study the progressive collapse of the PSRC building using non-linear dynamic analysis and U.S. General Service Administration (GSA) guidelines during extreme loading. Two structures are studied to validate the performance of progressive collapse of PSRC and RCC structures. Four-story PSRC and RCC buildings are designed according to Indian Codes of practice. Design columns under provisions of the Indian reinforced concrete structures code, and beams are designed according to the Indian steel construction code. Comparative studies of progressive collapse for the two buildings are presented.