Investigation of the effects of dynamic loads on reinforced concrete flat-plate buildings under collapse scenarios

Abstract

During the initial stages of a collapse, failure of the initiating member (i.e. column loss) can cause a dynamic load redistribution in the surrounding members. The ability of the structure to withstand these dynamically redistributed loads will determine if the building is susceptible to collapse. If the surrounding members cannot support the redistributed load, the second stage of progressive collapse can happen. In this stage, there is falling debris from the failed members surrounding the removed column and dynamic impact on the floors below. Furthermore, while the behavior of RC members under static and high-rate (blast) loads are well researched, there is less information about the response under medium rate loads that occur during collapse. This research first looks specifically at flat-plate slab column connections to study the effect of collapse loading rate on the slab column connection behavior and how that behavior changes the collapse potential of the building. Second, the effect of falling debris load on the lower floors of flat-plate buildings during the collapse is investigated.