Partial Damage Distribution and Progressive Collapse of Buildings

Abstract

The prevailing analysis approach in the field of disproportionate collapse of structures is the alternate path method (APM). This method adopts the notion of a complete removal of a key load-bearing component of the system, such as a column or a shear wall, and investigates the capability of the remaining structure to bridge over the loss of this component. Though it offers a practical and efficient tool for the assessment of structural robustness, the complete column loss scenario is a rather unrealistic idealization of damage initiation. This study expands on previous work done by the authors in the field of structural robustness and applies a partial distributed damage method (PDDM) in 3D multi-story steel framed and concrete composite buildings. This method assumes that damage is being distributed in more than one components, as a common output of real-case extreme events. Using advanced nonlinear finite element modeling, this work applies a PDDM scenario in a prototype structural system and evaluates its mechanical performance, making direct comparisons with the APM with regards to the governing collapse mechanism, structural capacity, and damage progression path.Structures Congress 2020 Downloaded from ascelibrary.org by 44.224.250.200 on 07/16/20.