Progressive Collapse Sensitivity of Reinforced Concrete Frames.

Abstract

Progressive Collapse is defined as the propagation of local damage, from an initial event, from element to element, eventually resulting in the collapse of an entire structure or a disproportionately large part of it. Such local damages include explosions, impacts, fires, earthquakes, construction errors, foundation settlements, and abnormal snow, among others. Given that events of this magnitude result in material damage and, above all, risk to life, there is a growing demand for research in this area. This project aims to simulate such phenomenon in reinforced concrete frames without the participation of infill masonry, considering the stochastic analysis of parameters (geometry, material properties, and location of elements to be removed). This project is part of a research collaboration between FAPESP and UKRI. The adopted methodology consists of performing two-dimensional and three-dimensional structural modeling using finite element software with intelligent sampling techniques, such as Latin Hypercube Sampling (LHS), using the Pushdown method, which allows the analysis of progressive collapse considering the redistribution of forces among the structural elements in order to evaluate the influence of these factors on the sensitivity to progressive collapse. The Brazilian standard ABNT NBR 6118:2023 does not provide a clear methodology for structural analysis regarding progressive collapse. Therefore, it is expected that the results of this project will contribute to the understanding of the structural behavior under progressive collapse, providing relevant information for the design and dimensioning of safer structures.