Structural Simplicity vs. Robustness in the Progressive Collapse Risk Assessment of a 13-Story RC Framed Structure

• Published in: Advanced Engineering Forum 2017-03, Vol.21, p.78-85
• Main Authors: Besoiu, Teodora S., Ioani, Adrian M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2234-9898; 2234-991X; 2234-991X
• DOI: 10.4028/www.scientific.net/AEF.21.78

In the present study, the effect of the structural simplicity on the progressive collapse resistance of a 13-story RC framed building is assessed. The existing structure from Brăila (a zone with high seismic risk from Romania) designed in 1972 according to the former seismic code P13-70, was re-designed in accordance to the provisions of the current seismic code P100-1/2013. The original building consists of beams and columns with different cross-sections along the height of the structure. To achieve the objective of this study, a new model with constant cross-sections was designed according to the current seismic and structural concrete codes. Following the provisions of the GSA (2003) Guidelines, nonlinear dynamic analyses are performed using the Applied Element Method incorporated in the ELS® computer software. It was shown that, under the standard GSA loading (DL+0.25LL) the both two numerical models of the 13-story building are not expected to fail when a first-story corner column is suddenly removed. To estimate the ultimate load-bearing capacity of the structural models, a series of nineteen nonlinear dynamic analyses are carried out. The robustness analyses indicate that, the model with different cross-sections can sustain a maximum load 16% larger than the model with constant cross-sections along its height.