Large-Scale Tests on RC Purpose-Built Buildings for Improving Robustness

Abstract

Although recent years have been marked by a substantial research effort on the progressive collapse of steel as well as cast-in-place and precast concrete structures, the fact is that almost all studies are focused on reduced-scale tests, tests on isolated frame structures, tests on substructures or analytical and numerical analysis. Within this context, large-scale tests avoid size effects and allow all resisting mechanisms that a structure can develop after an initial-local failure to be studied. This paper presents the case of large-scale tests performed on two purpose-built buildings: one made of cast-in-place concrete and the other with precast concrete elements. In both cases, sudden column removal scenarios were considered for the robustness assessment of the structural system. The structures were provided with simple solutions to enhance the robustness and arrest progressive collapse initiated by the sudden failure of a column. The cast-in-place concrete building had two 3 m high floors, with 2 × 2 bays of 5 m span length. The total in-plan dimensions of the building were 10 × 10 m². This building was subjected to sudden corner column failure scenarios with and without the presence of infill masonry walls. The precast concrete structure also had two 3 m high floors, with 3 × 2 bays of 5 m and 6 m span, respectively. The total in-plan dimensions of the building were 15 × 12 m². This building was subjected to sudden column failure scenarios for three different tests, involving the removal of: a corner column, an edge column in a frame parallel to the direction of one-way hollow-core slabs, and an edge column in a frame perpendicular to the one-way slabs. This paper presents and discusses a summary of the results and outcomes of these studies.