• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2016

The progressive collapse analysis of reinforced concrete (RC) moment-frame buildings under extreme loads is discussed from the perspective of modeling issues. A threat-independent approach or the alternate path method forms the basis of the simulations wherein the extreme event is modeled via column removal scenarios. Using a prototype RC frame building, issues and considerations in constitutive modeling of materials, options in modeling the structural elements and specification of gravity loads are discussed with the goal of achieving consistent models that can be used in collapse scenarios involving successive loss of load-bearing columns at the lowest level of the building. The role of the floor slabs in mobilizing catenary action and influencing the progressive collapse response is also highlighted. Finally, an energy-based approach for identifying the proximity to collapse of regular multi-story buildings is proposed.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.553-571
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• 2016

The progressive collapse potential of steel moment framed structures due to abrupt removal of a column is investigated based on the energy principle. Based on the changes of component's internal energy, this paper analyzes structural member's sensitivity to abrupt removal of a column to determine a sub-structure resisting progressive collapse. An energy-based structural damage index is defined to judge whether progressive collapse occurs in a structure. Then, a simplified beam damage model is proposed to analyze the energies absorbed and dissipated by structural beams at large deflections, and a simplified modified plastic hinges model is developed to consider catenary action in beams. In addition, the correlation between bending moment and axial force in a beam during the whole deformation development process is analyzed and modified, which shows good agreement with the experimental results.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.105-118
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• 2007

On September $11^{th}$ 2001, the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City were struck by two hijacked airplanes. Despite severe local damage induced by the impact, the towers were able to sustain 102 and 56 minutes of the subsequent multi-storey fires before collapsing. The purpose of this study is to contribute to the understanding of the in-fire performance of composite trusses by examining the behaviour of the longer-span type used in the towers. It makes no attempt to be a forensic study of the actual events. Using the finite element package Vulcan, the structural mechanics of typical long-span composite floor trusses are explained, under a variety of scenarios, as the fire temperatures rise. Different boundary conditions, degrees of protection and loading are all covered, the results being presented mainly in the form of graphs of deflection and internal force of members against time.

• Journal of Ocean Engineering and Technology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.193-198
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• 2014

An elastic cable with piecewise constant properties under the action of concentrated static loads is studied analytically. Analytic solutions for catenary cables are combined at the discontinuous points caused by the discontinuous elastic properties or concentrated loads. The application of the boundary conditions at both ends of the multi-component cable results in three algebraic non-linear equations for three unknown parameters, which are determined numerically. The solutions for the shape, tension, elongation, and cross-sectional contraction of the cable are expressed in closed forms. Some examples are given for cases of two- and three-dimensional loads.

• Proceedings of the Earthquake Engineering Society of Korea Conference
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• 2006.03a
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• pp.168-179
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• 2006

This paper summarizes full-scale test results on CFT column-to-flat plate connections subjected to gravity loading. CFT construction has gained wide acceptance in a relatively short time in domestic building construction practice due to its various structural and construction advantages. However, efficient details for CFT column to flat plate connections have not been proposed yet. Based on the strategies that maximize economical field construction, several connecting schemes were proposed and tested. Test results showed that the proposed connections can exhibit punching shear strength and connection stiffness exceeding those of R/C flat plate counterparts. A semi-analytical procedure is presented to model the behavior of CFT column-to-flat plate connections. The five parameters to model elastic to post-punching catenary action range are calibrated based on the limited test data of this study. The application of the proposed modeling procedure to progressive collapse prevention design is also illustrated.

• International Journal of High-Rise Buildings
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.375-387
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• 2018

This paper presents a review on progressive collapse mechanism of steel framed buildings exposed to fire. The influence of load ratios, strength of structural members (beam, column, slab, connection), fire scenarios, bracing systems, fire protections on the collapse mode and collapse time of structures is comprehensively reviewed. It is found that the key influencing factors include load ratio, fire scenario, bracing layout and fire protection. The application of strong beams, high load ratios, multi-compartment fires will lead to global downward collapse which is undesirable. The catenary action in beams and tensile membrane action in slabs contribute to the enhancement of structural collapse resistance, leading to a ductile collapse mechanism. It is recommended to increase the reinforcement ratio in the sagging and hogging region of slabs to not only enhance the tensile membrane action in the slab, but to prevent the failure of beam-to-column connections. It is also found that a frame may collapse in the cooling phase of compartment fires or under travelling fires. This is because that the steel members may experience maximum temperatures and maximum displacements under these two fire scenarios. An edge bay fire is more prone to induce the collapse of structures than a central bay fire. The progressive collapse of buildings can be effectively prevented by using bracing systems and fire protections. A combination of horizontal and vertical bracing systems as well as increasing the strength and stiffness of bracing members is recommended to enhance the collapse resistance. A protected frame dose not collapse immediately after the local failure but experiences a relatively long withstanding period of at least 60 mins. It is suggested to use three-dimensional models for accurate predictions of whether, when and how a structure collapses under various fire scenarios.

• Proceedings of the Computational Structural Engineering Institute Conference
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• 2000.04b
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• pp.246-252
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• 2000

The nonlinearity of a cable-stayed bridge results in the large displacement of main girder due to a long span, the large axial forces reduce the catenary action of cables and the flexural stiffness. Therefore, the static and dynamic behavior of pylon for a cable-stayed bridge plays an important role in determining its safety. This study was performed to find the behavior of pylon of cable-stayed bridge for the first-order analysis considering of axial load only and for the second-order analysis considering of lateral deflection due to axial load. The axial force and moment values of pylon were different from the results of the first-order analysis and second-order analysis according to pylon shape and cross beam stiffness when the pylon was subjected to earthquake and wind loads. In the second-order analysis, comparing the numerical values of the member forces for the dynamic analysis, types 3 and 4 (A type) were relatively more advantageons types than types 1 and 2 (H type). Considering the stability for pylon of cable-stayed bridge (whole structural system), types 3 and 4 (A type) with pre-buckling of girder were proper types than types 1 and 2 (H type) with buckling of pylon.

• International Journal of Concrete Structures and Materials
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.401-413
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• 2015

In this study the progressive collapse resisting capacity of a RC beam-column subassemblage with and without strengthening was investigated. Total of five specimens were tested; two unreinforced specimens, the one designed as gravity load-resisting system and the other as seismic load-resisting system, and three specimens reinforced with: (i) bonded strand, (ii) unbonded strand, and (iii) side steel plates with stud bolts. The two-span subassemblages were designed as part of an eight-story RC building. Monotonically increasing load was applied at the middle column of the specimens and the force-displacement relationships were plotted. It was observed that the gravity load-resisting specimen failed by fractures of re-bars in the beams. In the other specimens no failure was observed until the maximum displacement capacity of the actuator was reached. Highest strength was observed in the structure with unbonded strand. The test result of the specimen with side steel plates in beam-column joints showed that the force-displacement curve increased without fracture of re-bars. Based on the test results it was concluded that the progressive collapse resisting capacity of a RC frame could be significantly enhanced using unbonded strands or side plates with stud bolts.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.155-164
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• 2009

In this study, a computationally efficient parallel axial-flexural plastic hinge model is proposed for nonlinear dynamic progressive collapse analysis of welded steel moment frames. To this end, post-yield flexural behavior and the interaction of bending moment and axial force of the double-span beams in the column's missing event was first investigated by using material and geometric nonlinear parametric finite element analysis. A piece-wise linear parallel point hinge model that captures the moment-axial tension interaction was then proposed and applied to nonlinear dynamic progressive collapse analysis of welded steel moment frames with the use of the OpenSees Program. The accuracy as well as the efficiency of the proposed model was verified based on the inelastic dynamic finite element analysis results. The importance of including the catenary action effects for proper progressive collapse resistant analysis and design was also emphasized.

• Journal of Korean Society of Steel Construction
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.491-502
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• 2006

This paper summarizes full-scale test results on CFT column-to- flat plate connections has gained wide acceptance subjected to gravity loading. CFT construction has gained wide acceptance in a relatively short time in domestic building construction practice due to its various structural and construction advantages. However, efficient details for CFT column to flat plate connections have not been proposed yet. Based on the strategies that maximize economical field construction, several connecting schemes were proposed and tested. Test results showed strength and connection stiffness exceeding those of R/C flat p late counterparts. A semi-analytical procedure is presented to model the behavior of CFT column-to-flat plate connections. The five parameters to model elastic to post-punching catenary action range are calibrated based on the limited test data of t to progressive collapse prevention design is also illustrated.