An experimental study of precast concrete moment frames under a column removal scenario

Published

September 1, 2017

Author(s)

Hai S. Lew, Joseph A. Main, Yihai Bao, Fahim Sadek, Vincent P. Chiarito, Stephen D. Robert, Jorge Torres

Abstract

This paper presents a full-scale experimental study of two precast concrete moment-frame assemblies, each comprising three columns and two beams. The assemblies represented portions of seismically designed perimeter moment frames from two 10-story prototype buildings. One assembly was part of an ordinary moment frame (OMF), and the other was part of a special moment frame (SMF). The assemblies were subjected to monotonically increasing vertical displacement of the unsupported center column to observe their behavior and failure modes under simulated column removal. The failure of both the OMF and SMF specimens was characterized by (1) fracture of the bottom anchorage bars at the welded connection to the center column and (2) diagonal cracking and shear deformation of the end columns under outward forces generated by arching action in the beams. Additional failure modes included shear stud failure for the OMF specimen and bond failure of anchorage bars for the SMF specimen.

Citation

PCI Journal

Volume

62

Issue

5

Pub Type

Journals

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DOI Link

Keywords

buildings, design standards, disproportionate collapse, moment resisting connections, precast concrete, progressive collapse, structural robustness, testing.

Citation

Lew, H. , Main, J. , Bao, Y. , Sadek, F. , Chiarito, V. , Robert, S. and Torres, J. (2017), An experimental study of precast concrete moment frames under a column removal scenario, PCI Journal, [online], https://doi.org/10.15554/pcij62.5-02 (Accessed October 2, 2025)