Robustness Assessment of RC Frame Buildings under Column Loss Scenarios

Published

April 3, 2014

Author(s)

Yihai Bao, Joseph A. Main, Hai S. Lew, Fahim Sadek

Abstract

A computational assessment of the robustness of reinforced concrete (RC) building structures under column loss scenarios is presented. A reduced-order modeling approach is presented for three-dimensional RC framing systems, including the floor slab, and comparisons with high-fidelity finite element model results are presented to verify the approach. Pushdown analyses of prototype buildings under column loss scenarios are performed using reduced numerical models, and an energy-based procedure is employed to account for the dynamic effects associated with sudden column loss. The load-displacement curve obtained using the energy-based approach is found to be in good agreement with results from direct dynamic analysis of sudden column loss. A metric for structural robustness is defined by normalizing the ultimate capacity under sudden column loss by the applicable service-level gravity loading. The procedure is applied to two prototype 10-story RC buildings, one employing intermediate moment frames (IMFs) and the other employing special moment frames (SMFs), and the SMF building, with its more stringent seismic design and detailing, is found to have greater robustness.

Proceedings Title

Proceedings of 2014 Structures Congress

Conference Dates

April 3-5, 2014

Conference Location

Boston, MA

Conference Title

2014 Structures Congress

Pub Type

Conferences

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Citation

Bao, Y. , Main, J. , Lew, H. and Sadek, F. (2014), Robustness Assessment of RC Frame Buildings under Column Loss Scenarios, Proceedings of 2014 Structures Congress, Boston, MA, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=915189 (Accessed October 25, 2025)