Progressive Collapse Analysis of an Existing Building

Abstract

This research study investigated a structure’s potential to fail due to progressive collapse. Progressive collapse in a structure occurs when major structural load carrying members are removed suddenly, and the remaining structural elements cannot support the weight of the building and fail. This failure usually occurs in a domino effect and leads to a progressive collapse failure in the structure. This experiment involved testing of a steel building scheduled for demolition in Northbrook, Illinois. The demolition team tore out four selected columns from the building to simulate the sudden column removal that leads to progressive collapse. The author instrumented the beams and columns in the building, managed the testing and analyzed the recorded data. The strain values recorded in the field were compared with the results from a computer model of the building. The percent error between the calculated and measured strains in a selected column was 21%. The computer analysis conducted in this research was based on linear material properties. The ultimate goal of this ongoing progressive collapse research on real buildings was to develop better building evaluation and design guidelines for structural engineers to use to prevent progressive collapse in new and existing buildings. Future progressive collapse research recommendations are also presented.