• International Journal of High-Rise Buildings
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.127-154
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• 2020

Disproportionate collapse triggered by local structural failure may cause huge casualties and economic losses, being one of the most critical civil engineering incidents. It is generally recognized that ensuring robustness of a structure, defined as its insensitivity to local failure, is the most acceptable and effective method to arrest disproportionate collapse. To date, the concept of robustness in its definition and quantification is still an issue of controversy. This paper presents a detailed review on about 50 quantitative measures of robustness for building structures, being classified into structural attribute-based and structural performance-based measures (deterministic and probabilistic). The definition of robustness is first described and distinguished from that of collapse resistance, vulnerability and redundancy. The review shows that deterministic measures predominate in quantifying structural robustness by comparing the structural responses of an intact and damaged structure. The attribute-based measures based on structural topology and stiffness are only applicable to elastic state of simple structural forms while the probabilistic measures receive growing interest by accounting for uncertainties in abnormal events, local failure, structural system and failure-induced consequences, which can be used for decision-making tools. There is still a lack of generalized quantifications of robustness, which should be derived based on the definition and design objectives and on the response of a structure to local damage as well as the associated consequences of collapse. Critical issues and recommendations for future design and research on quantification of robustness are provided from the views of column removal scenarios, types of structures, regularity of structural layouts, collapse modes, numerical methods, multiple hazards, degrees of robustness, partial damage of components, acceptable design criteria.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.65 no.6
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• pp.689-698
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• 2018

This study focuses on a novel procedure for the robustness assessment of reinforced concrete (RC) framed structures under threat-independent damage scenarios. The procedure is derived from coupled dynamic and non-linear static analyses. Two robustness indicators are defined and the method is applied to two RC frame buildings. The first building was designed for gravity load and earthquake resistance in accordance with Eurocode 8. The second was designed according to the tie force (TF) method, one of the design quantitative procedures for enhancing resistance to progressive collapse. In addition, in order to demonstrate the suitability and applicability of the TF method, the structural robustness and resistance to progressive collapse of the two designs is compared.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.79-93
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• 2011

A simple mechanical model is proposed to demonstrate qualitatively the pancake progressive collapse of multi-storey structures. The impact between two collapsed storeys is simulated using a simple algorithm that builds on virtual mass-spring-damper system. To analyze various collapse modes, columns and beams are considered separately. Parametric studies show that the process of progressive collapse involves a large number of complex mechanisms. However, the proposed model provides a simple numerical tool to assess the overall behavior of collapse arising from a few initiating causes. Unique features, such as beam-to-beam connection failure criterion, and beam-to-column connection failure criterion are incorporated into the program. Besides, the criterion of local failure of structural members can also be easily incorporated into the proposed model.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.114-121
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• 2010

This paper presents a design process of light-weighted fuel cell vehicle (FCV) frame to meet design target of natural frequency in early design stage. At first, using validated FE model for the current design, thickness optimization was carried out. Next. optimization process, comprised of beam model size optimization, shell model design and shell model thickness optimization, was investigated for two frame types. In addition, in order to ensure hydrogen tanks safety against rear impact load, structural collapse characteristics was estimated for the rear frame model finally produced from the previous optimization process and, with the target of equal collapse characteristics to the current design model, structural modification with small weight increase was studied through static structural collapse analyses. The same attempt was applied to the front side frame. The results explain that the proposed process enables to design light-weighted frames with high structural performance in early stage.

• Earthquakes and Structures
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.445-459
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• 2016

Quantitative estimation of seismic response of various structural systems at the collapse limit state is one of the most significant objectives in Performance-Based Earthquake Engineering (PBEE). Assessing the effects of uncertainties, due to variability in ground motion characteristics and random nature of earthquakes, on nonlinear structural response is a pivotal issue regarding collapse safety prediction. Incremental Dynamic Analysis (IDA) and fragility curves are utilized to estimate demand parameters and seismic performance levels of structures. Since producing these curves based on a large number of nonlinear dynamic analyses would be time-consuming, selection of appropriate earthquake ground motion records resulting in reliable responses with sufficient accuracy seems to be quite essential. The aim of this research study is to propose a methodology to assess the seismic behavior of reinforced concrete frames at collapse limit state via accurate estimation of seismic fragility curves for different Engineering Demand Parameters (EDPs) by using a limited number of ground motion records. Research results demonstrate that accurate estimating of structural collapse capacity is feasible through applying the proposed method offering an appropriate suite of limited ground motion records.

• Structural Engineering and Mechanics
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.31-50
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• 2016

During the recent years, resistance mechanisms of reinforced concrete (RC) buildings against progressive collapse are investigated extensively. Although a general agreement is observed about their qualitative behavior in technical literature, there is not such a comprehensive point of view regarding the quantitative methods for predicting collapse resistance of RC members. Therefore, in the present study a simplified theoretical method is developed in order to predict general behavior of RC frames under the column removal scenario. In the introduced method, the robustness of the frame is extracted based on the capacity of the beams. The proposed method expresses ultimate arching and catenary capacities of the beams and also obtains the corresponding vertical displacements. Based on the calculated capacities, the introduced method also provides a quantitative assessment of structural robustness and determines whether or not the collapse occurs. The capability of the method is evaluated using experimental results in the literature. The evaluation study indicates that the proposed theoretical procedure can establish a reliable foundation for progressive collapse assessment of RC frame structures.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Automotive Engineers
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.41-49
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• 2007

More diversified and strengthened safety regulations require higher safety vehicle with less weight. The structural foam can play a role for restraining section distortion of main body members undergoing bending collapse at vehicle crash. In this study, using structural foam modeling technology, validated in previous work, the bending collapse characteristics were evaluated for two types of circular and actual vehicle body frame sections. With changing the foam filling method, outer panel thickness and section shape, load carrying capability and absorbed energy were observed. The results indicate valuable design strategy for effectively elevating bending collapse performance of body members with foam filled.

• 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.

• KIEAE Journal
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.151-157
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• 2010

This study is connected with evaluation of the progressive collapse resisting capacity for sustainable RC super tall building design. As the progressive collapse is not considered in current design codes in Korea, differences between linear static and dynamic analysis based on the GSA guidelines was analyzed for better evaluation, and the analysis model of flat plate system was determined. Finally, the progressive collapse resisting capacity was evaluated for structural system of super tall building. According to this study, the results by linear dynamic analysis were underestimated than the results by linear static analysis. Thus, the dynamic coefficient value of 2 provides conservative approach. The Effective Beam Width's model, currently used in field, is useful for the analysis about lateral force, but this model does not consider the effect of load redistribution by the slab. Hence, finite element analysis considering slab element will be needed for progressive collapse resisting capacity of the flat plate system. Finally, analysis model of 80-story building designed based on KBC(Korea Building Code) shows the weakness against progressive collapse because the DCR value is over 2. Thus, the countermeasure for alternative loading path such as installment of spandrel beam and reinforcements around slab is required to prevent the progressive collapse.

• International Journal of Automotive Technology
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.141-147
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• 2003

For improving high-safety, convenience, and ride comfort, the automotive design suffers from radical increase of the weight, the recycling-related rules, regulations on the waste gas, and environmental protection of the resources. Among them, it is well known that the weight increase is the most critical. Thus, in order to minimize the weight of the body-in-white that takes up 20-30% of the whole weight of the automobile, most automotive manufacturers have attempted to develop the aluminum intensive body-in-white using aluminum space frames. In this research, the crush test and simulation for aluminum extrusions are performed to evaluate the collapse characteristics of that light weighted material. Also. the same test and simulation was done for aluminum extrusions filled with structural foam. Then, these results are analyzed and compared. From these studies, the effectiveness of structural foam is evaluated in improving automotive crashworthiness. Finally, the design strategy and guideline of the structural form are suggested in order to improve the crashworthiness for aluminum space frame in the vehicle.