Global Instability Induced Failure of Tall Steel Moment Frame Buildings

Abstract

This paper examines the behavior of steel moment frames under the scenario of a column removal at their ground floor. Through a material and geometric nonlinear analysis, this work evaluates a global loss-of-stability progressive collapse mode for steel frames. This collapse mode appears while the components of the structure remain in the elastic zone and involves the loss of stability of the structure. The results of the analysis show that after the removal of the column, the appearance of limited fiber yielding of the components of the structure can progressively lead to the loss of stability and the collapse of the entire structure. The main contribution is the identification of the global loss-of-stability progressive collapse mode through the production of pushdown curves. The work focuses on the need to analyze a structural system as a whole, rather than as individual components, during a progressive collapse analysis.