Static and Dynamic Responses of Reinforced Concrete Structures under Sudden Column Removal Scenario Subjected to Distributed Loading

Abstract

In this paper, static and dynamic experiments on reinforced concrete beam-column frames under single-column-removal scenario applying a multipoint loading method were conducted. One of the objectives was to investigate structural behavior compared with the single-point loading method, which has been popularly used in previous studies. By equally applying point loads at four locations of the double-span beam structure, the test setup successfully simulated the uniformly distributed loading condition, which is generally applicable for gravity loads in practice. Compared with the previously conducted static tests based on concentrated loading method, structural response from the static tests under multipoint loading condition differed not only on load-bearing capacity but also on failure sequence and displacement profile. On the basis of the test results, the analytical relationship between behaviors of the two loading methods was developed and verified. Compared with the static tests, the dynamic tests highlighted dynamic effects created by the column loss event and confirmed the structural behavior and failure modes observed in the static environment. The dynamic tests also verified the correctness and conservatism of the dynamic assessment framework using a previously proposed energy-based approach. Most important, both the static and the dynamic tests of structures under distributed loads showed less development of catenary action against progressive collapse compared with concentrated loading tests.