Rational Robustness Design of Multistory Building Structures

Abstract

This paper presents concepts and methods developed over the past two decades for the rational and practical robustness design of multistory building structures. The consideration of sudden column loss as an event-independent scenario is examined with reference to typical extreme dynamic events, and a simplified multilevel framework for alternate load path analysis, providing a rational measure of robustness that combines ductility, redundancy, and dynamic effects, is reviewed. Finally, the conceptual basis of a new rational tying force method, recently developed and proposed by the author for the next generation of the Eurocodes, is presented, highlighting its practical application and limitations.