Parameters influencing the behaviour of RC flat-slabs under column-loss scenario

Abstract EN

Reinforced concrete (RC) structures, during their construction and operational phases, may be subjected to accidental loadings (e.g.; due to impact of a vehicle, removal of early formwork, etc.) which may cause damage to the supporting column.

as a result, significant amount of forces needed to be redistributed to the remaining structural elements.

if these structural elements do not provide sufficient resistance to these accidental redistributed forces generated due to the partial or the complete collapse of the column, they may initiate domino effect of slabs ultimately causing the progressive-collapse of the structure.

in this investigation, a detailed non-linear finite element (FE) study has been conducted using finite element software, ABAQUS.

the investigation aims to study the behaviour of the flat reinforced concrete (RC) slab due to column loss scenario and to identify the parameters which may influence its behaviour when subjected to accidental redistributed forces generated due to column loss.

based on the detailed parametric investigation, it was found that the concrete compressive-strength and thickness of the flat-slab play a significant role in redistributing the forces and ultimately resisting the domino effect by avoiding collapse of slab on to the another slab.