Title:
Progressive Collapse Behavior of Reinforced Concrete Frame Buildings Designed for Non-Seismic Zones (Prepublished)
Author(s):
Jorge A. Rivera-Cruz, Simos Gerasimidis, Sergio F. Breña
Publication:
Structural Journal
Volume:
Issue:
Appears on pages(s):
Keywords:
catenary action; non-seismic zones; perimeter frames; progressive collapse; reinforced concrete building; reinforcing detailing; shear failure; three-dimensional modeling
DOI:
10.14359/51749495
Date:
1/21/2026
Abstract:
Progressive collapse behavior of reinforced concrete frame buildings has been studied extensively, but most of the research has concentrated on frames containing seismic details. This paper presents results from analyses of the progressive collapse behavior of reinforced concrete frame buildings containing details used in regions of low seismicity following ACI CODE-318-19. The analytical simulations presented in this paper include the effect of moment redistribution that occurs after plastic moments are reached at sections of maximum moment. Ten-story 3-D frame models were designed in accordance with ACI CODE-318-19 and analyzed under progressive collapse scenarios involving the non-simultaneous removal of an interior and a corner perimeter column following ASCE 76-23. Nonlinear material behavior in these analytical models was captured using a lumped plasticity approach using hinge properties calibrated using results from laboratory experiments of full-scale sub-assemblages representing a portion of the perimeter frame containing details corresponding to non-seismic zones. The effect of catenary action in beams after column removal was included in the analyses, and the potential for premature shear failure of beams was assessed. Furthermore, models were also constructed to investigate the beneficial effects of increased rotational capacity of perimeter beams that result from using closer stirrup spacing at beam ends. This study demonstrates the importance of incorporating properly detailed continuous longitudinal bars enclosed within closely spaced closed stirrups at ends of beams of reinforced concrete frames in non-seismic zones to provide progressive collapse resistance. The study also highlights the importance of considering three-dimensional effects in models of frames to account for out-of-plane moment redistribution after loss of supporting elements.