Experimental Study of Progressive Collapse of Buildings (Beam-Column Joint Analysis)

Abstract

Progressive Collapse mitigation has become an urgent demand in structural engineering as already deficient structure designs on old code are prone to progressive collapse due to seismic effects. As the beam-column joint is the critical location for the crack to initiate the collapse, monitoring of deficient joints will allow the study of damage progression and prevent the structure's collapse. The work involves modeling the beam-column joint in FEA software (Abaqus) and subject specimen to quasi-static loading and deformation will be analyzed. This will be followed by an experimental study of four beam-column joints which are deficient in shear and flexure. This study will help to understand the development of stresses in the beam-column joint that leads to cracks in the beam or column and eventually causes progressive collapse of the building.