Performance limit states for progressive collapse analysis of reinforced concrete framed buildings

The definition of performance limit states for progressive collapse design and assessment of civil structures is an open issue and deserves special attention in view of future building codes and standards. In this study, the main findings of a multilevel sensitivity analysis are presented to characterize the progressive collapse capacity of a selected class of modern European buildings having a reinforced concrete framed structure. After that a group of capacity model properties are assumed as random variables on the basis of earlier studies, the sensitivity of both ultimate load capacity and corresponding maximum and residual drifts to the ultimate steel strain and location of column-removal scenario is assessed. Then, the influence of the capacity model properties on maximum drift demand corresponding to a code-compliant design gravity load is evaluated. Finally, five performance limit states associated with increasing levels of damage are introduced and the corresponding load capacity is quantified under varying capacity model properties. Analysis results indicate a high sensitivity to the ultimate steel strain, column location in plan, beam span and yield steel strength.