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Encast: Implementing a new line of defence to avoid the catastrophic collapse of precast buildings

Principal researcher:

JOSE M. ADAM

Team members:

  • MANUEL BUITRAGO
  • NIRVAN MAKOOND
  • ANDRI SETIAWAN
  • MARIA L. GERBAUDO
  • MARINA OLIVER

Funding Agency:

Duration: 01/01/2025 – 30/06/2026

Reference: 101188699 

Abstract

Disastrous building collapses often occur due to the propagation of local-initial failures. Although effective for small initial failures, current design approaches addressing this issue can inadvertently increase the risk of catastrophic collapse propagation after large initial failures. The ERC Consolidator Grant Endure has introduced a novel fuse-based segmentation design approach to overcome this alarming limitation, successfully testing a full-scale precast building to validate its effectiveness. While this approach can be advantageous for different types of structures, its implementation in precast concrete buildings is key to maximizing its impact. Due to several advantages in terms of efficiency and sustainability, precast structures are being increasingly used for high-occupancy and critical buildings. Incorporating fuse-based segmentation in these structural systems would thus provide a new last line of defence against catastrophic failures in the buildings for which the consequences of such an occurrence are most severe. However, at this stage of development, the design of a fuse-based segmented precast building requires advanced computational analysis and several iterative procedures that are unfeasible for most building projects. Such complexity can hinder the adoption of fuse-based segmentation in practice. Therefore, truly unlocking the market penetration potential of fuse-based segmentation solutions for precast buildings requires cost-effective implementation tools and validation across a broader range of precast systems.  

The project’s success will lead to wider adoption of robust pre-cast systems, helping deliver more affordable and sustainable buildings that contribute to improving societal resilience.