Entire: New structural stabilisation systems to prevent building progressive collapse
Principal researcher:
MANUEL BUITRAGO
Team members:
- DIEGO F. CETINA
- ANA SÁNCHEZ-RODRÍGUEZ
- NIRVAN MAKOOND
- LISBEL RUEDA-GARCÍA
- JOSE M. ADAM
Funding Agency:
Duration: 01/01/2023 – 31/12/2024
Reference: AYUDA PAID-06-22
Abstract
Buildings can be subjected to extreme events (e.g. explosions, floods, vehicle impacts, or terrorist attacks), which usually cause local-initial failures in their structure. In this context, the most advanced structural design standards and guidelines indicate that structures must have sufficient structural continuity. This will prevent the propagation of failures because the structure will be able to activate alternative load paths in case of failure of any element. Structural continuity is achieved through ties in all directions (horizontal and vertical). These ties consist of continuous reinforcement in concrete structures, or continuous steel beams in steel-framed buildings. However, there are situations in which the activation of the ties is not effective, so that the structure may collapse because it is not able to activate alternative load paths in the event of a local-initial failure, and it is not possible to find equilibrium states in the structural system. This is the case, for example, of local-initial failures near corner columns (the most exposed to external threats), or in certain structural configurations in which excessive continuity pulls the rest of the building in the face of a local-initial failure, causing a progressive collapse.
The overall aim of ENTIRE is to design new structural systems for building stabilization, in failure situations, in order to maximize the strength capacity of all structural components and avoid progressive collapse.
ENTIRE will achieve prototype designs capable of efficiently activating the maximum structural capacity of the ties, preventing the structure from destabilizing. Therefore, an ambitious and interdisciplinary methodology is proposed. The target buildings for the new structural stabilization systems will be identified, as well as the preliminary requirements of these elements, in order to subsequently carry out the conceptual and detailed design of prototypes. This work will be developed for buildings with precast concrete, in-situ concrete and steel structures. Design of experiments, advanced computational simulation (applied element method) and mechanical engineering (prototypes) will be used. The project includes the development of simplified calculation methods and solved examples to help disseminate to industry and advance the implementation of the technology in everyday construction practice.
The impact of the project will be significant at the economic and social level with the design of safer buildings that will prevent collapses, save human lives, and eliminate the high costs associated with reconstruction. It is also expected to have a high technological and innovation impact in the construction sector, which mobilizes large amounts of money.