Resistance of Flat-Plate Buildings against Progressive Collapse. I: Modeling of Slab-Column Connections

A macromodel for slab-column connections is created for use in the system-level progressive collapse analyses of reinforced concrete flat-plate structures. The proposed model jointly uses shell and connector elements to simulate the complex behavior of slabs. Shell elements are used to simulate the flexural response of slab and the load redistribution over floor slabs. The connector elements, which permit simulating separation of slab from column on a punching failure, are defined with nonlinear responses for primary bending moment and torsion. A deformation-based punching failure criterion is defined for connector elements to simulate the punching failure at a slab-column connection and failure propagation. Parameters defining concrete tension stiffening behavior under static loading, including the peak tensile stress and the tensile strain when stress degrades to zero, are calibrated from two experiments. To ensure applicability, the proposed model is validated by 24 large-scale tests conducted on isolated slab-column connection specimens subjected to concentric gravity loading, torsional loading, and uneven gravity loading.