Experimental and analytical study of reinforced concrete substructures subjected to a loss of ground corner column scenario

Damage from abnormal loading such as explosion, bombing, and sudden vehicle impacts on frame elements can result in a loss of individual elements or total collapse of the whole structure. Progressive collapse has been a concern for many decades, but recent attacks of terrorism including the destruction of the Murrah Federal Building and World Trade Center have reignited the demand for a deeper understanding of the performance of structures under these circumstances. The ultimate objective of this dissertation is to experimentally and analytically evaluate the performance of the reinforced concrete (RC) structures under the loss of a corner column scenario. While various numerical studies have examined this issue, no related three-dimensional (3D) experimental studies have been conducted on this subject to date. In this study, three series of tests were designed and conducted at NTU, Singapore. In the first series of tests, seven RC beam-column substructures were tested under quasi-static loading regime to investigate their quasi-static behavior for progressive collapse. In the second series of tests, six RC beam-column substructures with similar dimensions and reinforcement details as the specimens tested in the first series were tested under dynamic loading regime to investigate their dynamic performance. In the third series of tests, three additional specimens incorporating RC slabs were tested to study the slab effects on the behavior of the substructures in resisting progressive collapse. In addition, the dynamic effects due to sudden removal of a critical column suggested by the UFC guidelines were evaluated by comparing the quasi-static and dynamic response of the substructures.Doctor of Philosophy (CEE