Progressive Collapse of Structures: Analysis, Prevention, and Mitigation
Credits: 3 PDH
PDH Course Description:
This practical course provides a comprehensive examination of progressive collapse in buildings, from the initiating local failure to the propagation of disproportionate structural damage. It explains the principal causes, mechanisms, analysis procedures, design approaches, and mitigation strategies used to improve structural robustness and reduce the potential for widespread collapse.
The course begins with prominent progressive-collapse incidents, including Ronan Point, the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, the World Trade Center towers, and Champlain Towers South. These cases demonstrate how localized damage caused by explosion, impact, fire, deterioration, design deficiencies, or construction errors can develop into extensive structural failure.
Participants will examine the principal progressive-collapse mechanisms, including pancake, domino, zipper, section, instability, and mixed-type collapse. Particular attention is given to load redistribution, dynamic impact, loss of vertical load-bearing capacity, structural continuity, redundancy, ductility, and the development of alternative load paths.
The course reviews threat-dependent and threat-independent design approaches and compares the progressive-collapse provisions of Eurocode EN 1991-1-7, the GSA Guidelines, UFC 4-023-03, and ASCE 76-23. Key-element design, enhanced local resistance, alternative load-path methods, prescriptive ties, structural segmentation, and risk-based design strategies are discussed.
Progressive-collapse analysis procedures are presented, including linear static, linear dynamic, nonlinear static, and nonlinear dynamic methods, together with member-removal scenarios, load combinations, dynamic effects, modeling assumptions, and acceptance criteria. A detailed SAP2000 example demonstrates nonlinear dynamic analysis following the sudden removal of a critical structural element.
The final portion of the course examines practical prevention and mitigation measures for new and existing structures, including structural ties, enhanced continuity and ductility, strengthening, alternative load paths, segmentation, energy-absorption systems, structural fuses, supplemental cable systems, and other techniques intended to limit collapse propagation.
By completing this course, participants will be better prepared to recognize progressive-collapse vulnerabilities, select appropriate analysis procedures, interpret applicable design guidance, and develop practical strategies to improve structural robustness.
Topics:
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Explain the causes and fundamental characteristics of progressive and disproportionate structural collapse
- Discuss the engineering lessons obtained from prominent progressive-collapse incidents
- Distinguish among pancake, domino, zipper, section, instability, and mixed-type collapse mechanisms
- Explain how local member failure, impact, and load redistribution can initiate collapse propagation
- Evaluate the influence of strength, continuity, redundancy, and ductility on structural robustness
- Distinguish between threat-dependent and threat-independent progressive-collapse design approaches
- Explain the purpose and limitations of key-element design and enhanced local resistance
- Describe how alternative load paths enable a structure to redistribute loads following local damage
- Explain how horizontal, vertical, internal, and peripheral ties contribute to structural continuity
- Compare the principal progressive-collapse provisions of Eurocode EN 1991-1-7, GSA, UFC 4-023-03, and ASCE 76-23
- Explain the purpose and principal stages of a progressive-collapse risk assessment.
- Identify appropriate member-removal and damage scenarios for progressive-collapse evaluation
- Distinguish among linear static, linear dynamic, nonlinear static, and nonlinear dynamic analysis procedures
- Explain the principal modeling assumptions, dynamic effects, load combinations, and acceptance criteria used in progressive-collapse analysis
- Describe the application of nonlinear dynamic progressive-collapse analysis using SAP2000
- Evaluate structural vulnerability following the loss of a critical load-bearing element
- Identify prevention and mitigation techniques applicable to new and existing structures
- Explain the potential applications of strengthening, segmentation, energy-absorption devices, structural fuses, and supplemental cable systems
- Select an appropriate combination of analysis and mitigation measures based on structural configuration, risk, practicality, and economy
To take this course:
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Intended Audience: This course is intended for consulting engineers, licensed professional engineers, building officials, plan reviewers, researchers, educators, advanced engineering students, and other professionals involved in the analysis, design, assessment, rehabilitation, or strengthening of structures for progressive-collapse resistance.
Publication Source: Ibrahim Metwally, PE