Knowledge Bank

In an era marked by increasing exposure to extreme events, the robustness of building structures against unforeseen hazards has emerged as a critical concern and significant efforts have been made in identifying how to prevent local failures from propagating during the progressive collapse process. This study delves into the phenomenon of progressive collapse in reinforced concrete buildings, aiming to enhance understanding and mitigation strategies against extreme loading hazards. Through a systematic analysis of diverse sources, including case studies and experimental data, a novel database is formulated, comprising instances of partial or complete structural collapse due to progressive failure. The database encompasses contextual information, structural typology, geometry, failure characteristics, and consequences of collapse. To identify structural vulnerabilities, this database systematically presents information on hazards causing failure, failure locations, types of collapse, as well as structural information to facilitate a nuanced understanding of collapse triggers and propagation. By integrating analytical and experimental findings, this research aims to advance the knowledge on progressive collapse behavior and informs the development of robust mitigation strategies to enhance building robustness against extreme loads or unforeseen hazards.