Progressive collapse resistance of prestressed concrete frame structures with infill walls considering instantaneous column failure

Abstract

Prestressed concrete frames with infill walls (IW‐PC frames) are commonly used in civil engineering as a structural element. The possibility of structures undergoing progressive collapse is a cause for concern due to its severe consequences. This has become a significant topic in the academic community in recent years. However, research on the resistance of IW‐PC frame structures to progressive collapse is still insufficient. Therefore, this paper investigated the dynamic effects of progressive collapse on the IW‐PC frame, reinforced concrete frame with infill walls (IW‐RC), prestressed concrete frame (PC), and common reinforced concrete frame (RC). The study was conducted using the finite element software OpenSees. The study revealed that the vertical displacement during stabilization of the IW‐PC frame increased by 92.5% and 71.7% compared to the IW‐RC frame and decreased by 93.9% and 92.6% compared to the PC frame for middle column and side column failure, respectively. Additionally, the IW‐PC frame exhibited the highest dynamic load carrying capacity, which was 7.67 and 7.56 times higher than that of the RC frame, respectively. The mechanical properties of the frame were altered by the coupling effect of prestressed tendons and infill walls, making the IW‐PC frame more monolithic.