Progressive Collapse: Design Strategies

Local failure of one structural element may result in the failure of another element of the same structure. Failure might thus progress throughout a major part or all of the structure. Design criteria for preventing such a progression of collapse are discussed. Investigative methods and design strategies for creating collapse-resistant structures are presented and compared. In addition to the better-known approaches providing specific local resistance or alternate load paths, an approach based on isolation of collapsing sections is described and discussed.