Experimental investigation on reinforcing effects of engineered cementitious composites (ECC) on improving progressive collapse performance of planar frame structure

This paper experimentally investigates the progressive collapse performance of planar frame structure with engineered cementitious composites (ECC) under middle column removal scenario. One normal concrete specimen and two ECC specimens were used for experiments. Quasi-static vertical loading was imposed onto the middle column, and structural response was analyzed for the specimens with different concrete and reinforcement ratio. Furthermore, the impact of ECC on the behavior of planar frame structure to resist progressive collapse was evaluated. Experimental results indicated that ECC specimens exhibited multi-cracking behavior with limited crack width, and their progressive collapse performance including ductility, horizontal reaction, bending moment and rotation capacity of plastic hinge can be improved significantly in three stages of resisting mechanisms. The resistance force and energy absorption can be reinforced over several times in elastic stages while the reinforcing effects can not continue in compressive arch stage and catenary stage. The ultimate resistance in catenary stage is largely determined by the reinforcement ratio. Finally, the ECC is proved to be highly effective in reinforcing progressive collapse resistance, which provides a basic insight into the application of ECC building structure in engineering.