Multiscale Computational Simulation of Progressive Building Collapse and Other Collapse-Related Stuff

Simulating the response of a steel building to extreme loading, especially all the way up to collapse, is complicated by the need to account for a number of interlinked processes that take place along widely disparate length scales. At the micro-scale, micrometer sized voids in the steel matrix can nucleate and coalesce leading to the formation of a crack. At the macro-scale, the crack can grow forming a discontinuity (centimeters in length) that leads to a rapid change in member structural properties. At the structural-scale, i.e. in regions measured in meters, the damaged member can trigger instability in subassemblage response potentially leading to a chain of other interlinked micro-, macro- and structural-scale processes that ultimately stop when the building system reaches equilibrium or collapses into a debris pile.

My talk will start off by describing my general research interest in multi-scale collapse modeling then focus on simulating progressive structural collapse and some of the engineering aspects that influence the collapse-resistance of steel buildings. Digressing from the main topic of the presentation, I will describe some tools that we have developed to visualize our simulation results in virtual and augmented reality environments with the purpose of assisting and training first response teams. The talk will conclude with a short discussion of emergency occupant egress from distressed buildings and our ongoing efforts to address this area.