Robust design of steel and concrete composite structures: the alternate load path approach

Vulnerability of structures to progressive collapse and mitigation of the effects of local damages are topics widely discussed. The studies worldwide activated allowed identifying different preventive strategies which are based on event control, compartmentalisation, specific local resistance, structural redundancy, design of key elements, and ad hoc detailing rules. Despite potential strategies are well identified, specific knowledge is still limited, and this gap is apparent in codes. A RFCS project focusing on robustness of steel and concrete composite structures was recently activated .In the framework of the project activities the authors focused their studies on the redundancy of the structure through slab-beam-systems as well as by ductile joint. At this aim, analytical, numerical and experimental studied were planned and executed. The paper describes the experimental part of the study and presents the preliminary outcomes of the tests.