Current building design methods focus on improving connectivity between structural components, allowing loads from failed components to be redistributed across the remaining system. While effective for small failures, these methods can lead to progressive collapse after significant initial failures, as seen in incidents like Champlain Towers, Peñíscola in 2021, and Abadan in 2022. A new approach from ICITECH-UPV (Universitat Politècnica de València) aims to address this issue.
Published in *Nature*, the ICITECH-UPV team introduces a novel design method that enhances building resilience by isolating failures to specific parts of the structure, preventing widespread collapse. Co-authors Jose M. Adam, Nirvan Makoond, Andri Setiawan, and Manuel Buitrago developed and validated this method with a full-scale building test, making it the first verified solution against collapse propagation from large initial failures.
The new approach employs a structural fuse concept, analogous to electrical fuses in grid systems, which segments the building to contain failures and reduce damage. This design maintains structural continuity under normal conditions while isolating failures when necessary, thus preventing total collapse and minimizing damage.
The method has been tested on prefabricated concrete buildings and is adaptable for new construction projects. It is expected to have minimal impact on construction costs due to its use of conventional materials and techniques. The researchers are working to extend this methodology to buildings with in-situ concrete and steel.
This design method is a significant outcome of the Endure project, which conducted the world-first full-scale test in June 2023 to validate the new approach. The test demonstrated the method’s effectiveness in isolating large failures and preventing their spread throughout the building. All research and testing were conducted at UPV, showcasing the institute’s leadership in advancing building resilience.
