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Review Paper | Structural Engineering | Volume 15 Issue 8, August 2026 | Pages: 582 - 586 | India
Progressive Collapse Analysis of Tall Buildings Using the Alternate Path Method: A State-of-the-Art Review
Abstract: Progressive collapse of tall buildings, characterized by the disproportionate spread of localized damage to the entire structural system, has emerged as a critical concern for structural engineers since the Ronan Point collapse of 1968 and the World Trade Center attacks of 2001. Among the principal design philosophies introduced by GSA (2003, 2016) and DoD UFC 4-023-03 (2009, 2016), the Alternate Path Method (APM) has gained pre-eminence due to its threat-independent character and its compatibility with both linear and nonlinear analysis frameworks. This review consolidates more than four decades of progressive collapse research, with a focused synthesis of contributions published between 2005 and 2024 on the application of APM to tall buildings, including reinforced concrete moment frames, steel moment frames, composite systems, outrigger-braced systems, diagrid structures, and tube-in-tube configurations. Linear static, nonlinear static, linear dynamic, and nonlinear dynamic procedures are critically compared in terms of accuracy, computational demand, and code applicability, with particular attention to the dynamic amplification factor, catenary action, Vierendeel action, and load redistribution mechanisms. The review further examines mitigation strategies including the use of shape memory alloys, fiber-reinforced polymers, steel bracing retrofits, and outrigger-belt truss arrangements. Knowledge gaps are identified concerning the influence of soil-structure interaction, multi-column removal scenarios, blast-induced collapse, fire-induced progressive collapse, and the integration of machine learning with finite element simulations for rapid vulnerability assessment. The paper concludes with recommendations for future research aimed at performance-based progressive collapse design of tall buildings in seismically active regions.
Keywords: Progressive collapse, Alternate path method, Tall buildings, Column removal, Catenary action, Dynamic amplification factor, GSA guidelines, DoD UFC 4-023-03, Nonlinear dynamic analysis, Disproportionate collapse
How to Cite?: Shamal Gopalrao Raut, Girish Joshi, "Progressive Collapse Analysis of Tall Buildings Using the Alternate Path Method: A State-of-the-Art Review", Volume 15 Issue 8, August 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 582-586, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26808194807, DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26808194807