Analogies between progressive collapse of structures and fracture of materials

The analogy between structural progressive collapse and Fracture Mechanics is consistent either for phenomenological, technological and theoretical aspects. In this paper a general energy criterion suitable for fracture in heterogeneous materials is applied to study the progressive collapse of simple structures with cohesive post peak behavior: elementary frames and fiber bundles. The analyses put into evidence some interesting scale effects induced by ductility and dynamics. In particular, a power law describing the decrease of the reduced dynamic critical load with the structural scale and a second order ductile-brittle transition, have been found. These results can be usefully applied in robustness oriented structural design. Moreover, the study of the influence of the extent of the starting damage in structures with different sizes suggests that, the elementary cells of complex framed structures can play a role similar to the microstructure of materials. In conclusion, a new approach to the problem of collapse into complex structures by means of the tools of Fracture Mechanics is proposed. © Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2008.