A theoretical method for calculating the compressive arch capacity of RC beams against progressive collapse

Compressive arch action is one of the main resistance mechanisms against progressive collapse in reinforced concrete (RC) buildings. Hence, many studies have investigated the development of arching action in RC beams and frames but less attention has been paid to calculating the corresponding enhancement in structural capacity. In the present study, a theoretical method is introduced in order to calculate the arching capacity of RC beams and also to obtain a quantitative assessment regarding structural robustness against progressive collapse. The proposed method is validated using the experiments in the literature. The evaluation indicates that the procedure introduced here could establish a reliable foundation for estimating the arching capacity of beams and also structural robustness.