The first level of assessment of failure is to compare the analysis with the defined acceptable performance criteria. This could include:

• A limit on the maximum displacement to ensure compartmentation is maintained, protection of fire-fighting shafts and protection of escape routes.
• Stability of the structure.
• A limit on the maximum strains in the reinforcement

The above limits are easily defined within the analysis. However, localised behaviour such as fracture of the reinforcement (if a smeared cracking model is adopted) or connection failure can be more difficult to quantify. If large displacements are acceptable, an assessment on the likely fracture of reinforcement or connection failure due to high tensile/catenary forces should be conducted and if necessary more robust details should be adopted to ensure localised failure does not occur.

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