To　investigate　progressive　collapse　behavior　of　reinforced　concrete　(RC)　flat　plate　structures,　a　reliable　and　efficient　numerical　approach　is　developed　in　this　study　using　spring　connection　modelling.　This　connection　unit　aims　to　simulate　complicate　punching　shear　behavior　at　critical　regions　surrounding　the　columns.　Five　springs　are　used　as　the　connection　elements:　two　for　flexural　and　integrity　steel　bars　and　three　for　concrete　contributions.　The　flexural　and　integrity　steel　bars　embedded　in　the　columns　are　modeled　explicitly,　which　enables　the　model　to　present　the　structural　behavior　post　punching　shear　failure.　Bending　and　shear　actions　are　represented　by　two　concrete　springs.　The　third　concrete　spring　is　assigned　axial　action　property　to　restrain　two　end　nodes　of　the　connection　on　the　model.　In　particular,　the　punching　shear　spring　controls　the　connection　unit　when　punching　shear　failure　occurs.　To　apply　the　connection　unit,　the　regions　of　slab-column　connections　are　partitioned　from　the　slab　regions　according　to　the　critical　shear　surfaces.　Then　the　connection　unit　links　two　corresponding　nodes　on　the　two　edges　formed　from　the　partition.　A　physical　experiment　of　a　RC　flat　plate　substructure　under　progressive　collapse　is　simulated.　Result　comparison　demonstrates　that　the　numerical　model　has　the　capability　to　capture　the　structural　behavior　in　progressive　collapse.　However,　further　improvement　of　the　modelling　technique　is　necessary　to　enhance　numerical　accuracy.