Progressive　collapse　of　reinforced　concrete　flat　plate　systems　can　be　significantly　influenced　by　the　post-punching　performance　of　their　slab-column　joints　under　large　deformations.　This　work　presents　a　series　of　static　collapse　tests　on　four　flat　slab-column　joint　specimens　with　slab　in-plane　restraint.　The　effects　of　different　punching　directions　(upward　and　downward)　and　embedded　beams　on　the　post-punching　performance　of　the　joints　were　studied.　The　test　results　reveal　that　the　post-punching　load-bearing　and　deformation　capacities　are　mainly　governed　by　the　longitudinal　through-column　reinforcement　in　the　slab.　The　peak　bearing　capacities　and　failure　modes　of　specimens　without　embedded　beams　were　significantly　influenced　by　different　punching　directions.　Conversely,　the　post-punching　mechanisms　of　specimens　with　embedded　beams　were　identical　regardless　of　their　opposite　punching　shear　actions.　In　addition,　the　inclusion　of　the　embedded　beams　increased　the　resistance　capacity　of　the　specimens　under　both　flexural　and　suspension　mechanisms　and　enhanced　the　deformation　capacity　under　the　suspension　mechanism.　Furthermore,　a　finite-element　numerical　model　was　developed　and　verified　against　the　test　results.　Based　on　the　numerical　study,　the　contributions　of　the　concrete　and　reinforcement　in　resisting　the　collapse　of　the　slab-column　joints　were　evaluated.