Since　the　“9·11”　event,　the　progressive　collapse　of　super　high-rise　structures　under　incidental　loads　has　been　greatly　concerned.　In　this　paper,　the　high　performance　finite　elements　and　their　failure　criteria　both　considering　high　temperature　effects,　as　well　as　the　elemental　deactivation　technology　are　adopt　to　analyze　the　progressive　collapse　of　a　typical　super　high-rise　concrete　frame-core　tube　structure　exposed　to　extreme　fire.　It　can　be　found　that　when　the　multi-storey　floor　system　in　the　building　structure　is　simultaneously　exposed　to　fire,　it　performs　an　overall　mechanism　similar　with　Vierendeel　action　due　to　the　thermal　expansion　deformation.　That　leads　to　the　redistribution　of　the　internal　forces　throughout　the　structural　system　not　only　in　the　horizontal　direction　but　also　in　the　vertical　direction.　Thermal　expansion　and　the　destruction　of　the　floor　system　have　an　important　influence　on　the　failure　of　peripheral　columns,　which　eventually　leads　to　the　flexural　damage　of　the　columns　due　to　the　large　second-order　effect,　triggering　the　progressive　collapse　of　the　structure　system.　©　2016,　Editorial　Office　of　China　Civil　Engineering　Journal.　All　right　reserved.