What type of collapse occurs when heavy loads cause floors to collapse near the center?

The type of collapse that occurs when heavy loads cause floors to collapse near the center is known as a pancake collapse. This phenomenon typically occurs in multi-story buildings where a floor or slab fails under excessive weight, leading to a downward collapse that causes the floors above to fall onto the floors below in a stacking manner, resembling a stack of pancakes. This can happen when there is a failure in structural integrity or when the design doesn't adequately account for the loads expected during use.

In contrast, a V-shape collapse typically involves a structure that fails in a way that creates a shape resembling the letter V, usually due to systems or structural elements giving way or tipping over. Lean-to collapses involve a structure that falls over onto itself or another object, often doing so in a single-sided manner. Cantilever collapses occur when a projected structural member fails, causing the portion beyond support to collapse without additional structural support. Each of these types of collapse implies a different structural failure and mechanism, distinguishing them from the pancake collapse.