Progressive　collapse,　usually　caused　by　accidental　or　abnormal　loading,　is　a　structural　failure　disproportionate　to　its　original　cause.　Reinforced　concrete　(RC)　flat　plate　structures　are　vulnerable　to　brittle　punching　shear　failure　in　the　vicinity　of　slab-column　joints,　which　may　initiate　disastrous　progressive　collapse　causing　significant　economic,　social,　and　psychological　consequences.　This　paper　presents　a　series　of　experimental　investigations　of　twenty-one　1/3-scaled　slab-column　joint　specimens　with　in-plane　restraints,　under　opposite　punching　shear　directions,　and　subject　to　concentric　and　eccentric　loading　conditions.　Three　design　parameters　(slab　thickness,　reinforcement　ratio,　and　flexural　reinforcement　extension)　and　three　strengthening　methods　(embedded　beams,　stirrups　in　punching　area,　and　ring　beams)　were　considered.　The　load-resisting　and　deformation　capacities　of　the　joints,　as　well　as　their　punching　shear　and　post-punching　failure　behaviours　were　examined　in　detail.　In　addition　to　the　experimental　studies,　numerical　modelling　techniques　were　also　developed　to　simulate　the　physical　tests　with　emphasis　on　their　load-displacement　responses,　punching　shear　and　post-punching　capacities　and　crack　development.　Results　demonstrate　that　(1)　the　punching　shear　capacity　is　mainly　governed　by　the　geometrical　dimensions　of　the　slab;　(2)　the　post-punching　strength　is　primarily　regulated　by　the　integrity　rebars　going　through　the　column.　The　continuous　integrity　rebars　are　imperative　for　activating　tensile　membrane　action　thereby　enhancing　post-punching　capacity　in　progressive　collapse　events.　©　2023,　The　Author(s),　under　exclusive　license　to　Springer　Nature　Singapore　Pte　Ltd.