Seismic performance of full-scale recycled aggregate concrete columns

This paper presents the results of reversed cyclic loading tests on reinforced recycled concrete columns. Recycled concrete aggregates were obtained from the waste of structural elements cast with low quality concrete. For investigating whether the structural concrete incorporating recycled aggregates can be reliably utilized in new reinforced concrete column construction, two full-scale reinforced concrete columns were constructed and subjected to constant axial and reversed cyclic lateral loads. The test results of the experimental study were evaluated in terms of seismic hysteresis loops, skeleton curves, energy dissipation capacities, crack patterns and failure modes. The test results showed that the RC columns made of either natural aggregate concrete and recycled aggregate concrete show similar seismic behaviour.